Day-by-Day Review: 2010 Chrysler Town & Country

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2010 Chrysler Town & Country

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This week my ride is not a CUV or SUV or a sports car or a sedan; nope, this week it is the type of vehicle I drive the least, have the least knowledge about and, frankly, have the least excitement for — a bread box! Actually, that would be a bread box on wheels — the Chrysler Town & Country Limited edition with all the doo-dads.

And doo-dads it has, too: with a price of just over $41,000 this van certainly has everything the kiddies could want. Seating and cup-holders and of course two television screens for DVD viewing, one each for the second and third rows.

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The “kids” seated up front have lots of toys as well, such as: a navigation system, backup camera, power everything including passenger seat, rear hatch and both side doors, blind spot detection system, auto-dimming rear view and driver’s side mirror and satellite radio.

The Limited package that my tester is equipped with includes Stow’n Go standard second row seats, and is available with optional Swivel’n Go seating. Also standard is the 4.0L V6 engine, with 251hp and 259lb/ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that powers the front wheels.

No longer available on the new generation of Chrysler vans is the short wheel base option that was very popular in Canada, and as a result, this van is anything but mini!

2010 Chrysler Town & Country
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $41,220

For more information on Chrysler and the Town & Country visit Chrysler Canada

Day 2

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In terms of interior space for the dollar, you certainly are not going to find much of a better bargain than a minivan and the Chrysler Town & Country certainly offers more space than you may expect.

With the seats up, cargo room is excellent as the recessed area for the third row seats provides more than plenty of room for groceries or even a hockey bag.

Behind the front row hidden under the floor mats is the space reserved for the middle Stow ‘n Go seats to fold into; these too can be used for hidden cargo if one desires, as well.

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Fold the seats into the floor and things get almost out of hand in terms of cargo capacity. You could easily exceed the gross vehicle weight well before filling the interior.

The third row is powered and can be lowered 60/40 if required. Stowing the middle row requires moving the two front seats fully forward but then they easily flip and fold into the floor, revealing enough cargo room to move a small apartment.

The third row is far enough from the rear that I would feel safe latching kids in there and getting back there isn’t a backbreaking exercise either: a low cargo floor and the big sliding doors makes dealing with people and cargo easy.

Yes, the Town & Country’s dash and other bits feel like they are made from the same plastics you might find in the toy chest, but at least the interior doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t.

Ergonomics for the driver are not the greatest, though, with the radio controls and HVAC controls being a good stretch away. The navigation system interface seems outdated and an afterthought, too. If you want hip and trendy in your minivan you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Day 3

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How does one describe the driving experience of the Town & Country minivan? It is not really much of an experience, actually; it does get you from A to B and back to B and perhaps to C along the way, but there will be no experience gained. Rather, it just “is.”

The ride is compliant and fairly smooth, the engine is quiet when driven sensibly but emits a roar when pushed to get the van going in a rushed scenario. My tester is wearing winter tires, too, so there is some road noise but it is not overly noisy.

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My tester also has close to 15,000km on the clock so it is more than broken in. Unfortunately, I expect a vehicle with 15,000km to still feel like a new car but something in the suspension feels clunky, worn and a little jarring over potholes and the like.

The last Town & Country I drove back in 2008 seemed more agile, more sporty, while something about this one seems old. The stability control system is very aggressive: I can confirm that as I exited the highway it intervened, which I thought was odd considering I certainly was not attempting any type of crazy high-speed hijinks.

So, is it exciting? No. But it will take you from A to B and it will do so comfortably with your five kids in tow and the kitchen sink in the trunk.

Day 4

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Well, it isn’t half bad driving a minivan around: it’s not horrible on gas and it certainly can carry a lot of cargo. I estimate it can carry six dishwashers in the back, perhaps even eight if one really piled them up, which is pretty impressive. The ride is relaxed and comfortable and the only big issue is that, well, there isn’t much on the road as horribly uncool as a minivan.

Gas mileage wasn’t bad: last time I drove the Town & Country in 2008 I averaged 16L/100km, so I tried to be frugal this week and averaged 11.9L/100km. For awhile there I thought I was going to manage 10.5 but the computer readout climbed and climbed over the week as I drove more and more in the city.

On the highway, the Town & Country can achieve good economy, something around the 9.5L/100km mark and perhaps down to 9.0L/100km if you travel at the true legal highway limit — not bad for a rather large vehicle. By the way, I had fun zipping around parking lots today while shopping for the aforementioned appliance, and the Town & Country, despite its size, is easy to drive in tight spaces.

*Rating out of 5: