Acceleration

Touring	Limited	Class Average
5	6	5.4

Both the Touring's 3.8 V6 and the Limited's 4.0-liter engines offer sufficient power for around town driving, with the 4.0 providing much-needed extra boost for merging and highway passing. With both these V6s the transmission is quick to shift as needed but can change gears harshly at low speed. Consumer Guide has not yet tested an LX with its 3.3-liter V6, but we predict that it will be overwhelmed by Town & Country's approximately 4300-pound curb weight.

Fuel Economy

Touring	Limited	Class Average
4	4	4.2

In Consumer Guide testing, Town & Country and Grand Caravan models with the 3.8-liter V6 averaged 16.1-17.1 mpg in city/highway driving. Extended-use Town & Country Limited is averaging a surprisingly good 20.5 mpg in mostly highway driving over its first 6432 miles. The 3.3- and 3.8-liter V6 engines use regular-grade gas. Chrysler recommends mid-grade 89-octane gas for the 4.0-liter V6.

Ride Quality

Touring	Limited	Class Average
7	7	6.4

Impressive road isolation, with even large bumps taken with poise. Note that similar Grand Caravans equipped with the 4.0-liter V6 include a sport suspension that is not available on other Caravan or Town & Country models. With the sport suspension, impacts are more readily felt and some body quiver is evidenced over broken surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Touring	Limited	Class Average
5	5	5.2

Despite their overall size, these big vans are quite tractable. Impressively tight turning radius is a boon to close-quarters maneuverability. However, body lean in corners is fairly pronounced.

Quietness

Touring	Limited	Class Average
7	7	6.3

Along with the similar Grand Caravan, these are possibly the quietest minivans. Wind noise is impressively muted. Road noise is only an issue on Caravan 4.0-liter models--due in part to their standard sport suspension. The engines are generally quiet, though noise can intrude during acceleration, with the 4.0-liter V6 sounding especially coarse when pushed.

Controls

Touring	Limited	Class Average
7	7	6.2

Large dials and gauges are simple to locate and easy to read. Most controls are plainly marked and work as expected, though audio controls suffer undue complication on models with navigation system or Chrysler's MyGIG media management system. For 2008 Chrysler moves the shifter to the dashboard, an apparent novelty that quickly becomes second nature to use.

Details

Touring	Limited	Class Average
6	6	5.3

Interior assembly is mostly top notch, but hard plastic surfaces and low-grade materials dominate the cabin and disappoint at these prices.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Touring	Limited	Class Average
9	9	7.5

Wide, comfortable chairs contribute to long-haul comfort. Chrysler widened the upper portion of Town & Country's cabin for 2008, and the interior has a roomier more airy feel as a result. Visibility is very good in all directions, though the rear view is seriously compromised when both screens of the Dual DVD entertainment system are in use.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Touring	Limited	Class Average
9	9	7.6

No opportunity to test model without Stow 'n Go or Swivel 'n Go seating. On models with optional seating, 2nd-row passengers enjoy roomy, supportive buckets, though larger Swivel 'n Go seats offer more comfort and back support than Stow 'n Go units. The 3rd-row bench is plenty roomy for two passengers, but three-abreast seating is cramped for adults. Novel Swivel 'n Go seats work as advertised, allowing easy interaction between 2nd and 3rd-row riders. Available table a great idea but it is fairly small and difficult for 3rd-row passengers to reach once buckled.

Cargo Room

Touring	Limited	Class Average
10	10	10

Vast space available, though different seating configurations offer varying challenges to accessing that volume. Stow 'n Go second-row seating disappears into van floor as advertised, but process of folding the seat into the floor is more complicated and clumsy than it should be--though it is a welcome convenience not offered on rival minivans. Ditto Swivel 'n Go seats, which rotate easily enough but are complicated to remove and extremely heavy. Available power-folding 3rd-row is a marvel of convenience, however. Seat folds flat into floor or rolls to face rearward providing comfortable tailgate seating. Note the rear-facing seating position is not intended for use while van is in motion.

Value within Class

Touring	Limited	Class Average
9	8	7.1

Bigger and stronger, the redesigned Town & Country boasts all the space, functionality, and available power a minivan shopper could want. Along with the Grand Caravan from sister division Dodge, these new vans may not be as sporty as the Honda Odyssey or as well-appointed as the Toyota Sienna, but neither of those matches the T&C's and Caravan's Best Buy blend of family-friendly attributes and dollar value.

Total Score

Touring	Limited	Class Average
78	78	71.2

Scores for all Minivans

Low Score		62
Average Score		71
High Score		78