2000 Chrysler Town & Country: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Town & Country loses its regular-length version for 2000, but it's replaced in showrooms by the Voyager, rebadged a Chrysler during the retirement of the Plymouth brand. Town & Country continues as the luxury version of the Voyager and related Dodge Caravan. All three will be redesigned for 2001, with fresh styling and new features, including two power sliding side doors and a power rear liftgate.

Seats for seven and sliding doors on both sides are standard on Town & Country; no power sliding door is offered. The top-of-the-line Limited model gets leather seats with simulated suede trim, a third-row bench with center armrest, chrome wheels, and body-color roof rack.

Town & Country's available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system automatically directs power to the rear wheels as needed. A 3.3-liter V6 is standard on LX and LXi models. The 3.8-liter V6 standard on Limiteds and AWD models is optional on the front-drive LXi. Automatic transmission, air conditioning, and antilock brakes are standard; AWD models get 4-wheel disc brakes. A load-leveling rear suspension is standard on Limiteds, optional on LX and LXi, and included with AWD. Town & Country, Caravan, and Voyager offer a $1500 dealer-installed rear-seat video entertainment system that includes a VCR, 6.4-inch liquid crystal display screen, headphones, and remote control.

COMPETITION

Chrysler started the minivan trend back in 1984, and they remain one of our Best Buys today. Though the competition has heated up, we still feel that the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Voyager are two of the best you can buy. They offer all of the creature comforts in a pleasing package at a fair price. Our other Best Buy is the Honda Odyssey. It's a little bit smaller than the Chryslers, but more sporty to drive, and it has a super-convenient flip-and-fold-away rear seat.

Trailing at a close second are the Recommended Chevy Venture and Ford Windstar. Though these vans are comparably priced and offer loads of neat features, we feel they can't match the road manners of our Best Buys.