April30
The scene could be a parking lot near you. The local Wal-Mart, Costco, or Super Target. What do these mega-marketers have in common? Their parking lots are still populated by minivans, despite the fact that naysayers have claimed the market has gone away.
What Is It?
The Chrysler Town & Country Limited is the fifth-generation of Minivan as set forth from Chrysler Corporation, then DaimlerChrysler and now Chrysler Motors LLC. Despite the “stigma” associated with the category, and the mass exodus of consumers for the more “butched-out” feeling of an SUV, Chrysler has taken a design that fell into stale waters, and refreshed it to make one of the most capable offerings in years.
First introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model, the Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler T & C, and Dodge Caravan were based on the Chrysler S-Platform, itself a derivative of the old K-Car platform made famous by then Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca. The current lineup is available in LX, Touring, and top-of-the-line Limited editions. They are all reasonably well equipped, just some better than others!
What’s It Up Against?
The T&C’s competitive set includes the Honda Odyssey, the Hyundai Entourage, The Nissan Quest, and Toyota Sienna. Of this group, the T&C slots in closest to the Odyssey and Sienna.
Any Big Breakthroughs?
A new, more efficient powerplant leads the redesign, in the form of a 4-liter 6-cylinder that is the standard engine choice in this family hauler. Add to that, a power fold-flat rear seat in the way back, “Swivel ‘n Go” captains chairs that rotate from a forward to rearward facing position offer an included table to set up for lunch in the backseat.
Breakthroughs continue into the electronic offerings. A Chrysler and Dodge exclusive in their minivans is the optional availability of the Sirius Backseat TV system which includes a dual-screen system with individual 8-inch monitors for both the middle and rear seating areas AND wireless headphones in case Disney TV is not your cup of tea.
How Does It Look?
In a few words: Longer, leaner, sleeker.
To our eyes, the Town & Country and its sister the Caravan appear to have had a little work done by the plastic surgeons on F/X TV’s Nip/Tuck. In fact a full-blown liposuction seems to be just what the doctors ordered. Sharp, crisp lines show a proper waist, a cleaner, more business-like front end and a taut rear flank.
Back to that front end. More conservative, and less frilly would be the keywords today. Maintaining the trademark Chrysler “wings” as a main element of design in the grill area was a smart beginning, followed by updated headlamp housings and new front fascia, get the T&C off to a good start.
Fit and finish is surprisingly good, but not quite in the same realm as that of its Asian competitors. Almost, but not quite. Smart use of blackout paint on the B and C pillars gives an extended view of a vehicle that is long and stretched thin. We can’t say that it would look as good with the same pillars in body color.
And Inside?
We were quite impressed with all the inside amenities in the new Chryslers. Having been out of the minivan market for some time now, we were interested to see how far the niche has progressed. Interior trim levels have moved upmarket with extensive use of faux wood and leather throughout the T&C Limited. We do wish the silver surround of the center stack were replaced with a higher quality material to bring it up to the level of the rest of the interior trim pieces.
Extra lighting packages give virtually every seat their own reading lights, and the MyGIG multimedia system allows you to download mp3 tracks, and jpeg photos (for screensavers and picture viewers) to an internal hard drive for output through the monitor of the Infinity nine-speaker audio system with sub-woofer and Sirius-equipped head unit. We also like the thoughtful inclusion of a 115-volt inverter outlet to run a household item like a PS2 or laptop computer. Think of it now: Mobile Guitar Hero!
The Swivel ‘n Go middle seating arrangement allows for seats to turn and face the passengers in the rear and with the optional removable table allow for face to face game playing, or lunch taking while on the road. Conversely, the power folding rear seat can be faced backwards for rearward crowd watching at the local soccer tournament.
The Town & Country is filled with scads of other useful items. Among them, the drivers’ side sliding power door, the numerous cupholders located throughout, the built-in flashlight for late-night searches of missing kids toys from the rear cargo area, the umbrella holder, the flip-down rear-view kiddie mirror. Add to these adjustable pedals and a tilt (but non-telescoping) steering wheel with redundant controls. The one thing that concerns us though, is the high mounting of the seats, brackets and hardware and a few sharp edges associated with them.
But Does it Go?
Our Limited model was powered by Chrysler’s all-new 4-liter transverse-mounted six-cylinder engine, standard. Mated to their new six-speed automatic transaxle, the T&C is neither the fastest, nor slowest sled on the slope. At 251-horsepower, and 259 lb-ft of torque, it is sufficient to power around the motliest of crews during family excursions or grocery-getting at the local Kash & Karry.
The base-version T&C LX model is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 and four-speed automatic transaxle making 175-horsepower, while the Touring’s standard engine is the 3.8-liter V6 with six-speed automatic transaxle, which delivers197-horsepower.
EPA mileage ratings peg the 3.3-liter V6 at 17mpg city/ and 24mpg hwy, while both the 3.8 and 4.0-liter engines yield ratings of 16mpg city/23mpg hwy.
Having said all that, Chrysler engineers have reduced interior noise while underway, through the use of better and thicker glass, sound insulation and carpeting. We would like a little more road feeling translated up through the padded steering wheel, though.
Why You Would Buy It
It is the perfect go-getter for families with active broods and full daily schedules which include school, soccer, friends, piano lessons, shopping, play dates and so on.
Why You Wouldn’t
If you can’t bear to live with the stigma of what others think when you tool up in your mobile command center on wheels, this is not your ride.
What Does it Cost?
MSRP Base Price: $35,670
Price as tested $39,785
(See our full pricing guide.)
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
Ok, is this worth even “spying” on. I mean, come on, do you really have to spy on a vehicle like this?
