While
many drivers have traded minivans for crossover SUVs —
which are little more than minivans with attitude —
minivans persist, if only because their practicality is
hard to beat. That big, square shape makes hauling kids
and stuff — perhaps, say, a new big screen TV — a lot
easier.
A
week with Chrysler's Town & Country minivan shows it
to be very accommodating as a family room.
There
are two seating options. "Stow 'n Go" seating,
which is standard on all Chrysler Town & Country
models, features second- and third-row seats that quickly
fold into the floor. It's very convenient. For a truly
indulgent minivan, go for the "Swivel 'n Go"
seats. The second-row swivels 180 degrees to face the
third row and features integrated child booster seats. A
removable table installs between the two rows, and the
third-row seats fold into the floor.
Add
a rear dual-screen DVD entertainment system and Sirius
Backseat TV, and your offspring are sure to be happy. And
so will you.
Beyond
the clever seating, the Town & Country offers options
to keep everyone comfy. For instance, most homes don't
have dual-zone climate control, let alone three zones.
This minivan does. It also has a video remote control,
wireless headphones, an audio-input jack for iPods, a 30
gb hard-drive that holds 6,700 songs, rear-seat window
shades, and heated first-and second-row seats.
My
favorite feature? Aside from the power sliding doors and
lift gate, it's the "conversation mirror," a
mirror mounted in the front seats that allows parents to
keep track of rear-seat hijinks.
If
you're hauling your family, you want a safe vehicle. The
Town & Country has earned five-star crash test
ratings, along with four stars for rollover protection.
Given
those numbers, you'd expect a lot of safety gear, and this
van has the expected — anti-lock brakes, stability
control, front and side curtain air bags — and the
unexpected — rear vision camera, blind-spot detection
and cross-path detection. Those last two items alert the
driver when there's a car in the operator's blind spot or
a person walking behind the vehicle.
There
are three trim levels and three engines. Base LX minivans
come with a 175-horsepower, 3.3-liter overhead-valve V6
and old-school four-speed automatic transmission.
Mid-level Touring models get a 197-horsepower, 3.8-liter
overhead-valve V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. A
251-horsepower, 4.0-liter single-overhead-cam V6 is
optional on the Touring and standard on the
top-of-the-line Limited.
Driving
this vehicle isn't memorable, but this isn't a sports car.
Like driving any minivan, piloting this big box feels more
like guiding a hallway. And the Chrysler's soft suspension
allows for a lot of body lean during corners and an
occasional bit of floatiness. Most of the time, this is
fine. But if you try to hustle, the Town & Country
feels a bit unwieldy.
The
driving position is excellent, allowing for a commanding
view of the road. The front seats are comfortable. The
cabin is fairly quiet; only engine noise intrudes, and
then only when revved.
Speaking
of engines, the extra $630 you'll pay for the 4.0-liter V6
is well worth it . The Touring test model clocked in at a
hefty 4,621 pounds. Add you, your family and your stuff
and you'll want all 251 horsepower while merging onto
I-64. You won't pay any penalty at the pump; it gets the
best EPA rating of the three available engines, with
mileage comparable to a V6-powered, midsize sedan.
The
only sour note with this Chrysler came from the ghost in
the machine, or, to be more specific, the radio. At one
point, the controls on the audio system stopped working.
The radio would come on for a couple minutes and shut off.
It would come on a couple minutes later and shut off
again. As mysteriously as this appeared, it stopped after
a couple days.
Aside
from that odd hiccup, the Chrysler Town & Country
proved to be the able family hauler most families would
appreciate.
Hip?
No. Practical? All day long. Comfy? Indeed. Safe? Yup.
And
in the end, that's what really matters.
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STATS
Engine:
4.0-liter SOHC V6
Wheelbase:
121.2 inches
Length:
202.5 inches
Weight:
4,621 pounds
Cargo
space: 32.3-82.7 cubic feet
Towing
capacity: 3,800 pounds
EPA
rating (city/highway): 17/27 mpg
Fuel
economy: 19 mpg
Fuel
type: Regular unleaded
Base
price: $28,425
As
tested: $37,300
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