The minivan segment was once a hot one -- back in the 1980s and 1990s -- but the crossover segment has swooped in and replaced it as the go-to people hauler. It was Chrysler that really revolutionized the minivan segment, and it remains a player in this segment with its Town & Country.
Pricing and Equipment
The Chrysler Town & Country is one of the more expensive minivans available today, starting from $29,995 in base LX trim. However, for this money, the Town & Country does come pretty well equipped with standard features like:
- Power-sliding rear doors
- Six-speaker audio system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and 30GB hard drive
- Nine inch rear screen and HDMI input
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Buyers looking for even more luxury can opt for increasingly lavish Touring, S, Touring-L, Limited, and Limited Platinum trim levels.
Performance Pros
With its 3.5-liter V6 that produces a peppy 283 horsepower, the Town & Country has what we consider acceptable straight-line acceleration. Keep in mind, though, this is a minivan, not a sports car, so it has a soft ride that focuses on delivering a comfortable ride in all conditions.
Performance Cons
We understand that the Chrysler tuned the suspension for comfort instead of sport, but we find the Town & Country a bit too squishy at times. Its key competitors from Honda and Nissan feel far more secure in the corners. We'd also like to see all-wheel drive on the option list.
Interior Pros
With a nice list of standard features and plenty of options, the Town & Country has a decidedly premium feel.
Interior Cons
- The leather upholstery, though luxurious, may not be an ideal material for families with young children.
- Interior design is starting to feel dated.
The Most Pleasant Surprise
We're already impressed by the standard equipment on the base Town & Country, but moving up through the trim levels brings even more premium features like a Blu-Ray player, Nappa leather seating, and a nine-speaker audio system.
The Least Pleasant Surprise
Safety ratings just aren’t on par with its competitors. The Nissan Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and the Kia Sedona all received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, but the Town & Country gets only four stars. While this may not seem like a huge gap, safety is an especially important factor when choosing a car for your family.
The Bottom Line
The 2016 Chrysler Town & Country is a great minivan, though a tad behind the times in terms of safety and looks. What it lacks in these areas, it makes up for in its wide array of standard features and options.
