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2008 Chrysler Town & Country Performance Review

October 30, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

the new rocket ship among minivans
InsideLine.com

The 3.8-liter V6 engine that we tested is also satisfying
KBB.com

The 4.0-liter V-6 is potent.
Cars.com

Three engines, all improvements over previous offerings, and two engines, likewise
USAToday

Fairly precise tracking, no wandering or floating
AutoWeek

During their minivan shoot-out between a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and a 2007 Honda Odyssey, Edmunds tested the Caravan equipped with the same 4.0-liter V-6 that’s the top engine in the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, and it trounced the Honda. The Dodge “scoots to 60 mph in just 8.2 seconds. That's a full second quicker than the Odyssey and it makes the Grand Caravan SXT the quickest minivan we've ever tested. Combine that with a swift 16.3 seconds at an 85-mph performance in the quarter-mile (safely ahead of the Honda's 16.8 seconds at 83 mph run) and the big-engine Grand Caravan is the new rocket ship among minivans.”

USAToday provides a good overview of this van’s engines: “The base 3.3-liter V-6 is pepped up and quieted. The optional 3.8-liter V-6 no longer is so coarse you're embarrassed to take it out in public. The high-end, 4-liter, overhead-camshaft V-6 provides extra scoot previously missing from your minivan experience.” Cars.com makes the point more directly: “Chrysler's 4.0-liter V-6 is potent — the marketers ought to brand it Hemi Lite.”

Many reviewers agree with KBB.com, which says, “You might appreciate the Chrysler minivans' balance between highway comfort and around-town responsiveness. We also appreciated the new model's much-improved steering and braking response…Overall, we've found Chrysler's newest minivans much more satisfying from behind the wheel.” AutoWeek says, “it handles nicely, with docile, carlike manners—fairly precise tracking, no wandering or floating,” but adds that “it feels not much different mechanically from the previous generation.”

TheCarConnection.com’s experts spent a week and nearly 1,000 miles behind the wheel of a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring with the 3.8-liter V-6. Fitted with the six-speed automatic transmission, the combination provided more than adequate performance for this class of vehicle. The engine is nearly silent at speed, and the refined suspension tuning lets the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country take a confident set when pushed hard into corners. The feeling was more like a buttoned-down, sporting sedan than a seven-passenger family conveyance. Not that one would encourage such behavior, but the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country knows how to hustle.

Conclusion

No 911 and not a ‘Vette, the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country accelerates capably and handles predictably and securely.

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:the new rocket ship among minivansInsideLine.comThe 3.8-liter V6 engine that we tested is also satisfyingKBB.comThe 4.0-liter V-6 is potent.Cars.comThree engines, all improvements over previous offerings, and two engines, likewiseUSATodayFairly precise tracking, no wandering or floatingAutoWeek During their minivan shoot-out between a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and a 2007 Honda Odyssey, Edmunds tested the Caravan equipped with the same 4.0-liter V-6 that’s the top engine in the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, and it trounced the Honda. The Dodge “scoots to 60 mph in just 8.2 seconds. That's a full second quicker than the Odyssey and it makes the Grand Caravan SXT the quickest minivan we've ever tested. Combine that with a swift 16.3 seconds at an 85-mph performance in the quarter-mile (safely ahead of the Honda's 16.8 seconds at 83 mph run) and the big-engine Grand Caravan is the new rocket ship among minivans.” USAToday provides a good overview of this van’s engines: “The base 3.3-liter V-6 is pepped up and quieted. The optional 3.8-liter V-6 no longer is so coarse you're embarrassed to take it out in public. The high-end, 4-liter, overhead-camshaft V-6 provides extra scoot previously missing from your minivan experience.” Cars.com makes the point more directly: “Chrysler's 4.0-liter V-6 is potent — the marketers ought to brand it Hemi Lite.” Many reviewers agree with KBB.com, which says, “You might appreciate the Chrysler minivans' balance between highway comfort and around-town responsiveness. We also appreciated the new model's much-improved steering and braking response…Overall, we've found Chrysler's newest minivans much more satisfying from behind the wheel.” AutoWeek says, “it handles nicely, with docile, carlike manners—fairly precise tracking, no wandering or floating,” but adds that “it feels not much different mechanically from the previous generation.” TheCarConnection.com’s experts spent a week and nearly 1,000 miles behind the wheel of a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring with the 3.8-liter V-6. Fitted with the six-speed automatic transmission, the combination provided more than adequate performance for this class of vehicle. The engine is nearly silent at speed, and the refined suspension tuning lets the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country take a confident set when pushed hard into corners. The feeling was more like a buttoned-down, sporting sedan than a seven-passenger family conveyance. Not that one would encourage such behavior, but the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country knows how to hustle. ConclusionNo 911 and not a ‘Vette, the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country accelerates capably and handles predictably and securely. 2008 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY STYLING | [7 out of 10] MotorTrend.com: “Not offensively styled, but they scream ‘function first’” Cars.com: “instantly recognizable as a Chrysler” USAToday: “Squared off and slab-sided” KBB.com: “a more sophisticated persona” BusinessWeek.com: “big and ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Town & Country’s twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, offers identical features at a slightly lower price compared to the Chrysler. Honda’s excellent Odyssey is more enjoyable dynamically for the driver, while the Toyota Sienna provides a plusher ride. However, neither can match the Chrysler’s list of features or its sticker (which heads toward the Kia or Hyundai). We consider it significant that Volkswagen—the company that invented the minivan with its 1950 Transporter Microbus—is using the Chrysler minivan as the foundation for its 2009 Routan.

Next Steps:

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See the Chrysler Town & Country in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Sandra #1, Posted: 10/22/2008

    Mrs.

    have the need for 3 car seats. When trying it install a car seat in the 3 row the way the seat is tilted the car seat will not sit level need help with this

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