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Minivan; Built in Canada, USA
  • 4-door van
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $5,300 – $29,500*


2011 Chrysler Town & Country Front


2011 Chrysler Town & Country Rear


2011 Chrysler Town & Country Interior

Pros:
  • Cargo room/flexibility
  • Quietness
  • Ride
  • Seat comfort
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Interior materials

Town & Country boasts all the space, functionality, and available power a minivan shopper could want. Along with the Grand Caravan from sister division Dodge, these minivans may not be as sporty as the Honda Odyssey or as well-appointed as the Toyota Sienna, but neither of those matches the Town & Country and Caravan’s blend of family-friendly attributes and dollar value, making Town & Country a Best Buy (2008-10, 2012-13)

Overview

Redesigned for 2008, Chrysler’s Town & Country minivan grew modestly in most dimensions and lost its short-wheelbase model. Town & Country was built from the same front-wheel-drive design as the Dodge Grand Caravan, but differed in trim and pricing. Rivals included the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, and Toyota Sienna.

LX, Touring, and top-of-the-line Limited models were offered. LX models had a 3.3-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. Touring models held a 3.8-liter V6, Limiteds a 4.0-liter. Touring and Limited models used a six-speed automatic transmission, which was called a “minivan first.” The 3.3-liter V6 permitted flex-fuel operation, using E85 (an ethanol/gasoline blend). Standard safety features included curtain side airbags that covered all seating rows, antilock brakes, an antiskid system, and traction control.

Three seating configurations were offered; all accommodated seven passengers. The standard seating arrangement included a third-row bench that folded flush into the floor. Available Stow ‘n Go seating had second- and third-row seats that folded flush into the floor. Newly available for 2008 was Swivel ‘n Go seating that included second-row seats that rotated to face rearward, a removable table that fit between the second and third rows, and a flush-folding third-row seat. Options included a navigation system, DVD entertainment, and heated first- and second-row seats.

Yearly Updates

2009 Town & Country
New safety features emerged for 2009, along with minor updates. A newly available “Rear Cross Path” system for Touring and Limited models could detect traffic moving toward the vehicle when the transmission was in Reverse. A blind-spot alert system now was available for Limited and Touring editions. Stow ‘n Go seating was standard. An optional Flexible Seating Group included Swivel ‘n Go seating. Options also included a uconnect multimedia suite, which could incorporate a 30-gigabyte hard drive; wireless cell-phone link; satellite radio; and satellite TV that broadcast child-friendly TV programming. Touring models could have the 4.0-liter V6 as an option.
2010 Town & Country
The 2010 Chrysler Town & Country lineup gained some new rear-seat entertainment options.
2011 Town & Country
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country sees a number of changes, including freshened styling and more power. The 2011 model lineup includes Touring, new-for-2011 Touring L, and Limited. All have a new 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. A 6-speed automatic is the sole transmission. The 3.3-, 3.8-, and 4.0-liter V6 engines have been discontinued.
2012 Town & Country
The only change of note for the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country was that leather upholstery was now standard.
2013 Town & Country
Town & Country was largely unchanged for 2013. One new option was a high-resolution rear Blu-ray entertainment system.
2014 Town & Country
Chrysler celebrated the introduction of its trailblazing 1984 minivan with a 30th Anniversary edition of the Town & Country. Otherwise, the Town & Country was mostly unchanged for 2014.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Four powertrains have been available in the Town & Country minivan. In early LX models, a 3.3-liter V6 engine mates with a four-speed automatic transmission. Touring editions held a 3.8-liter V6 and six-speed automatic. A 253-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 with six-speed automatic was standard in the Limited model and optional for the Touring. For 2011, the only powertrain was a new 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.3/201
Engine HP 175
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 205
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 17/24
ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.8/230
Engine HP 197
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 230
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/23

 16.6
ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.0/241
Engine HP 253
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 259
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/23
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.6/220
Engine HP 283
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 260
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 17/25

Road Test

We have not tested a Town & Country with the 3.3-liter V6. Other V6s offer sufficient power for around-town driving, with the 4.0-liter and new-for-2011 3.6-liter providing much-needed extra boost for merging and highway passing. With any of these engines, the transmission is quick to shift as needed, but some occasionally changed gears harshly at low speed.

Town & Country and Grand Caravan models with the 3.8-liter V6 have averaged 16.1 to 17.1 mpg in city/highway driving. An extended-use Town & Country Limited averaged 20.6 mpg in mostly highway use. The 3.3- , 3.6-, and 3.8-liter engines use regular-grade fuel, but Chrysler has recommended mid-grade 89-octane for the 4.0-liter V6.

Ride comfort is a plus, led by impressive road isolation. Even larger bumps are taken with poise. Note that similar Grand Caravans equipped with the 4.0 V6 included a sport suspension that was not available on other Caravan or Town & Country models. With the sport suspension, impacts would be more readily felt.

Handling is another virtue. Despite their overall size, these big vans are quite tractable: Little more difficult to drive than a midsize sedan. The impressively tight turning radius is a boon for close-quarters maneuvering, though body lean in corners is fairly pronounced.

Town & Country, along with the similar Grand Caravan, rank as possibly the quietest minivans on the market. Wind noise is impressively muted. Road noise is only an issue on Dodge Caravan 4.0 models, with their sport suspension. Engines are generally quiet, though noise can intrude during acceleration, with the 4.0-liter V6 sounding especially coarse when pushed.

