2006 Chrysler Town & Country Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Chrysler's minivan is an upscale version of the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan. Town & Country comes in base trim and with a longer body in LX, Touring, and Limited trim. All have seven-passenger seating. Base and LX models have a 180-hp 3.3-liter V6. Touring and Limited models have a 205-hp 3.8 V6. All have automatic transmissions. Traction control is exclusive to Touring and Limited. An antiskid system is unavailable. The base model has rear drum brakes with optional ABS; the other models come with antilock 4-wheel disc brakes. A driver knee airbag is standard on all, and curtain side airbags that cover all three seating rows are standard on Limited, optional on the others. Exclusive to the extended-length versions are Chrysler's Stow 'n Go 2nd- and 3rd-row seats that fold into floorwells. With the seats raised, the wells are storage bins. Other available features include power sliding side doors, power liftgate, power-adjustable pedals, DVD entertainment, navigation system, rear obstacle detection, and Chrysler's UConnect hands-free cell phone link. Newly available is an AM/FM/DVD radio that plays CDs and DVD Audio discs.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Long the choice as the family hauler, Minivans are easily the smartest use of space for passengers and cargo. These vehicles offer a fantastic blend of comfort, convenience, and safety features for the modern family.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, and Honda Odyssey. Our Recommended pick is Toyota Sienna.

Kia Sedona is new or significantly redesigned.

News

Chrysler Group is readying new-generation minivans for model-year 2008. Spy photos of test prototypes indicate boxier, more upright styling, perhaps influenced by corporate parent Mercedes-Benz, plus slightly larger dimensions and, in a first for these models, roll-down rear-door windows. Other details are still speculation, but we'd expect a base 2.4-liter 4-cyl engine and V6s in at least three sizes and strengths. Overall, the design appears to mimic the successful Honda Odyssey in several ways, which raises the question of how long Chrysler Group can maintain its minivan sales leadership. Stay tuned.

2006 Chrysler Town & Country Road Test

Pros	Cons

Entry/exit	Fuel economy

Interior storage space

Passenger and cargo room

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base	Touring	Class Average
4	5	4.2

The 3.3 V6 is adequate in the regular-length model, but feels overmatched in extendeds for anything but light-duty work. Smooth, strong 3.8 provides plenty of muscle for most any need. Transmission works well with both engines.

Fuel Economy

Base	Touring	Class Average
4	4	4.2

Test Touring model averaged 18.5 mpg. Overburdened 3.3 should average 15-17 mpg in extendeds, only slightly better in the base model. Both engines use regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Base	Touring	Class Average
6	7	5.8

Extended-length models absorb bumps better than most minivans, and ride about as comfortably as a large car. Base model's shorter wheelbase makes it jumpier, less forgiving on bad pavement.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base	Touring	Class Average
5	5	4.7

Near-carlike stability in turns, fine around-town maneuverability. Good steering feel, braking power, and pedal modulation, though noticeable nosedive in sudden stops.

Quietness

Base	Touring	Class Average
6	6	5.7

Among the quieter minivans. Minimal wind, road and engine noise.

Controls

Base	Touring	Class Average
7	7	6

Generally clear, handy. Available "three-zone" climate system allows independent control of driver, front-passenger, rear-seat settings. Solid-feeling interior materials; decor ranges from plain cloth to supple leather.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base	Touring	Class Average
7	7	6.7

Roomy, comfortable. Fine driver positioning. Adjustable pedals allow shorter drivers to sit farther from steering-wheel airbag.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base	Touring	Class Average
7	7	6.8

Stow 'n Go seats reduce 2nd- and 3rd-row leg and toe room vs. standard seats in Grand Caravan, though still spacious enough for adequate adult comfort. Regular-length Town & Country actually has more 2nd- and 3rd-row leg room than extended version. Step-in easy through wide sliding doors. Override feature allows power side doors to be easily closed or opened by hand.

Cargo Room

Base	Touring	Class Average
10	10	9.9

Regular-length model has tight cargo space with all seats in place. Stow 'n Go seats fold easily into front and rear floorwells to lay flush with floor. With seats in place, 2nd-row floorwells provide about 12 cu ft of handy, covered storage. Rear well a boon to cargo space with 3rd row raised. Available power liftgate useful, reverses direction at slightest obstacle.

Value within Class

Base	Touring	Class Average
7	9	6.3

An outstanding blend of seating and cargo-carrying versatility, available safety features, and abundant comfort and luxury touches help Town & Country maintain its place among our Best Buy minivans. The main differences between Town & Country and its Dodge Caravan sibling are the grille appearance and what prestige may be associated with the Chrysler badge. Both are fine performers, with Town & Country's higher sticker prices partially offset by its higher resale values.

Total Score

Base	Touring	Class Average
63	67	60.3

Scores for all Minivans

Low Score		56
Average Score		60
High Score		71

2006 Chrysler Town & Country Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 07/11/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base regular length 4-door van	$21,270	$19,545	$715

LX extended length 4-door van	$25,620	$23,632	$730

Touring extended length 4-door van	$28,060	$25,803	$730

Limited extended length 4-door van	$35,935	$32,812	$730

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Base

Powertrain

3.3-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, driver knee airbag.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Front air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, 2nd-row bench seat, 3rd-row folding bench seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, variable-intermittent wipers, map lights, visor mirrors, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, automatic-off headlights, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Rear privacy glass, 215/70R15 tires, wheel covers.

LX adds to Base:

Safety

Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.

Comfort and Convenience Features

2nd-row stowable bucket seats, 3rd-row stowable split folding bench seat, heated power mirrors, illuminated visor mirrors.

Touring adds to LX:

Powertrain

3.8-liter V6 engine, traction control.

