Used 2009 Chrysler Town & Country

Although it was temporarily overshadowed by the SUV as the symbol for family transport in third-millennium America, as recently as 2007 almost a million families opted for the arguably more functional minivan. Chrysler is widely credited with inventing the modern minivan and will soon be the only domestic manufacturer left in the game, as GM and Ford effectively replace their slow-selling minivans with three-row crossover SUVs. Fresh from last year’s complete redesign, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country – and the less chromed and woodgrained Dodge Grand Caravan – refine the segment by offering attractive seating and entertainment options clever enough to remain competitive with rival minivans from Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia.

If you’ve found the ride and handling of other minivans too soft or too firm, you might appreciate the Chrysler minivans’ balance between highway comfort and around-town responsiveness. We also appreciated the surprisingly competent steering and braking response, and found the 4.0-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission combination that’s exclusive to the Town & Country Limited model especially responsive and plenty powerful. The 3.8-liter V6 engine that we tested in the Grand Caravan is also satisfying, but the more powerful 4.0-liter version delivers identical EPA fuel economy. We’d look elsewhere in the segment before settling for the 175-horsepower base V6. The Chrysler minivans aren’t as nimble in parking lots as the exceptionally tight-turning Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

Sharing sheetmetal, powertrains and all but a few features, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan are most differentiated by unique interior styling. Whereas the Grand Caravan’s sportier gauge cluster and heavier use of black suggest a more athletic nature, the Town & Country combines wood-like and bright trim in conveying a more sophisticated persona. Available conveniences include Stow ‘N Go and Swivel ‘n Go second-row seating, integrated child booster seats and a class-exclusive power-folding third-row seat. Loading and unloading is predictably easy and the accommodations are comfortable.

After more ovoid third- and fourth-generation models, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country now appears more in-line with the boxier roots of the first couple of iterations. The latest sheetmetal and increased use of available chrome give the new model a look that’s both bold and sophisticated. Body-colored trim and steel wheel covers on the LX are substituted with more brightwork and aluminum wheels on the Touring and Limited trims, which also feature power sliding side doors and a power liftgate.

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

Swivel ‘n Go Seats
Although not without legroom challenges, the Swivel ‘n Go seating option that comprises swiveling second-row captain’s chairs and a hideaway, removable table takes the concept of the rolling family room to a new level. The fold-flat Stow ‘N Go seating system introduced on the previous generation is also available.

A base 2009 Chrysler Town & Country LX includes three-zone air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, stain-resistant cloth seating, woodgrain trim, second-row bench seat, 60/40-split fold-flat third-row seat and 16-inch covered steel wheels. Standard safety equipment includes electronic stability and traction controls plus front-impact and three-row side-curtain airbags.

The Town & Country’s most sophisticated option is a hard-drive-based uconnect gps system that offers navigation with real-time traffic information and features MP3/WMA music and JPEG image uploading, auxiliary audio input, voice-recognition, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone connectivity and more. Other notable options include back-up sensors and a rear-view camera, Blind Spot Monitoring system, Rear Cross Path system, power liftgate, power sliding doors (LX), power-folding third-row seat and high-intensity-discharge headlamps. Second-row seating options include fold-flat Stow ‘N Go or rearward-pivoting Swivel ‘n Go seats, integrated child booster seats, power windows and manual sunshades. A comprehensive entertainment system offers two nine-inch independent video displays.

We wouldn’t want to regularly haul around full loads with the base powertrain, comprised of a 3.3-liter V6 and four-speed automatic transmission, especially for very little improvement in fuel economy. The 3.8 is a much more reasonable choice, but it’s the 4.0-liter V6 that offers the best combination of power and fuel economy. Both the 3.8 and 4.0 also come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission.

3.3-liter V6
175 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
205 lb.-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 (gas), 11/16 (E85)

3.8-liter V6
197 horsepower @ 5200 rpm
230 lb.-ft of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23

4.0-liter V6
251 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
259 lb.-ft of torque @ 4100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25