2010 Chrysler Town & Country - Review

The Basics:

The efficient, space-saving one-box minivan design of the Town & Country remains as practical as ever for 2010, especially thanks to the innovative features found inside. For a long time, Chrysler has focused on improving its family-friendly offering in the hopes of drawing buyers away from new entries by the likes of Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, and with just minor changes to the product this year, it seems they are confident in the Town & Country.

This latest generation of Town & Country that first debuted two years ago represents a significant departure from the rounded, Clorox-bottle shape of the previous-generation Chrysler minivan. The new Town & Country is characterized by a more squared-off look, especially when viewed from the rear. Despite the changes, the Chrysler Town & Country is still one of the more inoffensive cars on the road and is unlikely to turn many consumers off simply because of its styling—although it probably won't impress anyone from the outside.

The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country isn't especially fun to drive—or even memorable—in any of its configurations, but we recommend skipping the base 3.3-liter V-6 and four-speed automatic and opting for one of the larger V-6 engines. Both the 3.8-liter and 4.0-liter V-6s provide more power and are matched to Chrysler's decent six-speed automatic, a fuel-saving and performance-enhancing feature. For 2010, Chrysler improves fuel economy in the range-topping 4.0-liter V-6 engine—in fact, this engine's fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway is slightly better than the smaller V-6 engines available in other vans.

Seating and interior design are among the 2010 Town & Country's strengths versus other models. Front seats are extremely comfortable, and Stow 'n Go seating in back allows the third row to fold flat into the floor. Available Swivel 'n Go brings captain's chairs for the second row that can be rotated 180 degrees and slide fore and aft to face the third row. The arrangement even includes a fold-out center table. Interior materials are a step behind much of the competition, though, and the most affordable trims of the Town & Country feel especially plasticky.

In terms of safety, the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country does well, and this year's addition of active head restraints on all models for the driver and passenger should only see things improve. Safety features carried over from last year include both Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path systems, which help ease the stress of navigating crowded parking lots and cluttered driveways. SmartBeam headlamps have also been supplied for the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country, and they automatically switch from high to low beam when the system detects an oncoming vehicle. Crash testing shows that these features are helpful, with five-star results from the federal government and "good" ratings from the IIHS in both frontal and side impacts. It’s not all top marks, though, as the IIHS gives the Town & Country a "marginal" rating in its seat-based rear-impact test—despite the fact that all rows feature side-curtain airbags.

While fuel economy is a big factor in auto purchases these days, buyers of the Town & Country will be more interested in what's on the inside—and the Chrysler doesn't disappoint in terms of features. The quiet cabin is packed with tech tidbits, including available Sirius Satellite TV, twin LCD monitors in the second and third rows, and Swivel 'n Go seating. The entertainment system includes big nine-inch screens for the entertainment system, as well as an iPod interface.