Safety

Tire-pressure monitor.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Tri-zone manual climate controls (including rear controls), rear air conditioning and heater, leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, 8-way power driver seat, power sliding rear doors, power liftgate, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, tachometer, trip computer, universal garage door opener.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Roof rack, 215/65R16 tires, alloy wheels.

Limited adds to Touring:

Safety

Curtain side airbags, rear-obstacle-detection system.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Tri-zone automatic climate controls (including rear controls), interior air filter, leather upholstery, 6-way power passenger seat w/lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, power-adjustable pedals, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, pedals), navigation system, Infinity AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD Audio changer, removable center console, automatic day/night driver-side and rearview mirrors, automatic headlights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Fog lights, chrome alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Popular Equipment Group I
Base	$990	$871
Dual-zone manual climate controls, overhead console, trip computer, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, heated power mirrors, universal garage door opener, illuminated visor mirrors, additional interior lights, roof rack.

Popular Equipment Group II
LX	$1,475	$1,298
Tri-zone manual climate controls (including rear controls), rear air conditioning and heater, heavy-duty alternator, overhead console, trip computer, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, universal garage door opener, additional interior lights, roof rack.

Leather Interior Group
Touring	$2,100	$1,848
Leather upholstery, heated front seats, power passenger seat, driver-seat lumbar adjustment, tri-zone automatic climate control (including rear controls), overhead console, upgraded trip computer.

Luxury Group
Touring	$2,215	$1,949
Touring w/power sunroof	$2,055	$1,808
Rear-obstacle-detection system, power-adjustable pedals, Infinity sound system, automatic day/night driver-side and rearview mirrors, removable center console, electroluminescent instrument cluster, overhead rail system, automatic headlights, theft-deterrent system w/alarm, lower bodyside cladding, fog lights. Requires Leather Interior Group. Overhead rail system deleted when ordered with power sunroof.

Trailer Tow Prep Group
LX w/Popular Equipment Group, Touring, Limited	$600	$528
LX	$665	$585
Heavy-duty engine cooling, heavy-duty alternator and battery, trailer-wiring harness, load-leveling suspension.

Safety
Antilock brakes
Base	$565	$497


Curtain side airbags
Base, Touring	$595	$524
LX	$1,385	$1,219
LX includes power sliding rear doors. LX requires Popular Equipment Group II.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
Touring	$1,430	$1,258
Includes in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD Audio changer.

DVD entertainment system
Touring	$1,150	$1,072
Base	$950	$836
Base w/Popular Equipment Group	$900	$792
Touring w/Luxury Group, Limited	$990	$871
Touring requires AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD Audio changer. Base NA w/curtain side airbags.

AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer
Base	$350	$308
Base w/Popular Equipment Group and DVD system, Touring	$200	$176
Base w/DVD system	$300	$264


AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD Audio changer
Touring	$555	$488
Requires DVD entertainment system.

Satellite radio
Base, LX, Limited, Touring	$195	$172
Includes one year service.

UConnect
Touring w/Luxury Group, Limited	$275	$242
Base, LX, Touring	$360	$317
Wireless cell phone link. Base includes automatic day/night rearview mirror, automatic headlights.

Power sunroof
Touring	$895	$788
Limited	$250	$219
NA w/curtain side airbags. Deletes Limited std. curtain side airbags.

CYG 7-passenger seating
Base	$945	$832
Quad bucket seats, 3rd-row split folding bench seat.

CYR 7-passenger seating
Base	$225	$198
Front bucket seats, 2nd-row bench seat w/dual integrated child seats, 3rd-row bench seat.

Power-adjustable pedals
Base, LX, Touring	$195	$172
Std. Limited.

8-way power driver seat
Base	$425	$374
LX	$370	$326
LX requires Popular Equipment Group II.

Driver-seat lumbar adjustment
Base, LX, Touring	$35	$31


Passenger-side power sliding rear door
Base	$400	$352
Requires Popular Equipment Group I.

Removable center console
Base, Touring	$195	$172


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Roof rack
LX	$250	$220


Special paint
Base, LX, Limited, Touring	$150	$132


Special pearlcoat paint
Base, LX, Limited, Touring	$225	$198


Engine-block heater
Base, LX, Limited, Touring	$35	$31


Alloy wheels
Base	$535	$471
Includes 215/65R16 tires.

2006 Chrysler Town & Country Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Chrysler Town & Country 4-door van	Chrysler Town & Country (extended) 4-door van

Wheelbase, in.	113.3	119.3

Overall Length, in.	189.3	200.5

Overall Width, in.	78.6	78.6

Overall Height, in.	68.8	68.9

Curb Weight, lbs.	3899	4239

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	146.7	160.7

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	20.0	20.0

Seating Capacity	7	7

Front Head Room, in.	39.6	39.6

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	40.8	40.6

Rear Head Room, in.	39.7	39.6

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	36.5	34.7

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	ohv V6	ohv V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	3.3 /202	3.8 /231

Horsepower @ rpm.	180 @ 5000	205 @ 5200

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	210 @ 4000	240 @ 4000

Availability	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	19/26	18/25

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Chrysler Town & Country 4-door van	Chrysler Town & Country (extended) 4-door van

Front Impact, Driver	5	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5	5

Rollover Resistance	4	4

Side Impact, Driver	4	4

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	3/36,000	$100 deductible per visit

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/100,000	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: USA

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2006 Chrysler Town & Country Photos

Also in the 2006 Chrysler Town & Country Review:

Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler Town & Country Road Test

Chrysler Town & Country Prices & Equipment

Chrysler Town & Country Specs & Safety

Chrysler Town & Country Photos

Chrysler Town & Country Full Review

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