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The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Review: 2014 is a big one for automotive milestones. 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of Dodge, the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and the 25th anniversary of both Lexus and Infiniti. And another one will stand out to people with children to haul around: the 30th anniversary of the minivan.
It’s hard to believe it, but minivans have been around in their current form for three decades now. Chrysler essentially invented the modern minivan format back in 1984, and it’s taken on a leadership role ever since. Chrysler minivans have offered 78 industry firsts, everything from the first seats that fold flat into the floor to the first Blu-ray DVD player in a van.
To celebrate its 30th year of production, Chrysler is offering a special 30th Anniversary Edition of the Town & Country with commemorative badging, special paint and black interior trim.
There are plenty of things to like in the latest Town & Country. The Stow n’ Go seats are still the best solution I’ve ever seen for easily folding the second-row seats down into the floor, and the test vehicle came loaded with features my kids loved, including two different Blu-ray DVD screens they could watch from the back seats.
It also has some things I’m not as wild about, starting with the driving feel.
To my taste, the best driving van on the market for years has been the Honda Odyssey. If I want something that feels crisp, nimble and solid, I want the Odyssey because it drives more like a car. And if I want something supple and quiet, the Toyota Sienna does a slightly better job than the Chrysler products.
But you’ve also got to consider price, of course, and the Odyssey and Sienna both command high-dollar starting prices for very basic minivans.
You can get the Town & Country’s cheaper cousin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, under $20,000, which is thousands less than you can get the base Odyssey or Sienna. The Chrysler Town & Country is a more upscale, luxurious minivan than the Dodge version, and I think nicer than the base Odyssey and Sienna, with a price that starts around $30,000. It’s a good value, with lots of features for the price.
The test van Chrysler sent me was packed with options that increased the price to around $45,000. It had leather seats, navigation system, a power liftgate and power-folding seats, all the bells and whistles you could imagine on an upscale minivan. And that really makes it a dream car for family trips.
As a kid, my dream cars were Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but now as a dad with three children, my dream cars are more like this one: something that can keep the kids happy, comfortable and entertained for a long time on the road.
What was tested? The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited with a base price of $41,295. Options on the test minivan: Luxury Group for $1,995, a compact spare tire for $295, and the Uconnect Web service for $650. The total MSRP price as tested including the $995 destination charge came to: $45,230.
Wheelbase: 121.2 in.
Length: 202.8 in.
Width: 78.7 in.
Height: 66.9 in.
Engine: 3.6-liter, gasoline, DOHC, 24-valve V6 (283 hp, 260 lb.-ft.)
Transmission: Automatic six-speed overdrive
EPA Mileage: 17 city/25 highway
Why buy it? It’s a practical, smart vehicle that’s perfect for family travel. Its Stow ’n Go seats are still the best solution for folding seats in the auto industry. By Derek Price © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Bottom Line Review provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
The Bottom Line: The Chrysler Town & Country is celebrating 30 years of the minivan with a special 30th Anniversary Edition for 2014. The Anniversary Edition comes with commemorative badging, special paint and black interior trim. So what's cool about the new Town & Country minivans? It now has a Special Blu-ray DVD player with dual screens. And that’s just one of the 78 innovations Chrysler and Dodge minivans have introduced to the industry in the past three decades. Maybe, just for that reason alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” Bottom Line Review provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
“Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to TonyLeo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net - And remember: “ You Are What You Drive © ”
Chrysler Homepage
Column Name: Minivan marks a milestone
Topic: The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
Word Count: 813
Photo Caption: The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited
Photo Credits: Chrysler Town & Country Internet Media
Series #: 2014- 19
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