It’s a box on wheels with fake wood on the interior. Chrysler thought out the details then failed to build it properly or with any panache at all. Get an Odyssey instead.
Minivans will not go away. They are still the most versatile vehicle. I’ve seen many people fighting to fit big boxes in an SUV and in less that a minute I fit the same thing in my minivan and still have room for my family. The market is just not booming like it use to.
I must admit, I hate the new design, I think it’s a backward step in terms of looks
Hey Hemi,
It’s a REVIEW, not a spy image! Lighten up!
I see one after the other on Long Island. They sell very well here.
Bumper is low… wonder how long it will be before the tailgate gets banged in.
Sorry, I didn’t know I was so tense about it. Sounds like your the one that’s had too many coffe breaks today.
La- Agreed the Honda is better
I’m liking that shift column setup.
I had THREE Chrysler minivans at ONCE / ONE TIME!
I like them.
Now, with gas prices up….not so practical.
HemiRetardRunner, isn’t it time to change diapers in 124? The **** is waiting for you boy!
And for 40 grand you can even compare this to Odyssey. Not objectively or subjectively. Chrysler should get out of this segment, just like Ford and GM did.
The interior looks good to me in a clean, smart, well organized, modern, way. The exterior, on the other hand, is rather plain and anonymous, as if its missing some trim or something. The wheels look cheap (ultra bright, shiny wheels often do). I like how the ‘96-2000 model TCs look sort of upscale stylish…for a van, that is.
I heard there is a VW version. Is this true?
I know I’m going to sound like a broken record yet again, but the original mini-vans were just that- mini. Chrysler is doing itself a diservice by not offering a short wheelbase version with their 2.4 world engine. A low priced entry level model without all the bells and whistles- just 2 seats up front, a 3 person bench behind and a ton of useful cargo space even with 5 aboard would be the perfect ticket for a lot of families. If they want to retake the segment back from Honda that would be a good place to start. Go back to your roots on this one Chrysler, you just might be surprised that the good idea you had 25 years ago makes even more sense today.
johnnycanuck, didn’t you say it yesterday?
Hmmm, think it was last Thursday. And still they aren’t listening damnit!
the only mimivan i will buy
I can see the “Town & Country” theme the LLN photographers are going for here with the parking lot setting and the picture with the red ball next to the van; but is it really necessary to include a picture of Target’s shopping carts? Honestly LLN use some logic, who the hell wants to look at picture of shopping carts?! I cannot stop laughing at the lunacy of this, someone please tell me I am not the only one who finds a picture of shopping carts in a car review to be absolutely ridiculous lol. On another note LLN should strive to be more hospitable to its viewers as anyone with a lower IQ like murderedout might mistake this entire review to be about shopping carts or big red balls.
Why would Chrysler abandon a segment they still hold a command over? As mentioned before… when it comes to sheer practicality for families, as “square” as they may be, nothing comes close to a minivan. And now with gas prices the way they are, they make even more sense than big SUVs. I agree with the notion that the last generation Chrysler minivans were more attractive… I don’t really like the squared-off look of these new ones… but the interior looks handsome and well laid out.
xyunya- Why would they exit the market when the Town and Country & Grand Caravans the #1 sellers? It’s still selling in droves to families everywhere…
GTbruiser- Yes, there is one, it’s called the Routan.
I saw one of these on the road today. Driven by a soccer mom who was too busy yacking away on her cell phone to pay any attention to traffic.
The Minivan has come full circle…
These things look like something straight out of the 80’s. The only thing it’s missing is square headlights. It’s not curvy or aerodynamic anymore… it’s just a big box.
It just needs some fake wood panneling on the side and chrome bumpers to complete the look.
Since most on here are just kids whom don’t have kids then it is understandable why you would not like a minivan. But for a family they are the perfect vehicle. You can get 3 kids and gear into a mini-van that will not fit in a fullsize SUV and do it for 25 MPG’s. My wife has a Sienna and loves it, does she talk on the phone while driving in it, sure she does.
It’s no less safe then the blowjobs 1115’s Mom gives while her customers are driving. She does this all so 1115 can finally get into that Ivy League Cosmotology school. Good luck there little guy.
Surprise, he also thinks the Honda is the better mini-van. That such a shock. Truth be told mini-van designs the last decade or so are because of Chyslers innovative vans of the 80’s. Sliding door on both side, yea Chrysler. Power operated sliding and liftgate, Chysler again. Drop down DVD screen, believe it, 1997 Olsmobile Sillohete.
F3INT))AP3X
I’m glad you are laughing. That’s called a sense of humor. For a second there, I wasn’t sure you had one!
I agree with the author. “It is the perfect go-getter for families with active broods and full daily schedules which include school, soccer, friends, piano lessons, shopping, play dates and so on.” As a mother of two active boys, this vehicle is perfect for hauling them, their friends, and their gear to the myriad places they all have to go. No other vehicle offers the same flexibility as today’s generation of minivans. The latest Chrysler series, with its stow-and-go table and reversible seating, ups the ante for all minivan makers to follow. If you don’t have kids, you might not understand why a minivan is more convenient than most SUVs, but I’ll put it nicely: No other vehicle type makes it as easy to change a diaper while on the go, and no comparably-sized SUV offers the same flexibility to carry people and cargo. Nor do comparable SUVs offer similar seating and cargo flexibility while still offering such excellent fuel economy.
My 2001 Odyssey could comfortably carry seven people, a full-sized icechest, and a week’s worth of luggage for the entire family. Name another SUV that can do that AND average 23 miles per gallon?
If you don’t like his choice of photographic accessories, again you obviously don’t understand the minivan mindset. Elias is a professional: He was sensible to pose the minivan in a supermarket parking lot with carts nearby as a sportscar at a racetrack, or a truck at a construction site.