Used 2012 Chrysler Town & Country

Like the Chrysler Corporation itself, the Town & Country underwent a substantial transformation in 2011, with new front and rear styling, a new engine and suspension, and a vastly improved interior. One of the oldest nameplates in production, the Town & Country name has long evoked fine living, from the jaunty convertibles with real wood body trim in the 1940s and 1950s to the yacht-sized wagons last seen in 1977 to the woody-effect K-car wagons and convertibles of the 1980s. Reborn as a luxury minivan in the 1990s, this is the status the Town & Country holds today, and it retains the class to itself. From its big rear-seat entertainment system to its innovative cabin amenities, the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country remains a standout choice for fine family living on the go.

If you haven’t driven a Town & Country since its transformation in 2011, it’s worth some time behind the wheel. The revamped suspension provides excellent road manners, with precise steering, minimal body roll and a velvety ride. Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has power in reserve and can move a fully loaded Limited model without making you wish for a HEMI V8. The engine and transmission work fairly seamlessly, never feeling overburdened or indecisive, and the dash-mounted gear selector is easy to master. Noise levels inside the Town & Country are quiet enough to make conversation easy among all three rows. Faults are hard to find in the Town & Country, but it’s something of a reach to use its touch-screen audio system, and a somewhat wide turning radius makes it feel less nimble in parking lots, especially when compared to the exceptionally tight-turning Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

Chrysler minivans have long been a showcase of innovation, and now the Town & Country offers the refined appearance to match. Soft-touch trim and chrome-trimmed instruments’ elegant LED lighting complement standard leather on the first two rows of seats as well as the manually tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Standard power front seats are supportive yet supple, and Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go second-row bench remains the industry benchmark, with easy folding and under-floor storage when the seats are in use. The third row can be flipped 90 degrees for tailgate-party seating. It’s easy to lose count of the many bins, cubbies and power ports, though a 115-volt household-style outlet is a standout.

Sparkling chrome with sparks of innovation continue to make the Town & Country shine. Its 2011 makeover added the new wave-form chrome grille and jeweled headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard across the board. All six side windows, the liftgate and both sliding doors are power-operated, with the slider rails concealed between the rear side windows and chrome trim, a styling lesson Honda should learn. The standard roof rack features clever Stow ‘n Place crossbars that fold into the side rails when not in use.

Audio/Video Options
In addition to the comprehensive Uconnect infotainment system up front, Chrysler’s flagship minivan offers dual, independent rear video screens that allow second- and third-row passengers to watch two different DVD movies, play different video games or even watch the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network Mobile via SiriusXM Backseat TV.

Heated Steering Wheel
A feature offered on no other minivan, this small convenience is greatly appreciated on mornings when the thermometer dips into single digits.

Chrysler’s entry-level 2012 Town & Country Touring comes well-furnished, with 8-way power front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and 3-zone air conditioning. Power windows are featured in all three rows, the rearmost being flip-open vents. The CD/DVD/MP3/SiriusXM audio features a large touch screen, a hard drive and steering-wheel controls, and there is a rear DVD system with a 9-inch screen in the second row. The smooth 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Standard safety systems include 3-row side-curtain airbags, front side-impact airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, electronic stability control, Brake Assist and a rearview camera.

Navigation, proximity keyless entry, a heated steering wheel and a SafetyTec package including Rear Park Assist and Rear Cross Path Detection are among the few options available on the Touring model. Stepping up to the Touring-L adds chrome mirrors and the SafetyTec package as standard, while option choices expand as well, including second-row bucket seats, a third-row DVD screen and a power sunroof. The top-line Limited adds power first- and second-row seats with fancier leather, a power-folding third-row seat, the third-row DVD, xenon headlights, a heated leather-and-wood steering wheel, and the UConnect media system with Bluetooth phone and audio, iPod connectivity and navigation.

The Chrysler Town & Country offers a single drivetrain configuration: the new-for-2011 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 teamed with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Pentastar is easily Chrysler’s most enjoyable V6 to date and may even rank as one of the best V6 engines on the market. Smooth, powerful and fairly fuel-efficient, its 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque are a welcome improvement for the Town & Country, allowing it to finally compete with the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. In addition, the Pentastar is Flex Fuel compatible, meaning it can run on a combination of gasoline and E85 ethanol.

3.6-liter V6
283 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 (gasoline), 12/18 (E85)