Chrysler Town and Country Review

2008 Chrysler Town and Country Limited Minivan Shown

The most elite member of Chrysler's family of front-wheel-drive minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country has long appealed to families and empty-nesters seeking a practical vehicle with a dash of luxury inside and out. Early T&Cs satisfied this desire with wood-grain decals, leather seats and a standard V6 engine, while later models offer amenities like a navigation system, tri-zone climate control and a power-operated liftgate. Since its introduction for 1990, the Chrysler Town & Country has shared all of its mechanicals with its less upscale Dodge siblings, the Caravan and Grand Caravan, and that carries through to the current generation.

The one thing that minivan buyers tend to prize most is outstanding feature content; over the years, the Town & Country's performance in this area has been mixed. Some of the van's amenities have been truly ground-breaking. The T&C and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, have been the first and only vans to offer Stow 'n Go; this seating system provides fold-flat capability for both the second- and third-row seats, as well as in-floor storage compartments when the seats are occupied. They were also the first to offer driver-side sliding doors. But in other aspects, the T&C's feature list has often been a step behind the competition. It was among the last minivans to offer essential features like stability control and a rearview camera.

A 2008 redesign gives the van a new lease on life. The current T&C comes loaded with all the safety features buyers need, along with a host of innovative amenities that aren't offered by its rivals. New styling and a more powerful V6 engine are also part of the latest generation. These days, the Chrysler Town & Country is a bona-fide contender for the "Best in Class" sash.

Current Chrysler Town & Country

The new-for-'08 Chrysler Town & Country comes in three trims: LX, Touring and the premium Limited. Even the base model is reasonably well equipped, though many buyers will want to step up to the midlevel Touring to benefit from additional amenities such as a power liftgate and Stow 'n Go seating. With the Limited, you get the bonus of features like heated second-row seats and an eight-way power front passenger seat.

Powering the LX is a 3.3-liter V6 that offers 175 horsepower; it's paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Touring models get a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6, teamed with a new six-speed automatic transmission. Both these engines are carryovers from the previous-generation Town & Country. The most appealing choice is the all-new 4.0-liter V6 that powers Limited models. Paired with the six-speed transmission, the engine puts forth 251 hp and endows the van with pleasing quickness. The list of standard safety equipment on all Town & Country minivans is generous, and includes stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, and three rows of head-curtain airbags.

In the wake of its long-overdue redesign, the Chrysler Town & Country is more competitive than ever. It's roomier, more polished and offers a bevy of specialized features. A new feature for the current model is Swivel 'n Go seating; it offers second-row captain's chairs that turn 180 degrees to face the third row. Entertainment options are abundant. A three-zone video entertainment system allows front, middle and rear-seat passengers to view or listen to separate entertainment sources, and passengers can enjoy Sirius Backseat TV as an available option.

The T&C is hindered by a couple of shortcomings. This Chrysler is tuned to offer a ride that values comfort over all else, and as a result, steering and handling aren't very involving; if you're anticipating driving dynamics on par with the Honda Odyssey's, you'll be disappointed. Materials quality in the cabin is somewhat spotty. Buyers should also be aware that Chrysler's Town & Country doesn't offer an eight-passenger seating option; seven is the most you can carry. Overall, though, the current Town & Country is a winner. Consider this Chrysler if you're hunting for your next minivan.

Past Chrysler Town & Country Models

There have been four previous generations of the Chrysler Town & Country. The first-gen model was available only in 1990; the second generation spanned 1991-'95; the third, 1996-2000; and the fourth, 2001-'07.

The fourth-generation Chrysler Town & Country was offered in regular- and long-wheelbase sizes. From 2001-'03, the short-wheelbase vans were called Voyagers (following the demise of the Plymouth brand), but since then all Chrysler-brand vans have been badged as Town & Countrys. Chrysler has fiddled with the trim levels several times during this generation, so used-minivan buyers are likely to come across many different trim level nomenclatures.

Base models came with most essentials, though antilock brakes were optional. The midlevel trim was your ticket to the Stow 'n Go fold-flat seating system. Lower trims came with a 180-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6; in editorial reviews, we noted that this engine moved the van adequately around town but felt breathless at highway speeds. A stronger 3.8-liter V6 good for 215 hp was offered on midlevel and premium trims, making these better choices for most buyers.

The Chrysler Town & Country was one of the few minivans with an all-wheel-drive option, but this was discontinued for 2005, likely due to packaging constraints associated with Stow 'n Go, which debuted that year. (Earlier T&Cs did not have fold-flat seats.) This was also the first year you could get side curtain airbags; in previous years, only front seat-mounted side airbags were available.

One negative aspect of the fourth-generation Town & Country model was its inconsistent reliability. Chrysler responded to concerns about long-term durability in 2002 by instituting a seven-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty; however, this was rolled back to three-year/36,000-mile coverage in 2006.

For an older model, you'll want to check out the third-generation Town & Country, which was sold from 1996-2000. Although reliability has also been an issue on these vans, if you find one with a clean bill of health, it could still be a good source of family transportation.

The third-gen T&C was sleeker and more refined than most minivans of this era. And, along with its Dodge and Plymouth siblings, it was the first minivan to offer a driver-side sliding door, which gave parents the flexibility to load up the kids from either side of the van. The best years to look at are 1998 through 2000, when an upgraded version of the 3.8-liter V6 (good for 180 hp) was available. Other than spotty reliability, safety was the major shortcoming on third-generation Town & Countrys. Crash test scores were mediocre across the board and side airbags were not available.

The T&C's four earliest generations have all been plagued with reliability issues, but the first and second generation were especially troublesome, due to issues related to the automatic transmission. For this reason, we'd advise used-car buyers to steer clear of these oldest T&Cs.

SELECT A SPECIFIC CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.