Chrysler revolutionized the auto industry when it introduced the minivan concept in 1983. The 2016 Chrysler Town & Country continues to offer a competent ride, plenty of features, and the traditional family- and car-pool-friendly 3 rows of seating and 7 seats overall. The projected deletion of the Dodge Caravan after the 2016 model year will make the 5-door Town & Country the last van standing in this legendary Detroit-based lineup. So it should not be a surprise that there are rumors of a hefty redesign for the Town & Country in 2017.
This classy Chrysler comes in its 6 familiar trims for 2016: the base LX, the up-featured Touring, the sporty S, the safety-minded Touring-L, the high-end Limited, and the flagship Limited Platinum. The Town & Country will also come in a special Anniversary Edition for the upcoming model year. This limited-production Anniversary Edition is based on the Touring-L trim and will reportedly add extra standard features. Otherwise, the Town & Country carries over largely unchanged from the current version, meaning front-wheel drive (FWD) only and a cargo capacity of 143.8 feet with the rear seats folded.
All 2016 Town & Country variants are expected to keep their 3.6-liter flex-fuel (ethanol-capable) V6, again mated with a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Estimated fuel economy is expected to return at 17 mpg city/25 highway/20 combined.
The entry-level LX trim will again offer standard 17-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, auxiliary transmission cooling, a power liftgate and dual power-sliding rear passenger doors, while the cabin keeps its leather upholstery, reclining Stow'n'Go second-row folding seats, and full power accessories. Cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering are also slated to return as standard equipment in this base trim, along with a remote garage door opener, a rear-view camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Techno-goodies include Bluetooth-interfaced Uconnect infotainment boasting a 6.5-inch touchscreen and a single-CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, satellite radio, a video monitor, and an auxiliary audio input. Look for heated power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone climate control, and rear-seat DVD entertainment in higher trims.
The Anniversary Edition adds a power sunroof, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and keyless entry and ignition to the Touring-L’s standard rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic detection, remote engine start, and auto-dimming outside mirrors. The Limited and Limited Platinum Town & Country variations add such standard luxuries as GPS navigation (via Uconnect), upgraded leather upholstery, power-folding outside mirrors, power-adjustable pedals, memory for driver settings, power-folding and -reclining third-row seating, and a 9-speaker premium audio system.
The lower trims remain eligible for many of the options that come standard in higher trims, while additional higher-trim options will include load-leveling suspension, a trailer-towing package, upgraded exterior and interior accents, and Mopar step running boards.
Standard safety equipment aboard all 2016 Town & Country editions consists of 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, 3-row head protection airbags, daytime running lights, and a post-collision safety system. The Touring and upper trims additionally tote standard front fog/driving lights, while the Touring-L, Anniversary Edition, Limited, and Limited Platinum variations are again scheduled to include automatic high-low-beam headlights. The flagship Limited Platinum is again expected to add high-intensity-discharge headlights to its list of standard safety features.
In government safety tests, the current Town & Country variants receive high marks overall, while the insurance industry rates this minivan poorly in small-overlap front collision testing.
Owners of the current year’s Town & Country mention uncomfortable seats and flimsy, low-end interior materials as drawbacks to this otherwise well-wrought Chrysler--but its looks, performance, and value continue to garner their fair share of praise. Look for the 2016 Town & Country to appear in dealer showrooms during the last quarter of 2015, where it will again challenge Honda’s enviable Odyssey, Toyota’s slick Sienna, Nissan’s quality-laden Quest, and Kia’s surprisingly spiffy Sedona for minivan sales supremacy.
