Chrysler Town & Country

Impressions: Chrysler built the first modern minivan more than 20 years ago, turning it into a practical urban transporter that's among the most recognizable shapes on the road. Competitors have come and gone and Chrysler has managed to stay on top the whole time. Much of that success has to do with the Town & Country's ability to stay ahead of the curve. Two years ago, the entire minivan line was revamped around Chrysler's Stow 'n Go seats, which are only available on extended-length models. So confident was Chrysler of its new seating/storage system that it actually killed the all-wheel-drive program (Stow 'go Go occupies some of the same space the AWD system). The plan worked as T&C sales were up nearly 50 per cent for the first seven months after the relaunch. In fact, Chrysler sold nearly 500,000 T&C minivans in calendar 2005. That's pushing a lot of tin, now matter how you look at it. When not needed, the second-row buckets and third-row bench fold into bins located beneath the floor to create a perfectly flat load surface. These ingenious storage areas can also be used as secure containers when the seats are in place. Insiders tell us that a new Town & Country will probably be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this winter, so there's little in the way of change for 2007, even under hood where a 170-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 resides in the standard-length base T&C (which does not get the Stow 'n Go system). A 200-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 still propels the long-wheelbase LX, Touring and Limited. All Town & Country minivans come with a wealth of standard equipment including a driver's side inflatable knee blocker air bag, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, power locks and windows, sunscreen glass and cruise control. Base price: $21,700 (est.) Type: Four-door minivan Base engine (hp): 3.3-liter OHV V6 (170) Optional engine (hp): 3.8-liter SOHC V6 (200) Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive Transmission: Four-speed automatic Mileage (city/hwy): 17/24 (3.8) Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags (opt.); side-curtain airbags (opt.); anti-lock brakes (opt.); traction control (opt.) Weight (lb.): 4,100 Basic warranty: 3/36,000 Roadside assistance: Yes Web: chrysler.com