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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