2012 Chrysler Town & Country: In spite of everything you’ve heard

In recent years, minivans, the very vehicle we worshipped in the 1980s, have fallen out of favour. SUVs and crossovers are now more sought after, and sometimes rightly so (more dynamic ride, all-wheel drive, modern body, etc.). However, like it or not, minivans remain paragons of versatility. And if you need to transport six or seven people and their bags, you simply cannot thumb your nose at this type of vehicle. Unless you’re not repulsed by the idea of buying a massive Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban, that is.
Yes, minivans (which haven’t really been “mini” for many years) are extraordinarily roomy, well designed and definitely very comfortable. Several months ago, we test drove a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country. And a strange thing happened. Even though none of my friends or family envisioned themselves at the wheel of this sort of “geezermobile”, they all suddenly seemed to have something that they just had to transport!

After lugging someone’s chair across town, someone else’s bike, an old acquaintance’s new T.V. and filing boxes from the office, I was finally able to really take advantage of the Town & Country – by helping my son move.

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Rumour has it

For starters, note that the Town & Country is the luxury version of the Dodge Grand Caravan and it has, more or less, a clone at Volkswagen: the Routan. For months, rumour has had it that the 2013 Grand Caravan (that was in need of a complete overhaul) would be discontinued, leaving just the Town & Country in the catalogue. Furthermore, word was that Americans would have only the T&C, while Canadians would keep only the Grand Caravan. For the moment, however, both models are still sold in Canada and the more expensive Town & Country is less popular than the Dodge.

If picturing yourself at the wheel of a Lotus Evora S is enough to make you drool, chances are that driving this minivan won’t do anything for you. But the truth of the matter is that these vehicles aren’t all bad. For example, while there’s absolutely nothing sporty about the Chrysler Town & Country, its accelerations and pick up are impressive, and the steering, although it isn’t the best in the business, has been improved in terms of feedback and precision. But again, this is no sports car. The suspensions, which put comfort first, roll somewhat in turns, and the brakes, while they can handle regular situations, wouldn’t be up to the task in challenging circumstances.

Pentastar

The same engine is found in the whole Grand Caravan/Town & Country/Volkswagen Routan line, namely the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 producing 283 horsepower and 260 lbs-ft of torque. At nearly 2,000 kilos, this vehicle is no lightweight, but its performances are very respectable. It goes from 0-100 in 9.2 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h in only 8 seconds. This engine is both adaptable and determined and it’s paired with a brilliantly smooth six-speed transmission. During our week-long test drive, our T&C consumed 12.5 litres per 100 km, which is exactly what Chrysler has posted for city driving. In addition to not being very light, the T&C is about as aerodynamic as a garage door.

Because you don’t have a choice!

Unlike in decades past, these days you don’t buy a minivan to show off; you buy one because you don’t have a choice! Fortunately, the Town & Country has other good qualities. Our test vehicle was a very well-equipped Limited. Its leather-upholstered seats are comfortable both in front and in the second-row captain’s chairs. If I had to drive to Florida, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to do it in a Town & Country! However, I didn’t like the third row. Not that it was uncomfortable, but the position of the seat and the seatback makes you feel like you’re sitting in a V shape. Of course, the same can be said for the Grand Caravan and Routan.

Although automobile journalists have called the Stow n’ Go system great time after time, I can now confirm that it is in fact...great! Indeed, if the second-row seats have to be removed to, let’s say, transport very cumbersome items, they can be hidden in a cavity in the floor and it can be done with child-like simplicity. To my knowledge, no other manufacturer offers this possibility. What’s more, when the seats are in place, the cavities become storage spaces. Bravo! Note that the third-row seats, like those of most other manufacturers, also fold into a cavity and form a completely flat surface.

$$$$

The storage spaces are very numerous and they liven up trips while the numerous accessories that the Town & Country Limited possesses add to the pleasure, not only of driving but of living! However, the price of our test vehicle ($41,845 after the various rebates) really makes you think. At that price, a Honda Odyssey, for example, might start to look pretty good. If you don’t need a vehicle loaded to the max, a Dodge Grand Caravan could do the job very well for a lot less!