2008 Chrysler Town and Country Review

Who could ask for anything more?
Chrysler brand cornered the market when it introduced the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country in late 1983. These vehicles were the first minivans and a huge hit with growing families. Through the years, the Chrysler corporation vans were perennial bestsellers and introduced many minivan firsts, including the driver-side sliding door, the power liftgate, and stow-n-go second-row seating. For 2008, Chrysler hopes a completely redesigned Town & Country and Grand Caravan will keep these twins leaders of the minivan pack.

Though the new vans are only marginally bigger than their predecessors, Chrysler claims it has packed in more than 35 new or significantly improved features. Key new features include a larger optional engine, power third-row seats, and class-exclusive Swivel 'n Go second-row seating. Swivel 'n Go seats are optional in all models and replace the Stow 'n Go seats. They do not fold into the floor but are removable and rotate a full 180 degrees for face to face interaction between second- and third-row passengers.

Town & Country is available in three models: LX, Touring, and Limited. All ride a 121.2-inch wheelbase and are 202.5 inches long. Front bucket seats and a fold-into-the-floor three-place rear bench spli-tseat are standard. LX models get a second-row three-place bench with built in child-safety seat. Touring and Limited models get twin fold-into-the-floor second-row bucket seats. Optional for the second row on all models are two Swivel 'n Go bucket seats.

Standard on the LX is a 175-horsepower 3.3-liter V6. Standard on the Touring is a 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. Both engines carry over from the previous generation and are overhead-valve designs. New for '08 is a 251-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 that is standard on the Limited. It has a dual-overhead camshaft design and is also available in the Chrysler Pacifica. The 3.3 comes with a four-speed automatic. The 3.8 and 4.0 come with a new six-speed automatic. All models are front-wheel drive and come standard with traction control.

Antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, and front- and side-curtain airbags with rollover protection are standard. Rear obstacle detection and back-up camera are optional. Side airbags are not available.

Other new features for 2008 include a front console that slides fore and aft, overhead console with storage compartments, power windows in the sliding doors, sunshades for second- and third-row windows, remote start, ambient lighting, removable and rechargeable flashlight, and second-row heated seats.

Entertainment features are also greatly enhanced for '08. New this year are a dual-screen DVD entertainment system and Sirius satellite TV, which includes Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Also available are a premium 506-watt surround-sound system, 115-volt power outlet, and Chrysler's MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System with built in hard drive for music, picture, and video storage.

The Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan are built in Ontario, Canada, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Get up and Go
The carryover 3.8-liter V6 is powerful enough for most minivan duties. It provides good pull away from stoplights and adequate passing power. With a full load of passengers and cargo the engine strains to keep up with traffic and labors in highway passing situations. If you do a lot of full-load driving, it might be best to opt for the more-powerful 4.0-liter V6.

The engine isn't the smoothest in the class. However, it is acceptably quiet in routine driving and not overly intrusive in passing. The new six-speed automatic transmission upshifts smoothly and downshifts quickly. It sometimes hesitates between gears when the vehicle is ascending mild grades.

EPA estimates with the 3.8-liter engine are 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Those are 2008 EPA numbers. For comparison's sake, the 2007 model scored the same ratings on the 2008 scale. In routine driving expect to average about 18 mpg. If you do a lot of highway traveling, 23 mpg is possible, but you have to drive with a light throttle foot.

On the Road
I'm always amazed when enthusiast magazines criticize minivans for sloppy handling. Minivan buyers don't expect sports-car handling. The key to minivan driving dynamics is a s - m - o - o - t - h ride without excess bouncing. The previous-generation Town & Country did offer a smooth ride, but it also bounced and bobbed a bit too much on bumpy roads. The '08 T&C offers a smooth and comfortable ride with any excess bouncing. There's also less head toss than the previous model.

In the handling department, the '08 Town & Country can run circles around the previous model. That isn't to say it is going to win any parking-lot gymkhanas, but the '08 model certainly inspires more confidence when the road grows twisty. Body lean is still a problem, but the steering is more direct and natural, and the brakes have ample stopping power.

