This is a great time to be shopping for a new minivan. Ford, Toyota and Nissan launched all-new models for the 2004 model year and GM and Honda are introducing all-new models for 2005. To counter this, Chrysler has added more than a dozen new features to its Town & Country models, including an innovative new seating setup. And the price of entry has been dropped with the addition of two value-priced models.
Chrysler's new second- and third-row seats fold perfectly flat, flush with the floor, revealing more than 160 cubic feet of cargo space. That's substantially more than what's available in any sport-utility vehicle, including the behemoth Chevy Suburban. The Town & Country's seats are quickly and easily folded flat without having to remove the headrests. To accommodate the new seating system, Chrysler's engineers redesigned the Town & Country's underbody and designed a new fuel tank, exhaust system, parking brake cables, and rear climate control lines, and modified the rear suspension.
When the seats are in place, they provide comfortable perches for up to seven passengers. Storage bins and cargo nets assist with carrying groceries. Curtain air bags designed to provide full-length coverage for all three rows of seats are available, though they're not standard equipment.
The Town & Country offers a responsive engine, smooth, quiet ride. The luxurious Limited model comes with leather upholstery, upscale appointments, and dual power sliding doors and a power rear liftgate. GPS navigation, DVD entertainment, hands-free communication and other features are available for increased convenience. The Town & Country remains a solid choice in spite of new minivans from other manufacturers, and it makes a lot more sense for moving people around than an SUV.