Chrysler proclaims its Town & Country to be the first luxury minivan designed, according to the head of the Chrysler Brand, “for those who’ve worked hard to provide the best for their families, and who understand that settling down has nothing to do with settling for a minivan.” Last year, Chrysler tried to make families feel that they hadn’t settled by introducing the Pentastar V6 engine across all trims (Touring, Touring-L and high-end Limited), as well as improving the steering, suspension and noise insulation. This year, Chrysler has continued to make buyers feel better about owning a minivan by adding standard leather seating and a rear-seat DVD for all three trims. A new Sapphire Blue interior lighting scheme and combination leather/wood steering wheel for the Limited, as well as three new exterior color schemes, are also standard.

Chrysler also boasts that its 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine not only makes best-in-class horsepower (283 hp), but that the fuel economizer mode can help to improve fuel efficiency in a segment not known for its green factor (EPA fuel economy estimates of 17 mpg city/25 highway). The FlexFuel engine can run on 87 octane regular gasoline and/or E85, producing 260 lb-ft of torque, and is matched with a standard 6-speed automatic transmission.

Outside, the 2012 Town & Country features standard fog lamps, power sliding driver and passenger side doors and, for the high-end Limited trim, dual HID headlights. The Touring-L and Limited also provide standard chrome, power heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals with auto-dimming on the driver’s side. The Limited also includes a memory feature for the side-view mirror settings. Each trim offers the standard Stow ‘n Place roof rack system, designed to improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. The system allows the roof crossbars to fold into the side rails when not in use. 17-inch wheels are standard for the three trims, as are front rain-sensitive windshield wipers, while a power sunroof is optional for the higher two trims. A trailer towing prep package is also available, allowing the Town & Country to tow a maximum of 3,600 pounds.

Storage abounds inside, with an overhead console with storage bins (which disappears if the sunroof is optioned). All of the family’s gear should easily fit in the rear, which offers 33 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, 83.3 behind the second and a cavernous maximum storage space of 143.8 cubic feet. The seats fold into the floor with the Stow ‘n Go system, allowing the second-row bucket seats and third-row bench seat to fold into the floor (the Touring-L and Limited also offer a bucket seat option, as well as power folding and recline availability for the third row). Seats are adjustable 8 ways for the front driver and passenger, with heated front- and second-row seats available for the Touring and Touring-L (standard for the Limited).

Other notable features in the 2012 Town & Country include 3-zone automatic temperature control and a programmable remote control (for garage door opener, home lighting or security systems). Power adjustable pedals and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel help with driver comfort. The steering wheel integrates audio controls and offers standard heat in the Limited (optional for the Touring and Touring-L). In addition, the auto-dimming rear-view mirror includes a microphone for the Uconnect phone system’s voice commands.

Media capabilities in the Touring and Touring-L include a CD/DVD/MP3/HDD radio with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, audio jack and hard drive storage for about 6,700 songs played on 6 speakers. The Limited upgrades the system to include a GPS navigation system, Sirius Traffic and TravelLink, iPod control, Bluetooth Streaming audio, handsfree phone and voice command for the entire system. Additional audio upgrades include 9 speakers with a subwoofer and a 506-watt amplifier. All trims provide a 1-year trial subscription to Sirius satellite radio. The Touring and Touring-L trims provide a standard second-row overhead 9-inch video screen and DVD player with wireless headphones and video remote control, while the Limited adds a 9-inch screen for the third row as well (an option for the Touring-L).

Safety features in the Town & Country this year include standard antilock brakes with electronic stability control and traction control, advanced multistage driver and front-passenger airbag protection, side curtain airbags for all three rows and front seat-mounted side airbags. While rain-sensitive windshield wipers, Smartbeam headlights, tire pressure monitoring, Parksense rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring and the ParkView rear backup camera are all standard in the Touring-L and Limited, these additional safety items can be added to the Touring trim as an available options package. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated last year’s Town & Country Good (its highest level) for front and side impact crashes. The minivan has maintained that rating since 2008, so it is reasonable to expect 2012’s edition to perform similarly. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has tested the 2011 and 2012 Town & Country only for rollover safety, awarding it 4 (out of 5) stars.

Early reviews of the 2012 Town & Country suggest that it will continue to be a strong performer in the minivan world. The Stow ‘n Go seating makes it a versatile contender, and the interior materials are noted for their padding and high-quality look and feel. The instruments and gauges are easy to use and read, and the quiet and smooth ride is disturbed only by body lean in the corners. With upgrades, both last year and this year, to interior and exterior style and quality as well as the improved power and ride quality from the Pentastar V6 and suspension, the Chrysler Town & Country is clearly working hard to take on its Odyssey, Sienna and Quest competitors.