Chrysler Town & Country Interior Review
We can't say enough about how much we love the sliding doors on both sides of the Town & Country. They improve access considerably. The two-sided access means you don't have to walk around to the passenger side to fetch an impatient toddler. Heated leather front seats (standard on the Limited and optional on the LXi) are a big plus in Michigan and other chilly regions.
For hauling smaller loads, the seat backs can be folded down yielding enough room for the proverbial sheet of plywood. For bigger loads, the back seats can be removed, and the center-row bucket seats can be quickly unlatched and pulled through the sliding side doors. A firm yank on a lever pops the third-row bench seat up onto a set of wheels, allowing it to be rolled backwards and removed via the tailgate. However, you'll need another person to do so, because they are not light.
The front seats are plush and comfy, and provide a panoramic view of the road ahead. There's copious headroom and legroom, whether you're in the front seats or the second-row seats. Getting into the back seats is easy, and those seats are quite comfy. The rear bench can seat two adults or three children.
The Town & Country is one of the most spacious minivans on the market, with 163.4 cubic feet of cargo space. By comparison, GM's extended minivan family, the Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Montana, offer just 156 cubic feet. The Honda Odyssey, which made headlines for its size, offers just 141.1 cubic feet.
Chrysler Town & Country Road Test
The Town & Country feels firmly planted in corners and stable at high speeds. Chrysler tuned the suspension to ride like a sedan. Its rigid chassis makes it feel solid, an important benefit in a taller vehicle, whether it's a minivan or a sport-utility.
The Town & Country's rack & pinion power steering impressed us with its responsiveness in quick lane-change maneuvers. The road-noise issue--long a problem with all minivans--was abated when Chrysler redesigned the Town & Country in 1996. So the Town & Country delivers a ride that's more serene than most minivans. And it rivals many sedans when it comes to interior quietude.
Our Limited test model was powered by the 3.8-liter V6, which produces180 horsepower at 4400 rpm and 240 foot-pounds of torque at 3200 rpm. The 3.8-liter engine, the brawniest one offered in Chrysler's minivan stable, is absolutely our favorite. The smaller 3.3-liter engine, which puts out 158 horsepower and 203 foot pounds of torque, certainly provides enough boost for the short-wheelbase Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Voyager, but we recommend the 3.8-liter engine for the longer, heavier Town & Country models.
The 3.8-liter engine packs more than enough thrust when accelerating from a dead stop. The extra horses were definitely appreciated in freeway merging and passing situations. Brakes are a special concern on larger vehicles because you may be carrying a heavier load and some very important passengers. The Town & Country addresses those concerns by coming to an assured, firm stop, with no grabbing or fading.
Chrysler Town & Country Lineup
Chrysler's Town & Country and Voyager and the Dodge Caravan come in many different trim levels. Voyager and Caravan are available in both long- and short-wheelbase versions. Town & Country is based on the long-wheelbase chassis. (For 2000, Chrysler has dropped the short-wheelbase SX from their Town & Country stable.)
Town & Country is available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It comes standard with a long list of luxury features. The Limited edition offers even more high-end comforts: leather seats with suede accents, a rear bench seat with center armrests and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.
Three Town & Country editions are available for 2000: LX, LXi and Limited. Now that the LX is the entry-level model, the trim-level distinctions between the LX and LXi are greater than in years past. Retail prices for front-wheel-drive (FWD) models: LX ($26,360), LXi ($28,415), Limited ($34,265). Retail prices for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) models: LX ($29,525), LXi ($31,590), Limited ($36,640).
Our Limited came equipped with two options: a $125 seven-passenger seat-configuration option that includes center-row quad seats and a child seat, and the ashtray and lighter for another $20. Adding in the $590 destination charge brings the price up to $35,000.