Large dials and gauges are simple to locate and easy to read. Most controls are plainly marked and work as expected, though audio controls suffer undue complexity on models with the navigation system or Chrysler’s MyGig media management system (later called the uconnect multimedia system). For 2008, Chrysler moved the gearshift lever to the dashboard, an apparent novelty that quickly becomes second nature to use and doesn’t block access to controls. Some testers have suggested that climate controls are mounted too low for quick adjustment. Interior assembly is mostly top-notch, but hard plastic surfaces and low-grade materials dominate the cabin and disappoint at the Town & Country’s prices.

Wide, comfortable front chairs contribute to long-haul comfort. Chrysler widened the upper portion of Town & Country’s cabin for 2008, and interiors got a roomier, more airy feel as a result. Visibility is very good in all directions, though the rear view is seriously compromised when both screens of the dual DVD entertainment system are in use.

On models with optional seating, second-row passengers enjoy roomy, supportive buckets, though larger Swivel ‘n Go seats offer more comfort and back support than Stow ‘n Go units. The third-row bench has plenty of space for two passengers, but it’s a squeeze for three unless they’re pre-teens. Novel Swivel ‘n Go seats work as advertised, allowing easy interaction between second- and third-row riders. The available table is a great idea, but it’s fairly small and difficult for third-row passengers to reach, once buckled.

Vast cargo space is available, though different seating configurations offer varying challenges to accessing that volume. Stow ‘n Go second-row seating disappears into the van floor as advertised, but the process of folding the seat into the floor is more complicated and clumsy than it should be-though it is a welcome convenience not offered on rival minivans. The same is true for Swivel ‘n Go seats, which rotate easily enough but are complicated to remove and extremely heavy. The available power-folding third row is a marvel of convenience. That seat folds flat into the floor or rolls to face rearward, providing comfortable tailgate seating. Note that the rear-facing seating position is not intended for use while the van is in motion.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2008 Town & Country

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 9
90%
Room/Comfort Rear - 9
90%
Cargo Room - 10
100%

Other

Value - 9
90%

Total: 71

Specifications

4-door van
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
121.2 202.5 76.9 68.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
143.8 20.0 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.8 39.2 40.6 36.4
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2008 Town & Country 4-door van

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Exhaust system
Description: A clunk from the rear when going over bumps or when turning is caused by the exhaust resonator hitting the vehicle requiring updated exhaust hangers be installed. (2008)
Fuel gauge
Description: Refueling may become slow with the nozzle clicking off repeatedly because the vapor recirculation hose becomes kinked. (2008)
Oil leak
Description: Oil filter housing may leak oil. (2014)
Power seats
Description: The third row power seat may begin to move from its stowed position but stops before the seatback is upright, then quits working due to something (toys, paper, etc.) interfering with the position sensors. (2008)
Audio system
Description: The MyGIG radio may stop working properly and there was a campaign to update the software. (2008)
Audio system
Description: Disconnecting or reconnecting the battery without first removing the radio fuse can damage the MyGig radio due to voltage spikes. (2008-09)
Suspension problems
Description: Front wheel bearing could fail. (2008-10)
Electrical problem
Description: The interior lights and audible warning may activate and the liftgate ajar light may come on because the switch wires short out to the body when the liftgate is closed. (2008)

Recall History

2008 Town & Country
Description: These vehicles may experience a water leak at the heating and air conditioner (HVAC) drain grommet which can lead to illumination of airbag warning light and a potential inadvertent airbag deployment. An inadvertent airbag deployment could result in injury to the seat occupant in front of the deploying airbag and/or a vehicle crash. Dealers will replace the HVAC drain grommet free of charge.
2008 Town & Country
Description: These vehicles may experience a heating and air conditioner (HVAC) condensate leak from the HVAC drain grommet onto the occupant restraint control (ORC) module, which can lead to the illumination of the airbag warning light and a potential inadvertent airbag deployment without warning which could result in injury to the seat occupant in front of the deploying airbag and/or a vehicle crash. Dealers will replace the affected air bag module free of charge.
2008-09 Town & Country modified Amerivan Mobility Vehicle
Description: Town & Country vans modified as Amerivan Mobility Vehicles may have brake lines improperly routed and secured. The brake lines could leak fluid resulting in loss of braking.
2008-10 Town & Country wheelchair modified by Liberty Motor Co.
Description: Vehicles made wheelchair accessible Liberty Motor Company may develop cracks in the rear axle. The axle could fail and result in a crash.
2009 Town & Country
Description: Unused electrical connectors for the blind spot detection system may become corroded and could short circuit. If this happens, the connectors could overheat and potentially catch fire. Dealers will seal the power circuit at the subject connector and replace the fuse for this circuit if necessary free of charge.
2010 Town & Country
Description: Some vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the run to accessory position while driving causing the engine to shut off. Engine shut off while driving could increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the win modules free of charge.
2010-14 Town & Country
Description: The rear vent-window switch mounted on the driver’s armrest may overheat and result in fire.
2011 Town & Country
Description: Vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. This could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash. Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge.
2012 Town & Country with 3.6L engine
Description: Connecting rod bearing may fail due to debris inside the engine block, potentially causing engine seizure.
2012 Town & Country
Description: Some vehicles may have right rear hub and bearing assemblies that were not fully machined and as a result are not durable. This could lead to wheel separation.
2012 Town & Country
Description: A faulty power-liftgate sensor might not stop the liftgate from closing on an appendage.
2013 Town & Country
Description: Airbags may not deploy because of faulty software.
2013 Town & Country
Description: The wrong airbags could deploy during a crash.
2014 Town & Country
Description: Tire-pressure monitor may not operate properly because of faulty software and fail to warn driver of an underinflated tire.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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