The most elite member of Chrysler’s family of front-wheel-drive minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country air suspension has long appealed to families and empty-nesters seeking a practical vehicle with a dash of luxury inside and out. Early T&Cs satisfied this desire with wood-grain decals, leather seats and a standard V6 engine, while later models offer amenities like a navigation system, tri-zone climate control and a power-operated liftgate. Since its introduction for 1990, the Chrysler Town & Country has shared all of its mechanicals with its less upscale Dodge siblings, the Caravan and Grand Caravan, and that carries through to the current generation.

The one thing that minivan buyers tend to prize most is outstanding feature content; over the years, the Town & Country’s performance in this area has been mixed. Some of the van’s amenities have been truly ground-breaking. The T&C and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan shock absorber, have been the first and only vans to offer Stow ‘n Go; this seating system provides fold-flat capability for both the second- and third-row seats, as well as in-floor storage compartments when the seats are occupied. They were also the first to offer driver-side sliding doors. But in other aspects, the T&C’s feature list has often been a step behind the competition. It was among the last minivans to offer essential features like stability control and a rearview camera.

A 2008 redesign gives the van a new lease on life. The current T&C comes loaded with all the safety features buyers need, along with a host of innovative amenities that aren’t offered by its rivals. New styling and a more powerful V6 engine are also part of the latest generation. These days, the Chrysler Town & Country is a bona-fide contender for the “Best in Class” sash.

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