Chrysler's Town & Country minivan was redesigned for 2008.
Chrysler Group, the minivan pioneer and sales leader, is hoping to breathe some life into this shrinking segment by redesigning its entries: the mainstream Dodge Grand Caravan and luxury-themed Chrysler Town & Country.
Short-term tests of these vans reveal a class-leading combination of powertrain and chassis refinement, vast available cargo space, and lots of innovative features. They're fresh now, but might they lose their luster over time?
This extended-use evaluation is of the Chrysler Town & Country in top-line Limited trim. Its smooth, refined 4.0-liter V6 engine provides ample power. Noise suppression from all sources is top notch. Ride quality is generally well controlled, though the van tends to lose its composure on broken pavement. Real-world fuel economy of 18.7 mpg is better than we expected.
Town & Country's interior ambiance is more upscale overall than Grand Caravan, but liberal use of budget-grade plastics is disappointing, especially for our test van's $41,000-plus sticker price.
For that money, our test van has gadgets and gizmos a-plenty, however. Chrysler's new Swivel 'n Go seats allow second-row passengers to rotate their position 180 degrees in order to face the third row. A small table can then be raised from the floor, creating a surface that allows passengers to talk to each other and/or play games. Other family-friendly features include dual-screen DVD entertainment with satellite TV that broadcasts several kid-friendly channels. Our van also has Chrysler's MyGIG multimedia system, which includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files.
In a market that continues to favor the SUV rather than the minivan, Town & Country might seem a bit anachronistic. Looking past the "soccer mom" stigma, however, reveals a versatile hauler with lots of features that should keep both parents and children happy, whether they're heading for a trip across town or across the country.The Vehicle Body Style: 4-door van Model: Limited Engine: 253-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Base Price: $35,985 Major
Options: Swivel 'N Go Seating Group, dual screen DVD entertainment
w/satellite TV, power folding 3rd-row seat, MyGig multimedia system,
wireless cell phone link Price As Tested: $41,165 Total Measured Miles: 1,450 Consumer Guide Observed Fuel Economy: 18.3 mpg Problems
During Test: At 1,450 miles into our test, the CD player refused to
eject a disc, requiring the replacement of the entire MyGig multimedia
system. This service was done under warranty, but it took a week to
complete the repair.
Don Sikora
II: There's a lot to like about the Town & Country. There are
plenty of features to keep the kids entertained, and enough clever
storage solutions to keep dad calm when loading up half the house for a
road trip to grandma's place. The driver's seat is comfortable, and the
driving experience is quite good for something this big. My only gripe
as a six-footer is that there could be more legroom in back, even in
the second row.Editors' Comments Tom Appel:
Chrysler's outstanding minivans are the clear benchmarks of the
category. Two editors and I took this van on an 800-mile voyage and
never wanted for anything in terms of comfort, quiet, or space. Think
of the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country as
luxury sedans with room for a large family, and you sort of get the
idea. Damon Bell:
What a pleasant people mover. This Town & Country has sprightly,
smooth acceleration, a supple ride, and composed road manners. Plus,
it's chock-full of child-pacification devices, so mom and dad can enjoy
this van in peace. David Hogan:
Our 2008 long-term T&C is my first exposure to a new Chrysler Corp
minivan in about two years. Although I find the exterior styling more
boxy than the more appealing swoopiness of c. 2002, this is a superior
vehicle in most every way. I'm impressed by the obvious evolution of
features, refinement, and functionality.
Chrysler added several family-friendly features like dual-DVD entertainment with satellite TV to its 2008 Town & Country.