Used 2011 Chrysler Town and Country Philadelphia
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country features revised styling, a new engine, an upgraded suspension, and a reworked interior. This represents an extensive mid-cycle update for the 2011 models, improving them substantially over previous models.
The 2011 Town & Country lineup offers just one engine, replacing three different V6s offered for 2010. The new engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with considerably more power. This brings Chrysler in line with the fine V6s offered by the competition. Fuel economy remains steady with an EPA-estimated 17/25 mpg City/Highway.
The 2011 Town & Country sits lower than before and its suspension has been stiffened to make it more controlled. The ride is still quite smooth, and the wallow and float we noted on the previous model is gone.
The interior is improved for 2011. While the dashboard is still mostly plastic, so are those in most rivals, including the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The look is more elegant, the materials are richer, the gauges look better, and there are now soft-touch door tops.
Town & Country's entertainment and seating options are the best in the class, matched only by the Dodge Grand Caravan. Improved Stow 'n Go seating with better second-row seats is standard. These seats tuck nicely into the floor, and when they're up, the floor bins offer storage space. The rear seats fold into a well behind them, allowing a perfectly flat, voluminous rear storage area. With the third row up storage well offers space for groceries and other small cargo. There are also many entertainment choices, including rear TV, two DVD players, a powerful stereo and iPod connectivity. A couple of features have been dropped for 2011, notably FloTV and Swivel 'n Go seating.
   ÂChrysler Town and Country Design
The Chrysler Town & Country is offered in one long-wheelbase body style, and its size is comparable to several competitors. Cargo room is comparable as well. It comes with two power sliding side doors and a power rear liftgate, all of which are easier to open for moms with armfuls of kids and groceries.
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
   ÂPowering the New Chrysler Town and Country
The 2011 engine is also much better. Instead of three elderly V6s, the 2011 Town & Country offers just one, the new Pentastar 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. It has 32 more horsepower than the most powerful of the 2010 engines. Chrysler provides a fuel economizer switch that will change the shift points for optimum fuel economy.
The new 3.6-liter V6 is now class competitive, while only the 4.0-liter V6 on the 2010 model was close. Chrysler has come up with a fine new engine. It's smooth and quiet, offering decent punch from a stop and enough in reserve for passing. However, it doesn't feel as powerful as the 283-horsepower figure would suggest. That's odd because this same engine feels stronger in the rear- and four-wheel-drive Jeep Grand Cherokee. Perhaps the 6-speed automatic transmission is the culprit. The transmission doesn't seem to communicate well with the engine or react very well to the driver's right foot.
On the road, the Town & Country cruises quieter than ever, thanks to the smooth new engine and additional sound-deadening measures. Those sound measures are another reason why the 2011 model is better than the 2010. The 2011 Town & Country also features a couple of standard safety features that are worthy of note.
   ÂChrysler Town and Country Cabin
Town & Country's competitive advantage can be found on the inside, where it has many thoughtful features. Thanks to the 2011 update, the quality of the interior is improved as well.
Hard plastic still makes up much of the dashboard, but that's the case with almost all vehicles in the class. The dash loses its sharper edges and gets nicer graining. It has a more integrated, flowing look due to a more elegant design and the fact that the dash is made of fewer pieces. The door tops are now padded, and the materials have a richer look and feel.
The gauges are larger in the 2011 models, and are easy to read. They use black faces with white numbers and chrome trim (replacing the previous aqua blue-lit white faces). The 2011 instrument panel adds a larger trip computer between the tachometer and speedometer. It's a better, more useful design.
The radio/entertainment/navigation system is set high on the center of the dash for easy access. With any of the three systems, 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 set low, making it a possible distraction to use while driving. The gearshift is easily accessed without taking up room as it is mounted between the radio and instrument panel.
   Â2011 Chrysler Town and Country Line Up
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country is available in three models, Touring, Touring L and Limited. All use a 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine that drives the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Town & Country Touring is well equipped with cloth upholstery, air conditioning with three-zone automatic climate control, interior air filter, cruise control, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, Stow 'n Go second-row bucket seats with underfloor storage, split-folding third-row seat, power-sliding side doors, power locks, power windows, power heated mirrors, remote keyless entry, power adjustable pedals, auto-dimming rearview mirror, conversation mirror, trip computer, six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo, Sirius satellite radio with 12-month subscription, auxiliary audio input jack, 6.5-inch touchscreen, 30-gigabyte hard drive with music storage, power rear quarter windows, universal garage door opener, 115-volt power outlet, roof rack with stow-in-place crossbars, power rear liftgate, removable/rechargeable flashlight, rain-sensing wipers, fog lights, automatic SmartBeam headlights, and P235/60R16 tires on alloy wheels.
Town & Country Touring L adds leather upholstery, 8-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, remote starting, second- and third-row manual sunshades, power folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming driver's side mirror, security alarm, and P225/65R17 tires.
Town & Country Limited is loaded with Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts, Garman navigation system, 506-watt, 9-speaker audio system, USB port, keyless access and starting, HID headlights, UConnect hands-free phone, Bluetooth telephony, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror with in-glass turn signals.
   ÂConclusions
The 2011 changes make the Chrysler Town & Country much better. It's quieter, more powerful, more controlled, nicer inside and likely more fuel efficient. Yet the Town & Country is still one of the most family friendly minivans on the market. Other pluses are the many unique and handy seating and storage features, and an impressive array of entertainment options. Pricing is higher on the Town & Country, so buyers looking for a more affordable alternative should consider the Dodge Grand Caravan or lesser equipped versions. The Town & Country is the nicest and most luxurious of these minivans.
Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com
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