2009 Chrysler Town & Country: Road Test
2009 Chrysler Town & Country ▼
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- MSRP: $26,340 - $36,780
- Invoice: $24,336 - $33,732
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Our road test for the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country includes a full evaluation of the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country help you decide if a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 5.6 |
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 the Town & Country's approximately 4300-pound curb weight.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.3 |
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 averaged a surprisingly good 20.2 mpg in mostly highway driving over the course of its 16,229-mile evaluation. 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. The 3.3-liter V6 can also run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel.
RIDE QUALITY
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.6 |
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 noticeable over broken surfaces.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | 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 w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.4 |
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 w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6.4 |
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 Chrysler's uconnect multimedia/navigation system. Some testers also find the climate controls too low for quick adjustment. The shifter is mounted on the dashboard, but is simple to use and doesn't block access to controls.
DETAILS
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5.7 |
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 w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 8 |
Wide, comfortable chairs contribute to long-haul comfort. The interior has a roomy, airy feel. 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. No opportunity to test available blind-spot alert or Rear Cross Path systems.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 8.1 |
Second-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's fairly small, and difficult for 3rd-row passengers to reach once buckled.
CARGO ROOM
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | 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 w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 7.3 |
The 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 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 blend of family-friendly attributes and dollar value, making them easy Best Buy choices.
Total Score
| Touring w/3.8 V6 | Limited | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | 78 | 73.6 |
Total Score: 78
Scores for all Minivans
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