2011 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Review & Test Drive

When it comes to searching for transportation that can seat 7 or more passengers,  the Chrysler Town & Country is one of those vehicles to fit that demographic in America. This has been and continues to be on the forefront in the minivan segment.
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country now introduces newly styled exterior, a slightly enhanced interior, and the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine.


At the heart of America, the minivan somehow still manages to find its way into many homes along side of the gas-guzzling SUV alternatives. With gas prices steadily rising, the minivan has become an attractive choice with families needing the extra seating. The new Chrysler Town & Country beckons to fill that void.

Some will argue that there is no such thing as a luxury minivan and I would have to somewhat agree with that notion. However, after spending a week in the new Chrysler Town & Country Limited edition, I must admit that if there really is such a thing as a luxury minivan, then the Town & Country Limited would fit the bill. My 2011 Town & Country Limited minivan was loaded with several luxury amenities offering a cushy ride that could put you to sleep. Setting the Town & Country apart from the similar Dodge Caravan are a few extra �luxury� features such as a heated steering wheel, rear power liftgate, upgraded leather appointed seats, keyless entry-exit with push-button start, Xenon headlights, 17-inch aluminum wheels, blind-spot monitoring w/ cross-path detection, heated front and second row seats, 6.5-inch touch-screen Garmin-based navigation/satellite stereo system and rear-seat dual-screen DVD/satellite TV entertainment system. The list of options that can be had on a new Town & Country is rather long but delightfully appeases to the needs of owners and potential buyers.

Driving the new Chrysler Town & Country can at times put you in a state of serenity but I am not sure that is such a good thing when nothing excites you except the surround sound coming from the rear-seat entertainment system. The ride of the Town & Country is soft, the softest out of any minivan I have driven. Fortunately, the shock rebound keeps the Town & Country civilized on bumpy roads but mushy around corners this has improved to a great extent over previous years Chrysler Town & Country. In other words, the Town & Country feels heavy at times. The Pentastar V6 engine with 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque does a decent job of toting around all 4652 pounds plus cargo. The Town & Country is noticeably slower than the comparable Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna V6 but still manages to provide a sufficient amount of passing power on the highway. The steering feel is a bit neutral, but the rack provides a great turning radius in tight spots for such a large vehicle.

Inside of the new Town & Country you will find ample seating for either 7 or 8 passengers depending on the configuration. My 7-passenger Town & Country surprisingly had comfortable 3^rd row power-folding seats. The 3^rd row is by far the easiest to fold out of the way via the power controls. The power folding 3^rd row (Stow n� Go) offers the ability to fold them fully down or in a reclined configuration all with a push of a button. This is a major selling point for those looking for a minivan that offers easily obtainable flavors of rear seating and storage options. The three-zone climate controls add to the comfort for rear passengers with a full-set of controls to isolate them from the two front zones. Adjustable LED ambient lighting through the rear seating areas and roof put the icing on the cake for this �luxury� minivan.

Overall the new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country is an excellent contender in the minivan segment. Given that the Town & Country is more of a subdued and luxury-appointed minivan, it may appeal to a certain type of buyer more-so than say the sportier Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. Gas mileage has also been improved getting a good 17mpg city and 25mpg highway. The 20-gallon tank allows a long cruise range of up to 500 miles on a single fill-up. That makes the new Town & Country perfectly fit for a town or country cruise, no pun intended. The Limited edition Town & Country starts at $38,660 while my test vehicle came in at $40,410 with the optional Stow n� Go power-folding 3^rd row seats and second row luxury bucket seats.  The Touring edition Town & Country starts at just $30,106.
by automotiveaddicts.com