2010 Chrysler Town and Country Fort Lauderdale

See Our 2010 Chrysler Town and Country Inventory in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

2010 Chrysler Town and Country Line Up

The Chrysler Town & Country is available in three models, base LX, well-equipped Touring and top-of-the-line Limited. The LX model comes with a 175-hp 3.3-liter V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Touring model has a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard on the Limited, and optionally available on the Touring, is a 251-hp 4.0-liter V6 with the six-speed automatic. All have front-wheel drive.

The LX comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning with three-zone manual control, tilt steering wheel, front center console, stowable ; third-row split folding bench seat, power first- and second-row windows,power door locks, power exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, conversation mirror, and P225/65R16 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers.

The Touring model adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio ; controls, two additional speakers, Sirius satellite radio, eight-way power  driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, power-adjustable pedals, overhead storage bins, 115-volt power outlet, heated exterior mirrors, power sliding rear doors, power rear liftgate, universal garage door opener, automatic  headlights, fog lights, roof rack, and aluminum wheels.

The Limited model gets tri-zone automatic climate control with rear controls; interior air filter; leather upholstery; eight-way power passenger seat; heated first- and second-row seats; memory for the driver seat, mirrors, and pedals; 506-watt audio system with 10 speakers Chrysler's UConnect Tunes 30-gigabyte hard-drive radio; removable, sliding  front console; rear park assist; remote engine starting; auto-dimming driver's side and rearview mirrors; second- and third-row sunshades; mirror-mounted turn signals; rain-sensing wipers; rearview camera; xenon  SmartBeam self-dimming headlights; and P225/65R17 tires on chromed aluminum wheels.

Driving the ?10 Chrysler Town and Country

The Chrysler Town & Country is tall, heavy and long, and it drives like you'd expect, given those characteristics. Drive it hard into a turn and it      prefers to keep going straight rather than reacting quickly to steering inputs. Turns and changes of direction prompt copious body lean. In a word, the Town & Country feels cumbersome. Still, it never feels like it's going to tip over.

    

The steering is somewhat vague. It has enough play on center to keep the vehicle moving straight if the driver should inadvertently jerk the wheel. The Town & Country is in no way sporty. The Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest are considerably more fun to drive.   

The ride quality, on the other hand, is quite good. The Town & Country irons out most bumps well, and only the sharpest of ruts will crash through to give the passengers a start. The long wheelbase helps prevent larger humps from causing up and down motions. However, it can feel somewhat      floaty at highway speeds. While certainly comfortable, the Town & Country isn't as smooth as the Toyota Sienna, which has an almost luxury car feel.

2010 Chrysler Town and Country Design

The Chrysler Town & Country is offered in one long-wheelbase body style, and its size is comparable to several competitors. The Nissan Quest, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna are all within a few inches, plus or minus, in overall length. Cargo room is comparable as well.

The Town & Country's styling is somewhat boxy, with a pronounced front end that offers a hint of an SUV-like appearance. The roof is wide at the top, also contributing to the boxy look.

The snout features a large grille with ties to other Chrysler products. The body sides have a clean, simple design. The rear liftgate is available with  power operation, which is handy, but the rear glass doesn't open separately, which isn't. Chrome accents on the front and rear fascias, door handles, belt molding, and mirrors lend an upscale appearance.

Inside the 2010 Chrysler Town and Country

The Town & Country's competitive advantage can be found on the inside. While ambiance and materials quality are not tops in the class, thoughtful features are.

Hard plastic dominates the dash and doors. The only padded surfaces are found on the captain's chairs' fold-down armrests, and they are an unimpressive looking rubberized material. The gauges are easy to spot and the various controls are clearly marked.

The radio and/or UConnect Tunes/GPS system is set high on the center of      the dash for easy access. With either system, the controls are easy to use, but those on the right side are a bit of a reach for the driver. The CD/DVD changer is also set low, making it a possible distraction to use while driving. The gearshift is mounted between the radio and the instrument      panel. It's an odd position, but it works and there is an electronic     gear readout in the instrument cluster.

Summary

The Chrysler Town & Country, and its sibling, the Dodge Grand Caravan, are the most family friendly minivans on the market, if not the best driving. The many unique and handy seating and storage options make them worth a look. Drivers hoping for a car-like ride, sporty handling, or state-of-the-art engines will be best served by the Japanese competitors. But for family-friendly features, it's tough to beat the Town & Country.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com