The Chrysler Town & Country is among the best in a
field of great minivans. Its innovative Stow 'n Go seating design makes it more
versatile than the competition. The 2007 Town & Country is roomy, comfortable,
practical, and powerful. Chrysler's minivan combines the practical
features of the Dodge Caravan with a higher level of equipment and style; it is
a luxurious minivan with an innovative seating design that adds greatly to its
versatility. Besides a new mix of colors, Chrysler's 2007 Town &
Country minivan is identical to the 2006 model. The Town & Country shares a
platform with the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan. Besides Stow 'n Go,
other innovative features include an available media player that plays CDs, MP3s
and DVDs.
Trims for 2007
The 2006 Chrysler Town & Country comes in four trim
levels: base, LX, Touring, and Limited. All models come with a four-speed
automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is not available.
The base model comes equipped with air
conditioning, power windows, cruise control, tilt steering column, remote
keyless entry, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, tire pressure monitor, 15-inch
steel wheels and dual manual sliding doors. The upholstery is cloth. The Stow 'n Go
seats are not included, however, and the second-row seat is a bench.
The LX is built on the same wheelbase as the
upmarket Touring and Limited, but is equipped similarly to the base model. It is
similar to the retired long-wheelbase Voyager. The most important feature of the LX
is that it
comes with Stow 'n Go seating. Also standard are heated power mirrors,
four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, and upgraded interior and exterior trim.
The Touring model is a Town & Country step
ahead, with dual power sliding doors, a power liftgate, three-zone manual
temperature control, six-speaker AM/FM/CD cassette audio, upgraded interior
trim, eight-way power driver's seat, improved interior lighting, overhead
console with trip computer, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls,
universal garage door opener, roof rack, 16-inch aluminum wheels, and traction
control.
The flagship Town & Country Limited is in many ways
a luxury vehicle, and it is in many ways an excellent value. It comes with
leather-trimmed upholstery, heated seats, GPS navigation, automatic climate
control with air filtering, 6CD/DVD changer with MP3 playback, a removable
center console, fog lights, automatic headlamps, Park Assist, power adjustable
pedals, and a memory function for the radio, driver's seat and mirrors.
Driving the Town & Country
Chrysler has set the minivan standard in ride
comfort and driving ease. Despite increased competition, these models still
serve as benchmarks. The 2007 Town & Country's light steering is appropriate and
automatic-transmission shifts are prompt and easy. The Town & Country Limited
delivers enough performance to impress on the highways. The ride is smooth
and comfortable, even on rough roads. The 2007 Town and Country is easy to
maneuver and park in crowded lots or on the street. The Chrysler is quiet
at high speeds; wind noise was reduced in the 2007 by using triple door seals,
molded gaskets, a more aerodynamic roof rack, and a spiraled antenna. The
four-wheel disc brakes that come on the long-wheelbase models stop them quickly
and without drama. Heavy-duty brake rotors and calipers ensure strong braking
performance, plus durability. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control, which
comes standard on the Limited, improve handling even more.
Safety
Front Impact airbags and antilock brakes are standard. Optional side curtain airbags protect occupants in all
three rows of seats. An inflatable knee blocker helps protect the driver. LATCH
child-safety seat anchors are installed, and rear parking assist is optional.
Chrysler Powertrain
Base and lower trims of the Town & Country are
powered by a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 180 horsepower, while a more powerful 205
horsepower 3.8-liter V6 comes standard on more expensive trims. All trims come
with a four-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Properly
equipped, the 2007 Town and Country can tow up to 3800 pounds, enough for
personal watercraft, an ATV, or a light boat.
Inside the Town & Country
The cabin of the Chrysler Town & Country is a
comfortable place for all seven passengers. The third row, unlike in most SUVs,
is spacious and easy to access. Seat belt anchors are height-adjustable in the
front and middle rows for improved comfort and safety. The cabin comes
equipped with a tilting steering column, remote keyless entry, tire pressure
monitor, 15-inch steel wheels and dual manual sliding doors. Upholstery is cloth
and the second-row seat is a bench. The amazing Stow 'n Go system only comes in
trims higher than the base trim. With this design, the seats folds flush with
the floor, and opens up more than 160 cubic feet of cargo space; this is
substantially more than in any sport-utility vehicle. When the second-row seats
are upright, two storage bins with integrated lids provide additional storage
space. Standard cargo net bags adjust to fit each storage bin. Folding and
unfolding the seats is a quick three-step process. Pull one strap to drop the
seatback, and then pull two other straps to tuck it into the floor, completely
out of sight. Very few seats fold perfectly flat and no one else (except Dodge)
has a second row that does this. Split-bench tailgate seating is made
possible by flipping the third-row seat rearward. The second-row seats move fore
and aft about four inches, recline up to 40 degrees and have 13 positions. The
third-row seatbacks recline up to 39 degrees and feature 12 positions.
Convenience features are all over the Town & Country cabin. Storage bins and
cargo nets assist with carrying groceries. Three adjustable, removable
bins fit into an overhead rail system, and one can hold an optional DVD
entertainment system's screen. Cargo volume behind the rear seat is 15.3 cubic
feet for standard-length models and 26.4 cubic feet for long-wheelbase minivans.
The low load height also makes loading cargo easier.
2007 Design
The 2007 Chrysler Town and Country has a raked
windshield, rising roofline and beltline, and fast D-pillars framing canted rear
windows that help it with aerodynamics. Pronounced wheel arches complement sharp
character lines that flank the integrated grille. The rear end is designed to
make Town & Country look wider than and not as tall as it really is. Huge
taillights feature clear red lenses and jewel-like reflectors. There is a black piece of
trim below the rear bumper for the Park Assist system that looks tacked on.
A winged Chrysler badge spans the full width of the grille, which has four
horizontal chrome bars. Sculpted headlights and round fog lamps are included.
Touring and Limited minivans get a roof rack and 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels,
while other versions ride on 15-inch steel wheels. For 2007, the new colors are
Cognac Crystal Pearl, Marine Blue Pearl Coat and Modern Blue Pearl Coat.
The Town & Country Limited packs a stronger engine
and more safety features than its competitors. The base model is even
comparable to others. Despite the growing choices of minivans available, the Town
& Country continues to be a popular choice. It is available in standard-length
base as well as extended-length LX, Touring and Limited models and it's Stow 'n
Go systems set it apart from others in the way of convenience and storage.
The Town & Country stands as a desirable family vehicle. It has an
estimated fuel economy range of 26 mpg Hwy, and 19 mpg City.