By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
Next year is going to be a big one for automotive milestones. The year 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of Dodge, 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and 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.
The Chrysler Town & Country is celebrating 30 years of the minivan with a special 30th Anniversary Edition for 2014.
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.
A Blu-ray DVD player with dual screens is one of the many innovations Chrysler and Dodge minivans have introduced to the industry in the past three decades.
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.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2014 Chrysler Town & Country Limited ($41,295). Options: Luxury Group ($1,995), compact spare tire ($295), Uconnect Web ($650). Price as tested (including $995 destination charge): $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
RATINGS
Style: 6
Performance: 7
Price: 8
Handling: 4
Ride: 6
Comfort: 8
Quality: 7
Overall: 7
Video Review:
What’s cool about the Town & Country
http://bit.ly/
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.