Chrysler also paid a lot of attention to suppressing wind and road noise. Even at highway speed there's barely a hint of wind noise in the front seat. Road noise is also well isolated. Third-road passengers will note more of both, but the sound levels never grow objectionable. Sadly, the engine groans coarsely in hard acceleration.

Behind the Wheel
Arguably, the most important part of any minivan is the interior. Chrysler has had years of experience in designing minivan interiors and its engineers clearly know what works and what doesn't. For example, the materials are rugged and durable, but not overly fancy, most cup holders are removable and dishwasher safe, and there are ample lock-out control to prevent small children from messing with the radio and climate controls.

Gauges are right in front of the driver. Entertainment system controls are high in the center of the dashboard. A touch screen is available to help manipulate the myriad of audio and video options. You don't need to read the owner's manual for basic operation and simple controls like the station presets and volume controls have their own buttons. The climate controls are a bit low, but still easily accessible. Simple dials manage the temperatures in all three zones.

The rear-seat video screens aren't as large as in some competitors, but they are big enough and have a sharp picture. The newly-available satellite TV works as advertised with hardly a hiccup in transmission. It makes great sense for short trips because you don't have to fiddle with menus or play buttons each time you stop and start.

Another great feature is the available sliding center console. It normally resides between the front bucket seats, but can slide back for second-row access. In addition, the top can then slide forward, leaving the bin open to the back, but the top toward the front. Chrysler also redesigned the bin covers for the Stow 'n Go seats. You can now access that compartment more easily on the go.

Front seats are very chair-like and upright. They aren't too hard for long trips or too soft for twisty roads. In other words, they are just about perfect for a minivan. Power pedals and tilt steering wheel make it easy for the driver to get comfortable, but a telescope feature would be welcome. Visibility is great to the front and sides. The optional park assist and back-up camera are a great plus when parking.

Second-row seat comfort is a mixed bag. The Stow 'n Go seats are somewhat small and really only comfortable for kids. The available Swivel 'n Go seats are much more substantial and offer full-size-adult comfort. Both seats offer plenty of leg and head room, however. If you turn the Swivel seats around, you're fighting for legroom with the third-row seats.

The third-row seats themselves are much more supportive than those in the previous-generation T&C. They do offer decent head and leg room, but they aren't quiet long-trip adult comfortable. Getting to the third-row seats is a bit tricky unless you use the middle pass through.

Power second-row windows are a nice touch as are available second-and third-row sunshades. There is also a power option for the third-row seats. While this is a nice feature, it really only makes sense if you can't easily reach into the cargo area to flip and fold those seats.

Cargo capacity plays a huge role in the success of a minivan, and if that was the only measure, the new Town & Country would win by a landslide. Not in overall cargo volume mind you, as the T&C falls a few feet short of the class leaders, but in cargo functionality. The ace in the hole for Chrysler are the Stow 'n Go storage bins. This gives Chrysler a huge leg up when it comes to hidden storage.

In addition to a deep well behind the third-row seats, there are also numerous storage bins and cubbies and a number of overhead bins. The one-piece tailgate opens tall enough for an adult to walk under and the optional power-close button is located on the sidewall where it is easier to access for vertically challenged adults.

Bottom Line
OK. I'll admit it; I'm a minivan fan and have been ever since my wife had our second child. Over the years of driving thousands of different vehicles, I have come to the conclusion that there's simply no better and safer vehicle for a growing family than a minivan.

It is true the minivan has developed the well-deserved stigma as a boring mom-mobile. Yet, there is no doubting that people who reject the minivan because of what it is, rather than what it can do, are posers who are more interested in massaging their egos than doing what's right for their family.

That said, Chrysler knows how to build a great minivan and the new Town & Country, and its stablemate Dodge Grand Caravan, are perhaps the best minivans ever. They are quieter and more functional than any of their competitors and more than meet the needs of families without compromising on utility, safety, or economy.

Now for the best part: The prices. Chrysler claims to have cut the retail price of the Town & Country by an average of $1400 while adding $2000 worth of additional standard equipment. How could they do this? Actually, Chrysler just adjusted the retail price to get it in line with the actual transaction price. That means lower prices and lower rebates. In the end that works out in everyone's favor and makes a fantastic vehicle even more irresistible.