Minivan makeover: Chrysler needed a hit and gets home run with new family hauler

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Chrysler Group needed its fifth-generation minivans to bolt past the competition if it wanted to stay minivan king.

So it added more room, more features and more power -- which is more than enough for the redesigned 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan to keep the crown.

These minivans, which hit dealerships this fall, are the most important launch for Chrysler this year. It takes on an added urgency as the company's ownership changes hands to the private-equity firm Cerberus. Chrysler needed its minivans to be home runs.

And they are out of the park, Gary Sheffield style.

Chrysler has thrown every amenity but the kitchen sink into its new upscale Town & Country and more affordable Caravan: 13 cup holders, dual pop-down television screens, three seating configurations with Barcalounger comfort and an adjustable center console that is shared with the second row. It lives up to Chrysler's family-room-on-wheels hype.

All I have in my living room is a coffee table, a couple of coasters and seating for about four people, though there is the option of bringing in chairs from the breakfast nook.

And none of my furniture can strap down a baby's car seat or safely withstand a 30 mph accident, much less come with Yes Essentials fabric, which is resistant to stains and odors.

Although Chrysler is still America's No. 1 minivan maker, the automaker has seen its sales slump as consumers opt for imports such as the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona. Still others are leaving the minivan market for crossovers. Overall, the minivan segment has lost 21.9 percent of its total sales through July, according to Autodata.

Many should go back and check out Chrysler's well-built, well-appointed machines. And they are well-priced, with the Caravan starting at $22,470 and the Town & Country starting at $23,190, including shipping.

Everything and kitchen table

While the proverbial sink can't be found in the new minivans, Chrysler did include a kitchen table. The small table attaches to an aluminum pole and can be affixed easily to the floor. Once up, the table feels solid and it's easy to store in the floor bins.

As part of the Swivel 'N Go seating package, the Town & Country, as well as the Caravan, has two second-row captain chairs that easily turn to face the rear. The seats also turn to face the sliding door, letting parents buckle up a child while directly facing the seat instead of the twisting, back-breaking method more often used.

The swivel seats are more substantial and more comfortable than the ingenious Sto 'N Go second-row seats. They allow the minivan to go from a seven-person hauler to a two-person cargo van in less than a minute. It would take me longer to rearrange the furniture in my living room -- and I still couldn't drive to Lowe's and load it up with plywood.

While the swivel chairs are easy to use and let passengers face each other, I'm not entirely sold on them. I wonder how often people traveling really want to face each other and, more importantly, the seats don't fold into the floor.

I am sold on the electric-powered third row that can fold completely flat with the touch of a button. The back row also can flip over to create a stadium-type seat that faces an open tailgate.

Loads of entertainment

There's no denying the entertainment possibilities.

The optional two video screens get Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and the Cartoon Network via Sirius satellite radio. Second-row passengers can watch one channel, while third-row passengers watch a DVD or play a video game. Even the front-row passengers can watch a movie as long as the minivan is in park, creating a driveway drive-in possibility.

On the road, passengers in the back can wear wireless headsets for each video screen while the driver listens to music through the optional 506 Watt stereo.

One big interior change is the mounting of the gear shifter on the dash. Ergonomically, it's comfortable and easy to use.

Both vans ride well

The styling on both minivans draws out each brand's character.

The Caravan's front end takes on a more aggressive look reminiscent of the Dodge Charger and Avenger. Its headlights push out from under its flatter face and the two inches added to its track width shows off its strong stance. The Dodge badge on the cross-haired grille is three times bigger than before. It keeps strong lines along its profile and touches of chrome add some sparkle.

The Town & Country looks more sophisticated than its Dodge sibling. The chrome door handles, taken from the 300, as well as the upgraded headlights give it a bejeweled feel.

Both vehicles ride and handle extremely well. Chrysler offers three options with each brand. A 3.3-liter, V-6 with 175 horsepower mated to 4-speed automatic transmission; a 3.8-liter V-6 with 197-horsepower and a 4-liter V-6 with 251-horsepower, both mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

In two days of test-driving, I found the 3.3-liter engine a little underpowered, especially when climbing the hilly roads around San Diego. The other V-6 engines offered plenty of power with a smoother transmission. Also, the transmission was designed with a tall first gear, meaning it accelerates quickly from a stop.

Both of the bigger engines offer comparable gas mileage of 23 miles per gallon on the highway compared with 24 mpg for the 3.3-liter engine. Those are 2008 numbers, which meet more rigid EPA testing.

The handling of all the vehicles I tested, including a base model Caravan and top-of-the-line Town & Country, was good on the road. The steering felt firm and balanced, and the body felt well-planted on the road. Even when topping 80 mph, the test vehicles rode well, remained quiet and felt sure-footed.

While I have no intention of driving my living room anywhere, or parking a minivan in it, if I did, it would be one of these minivans.

They offer more than I can list here and more utility than most people will ever need.

The minivan's creator continues to build the best on the block.

Here and anywhere else.

Auto critic Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sbur gess@detnews.com">gess@detnews.com.