Luxury People Mover

We reviewed Chrysler’s 2003 Town & Country minivan at the start of the year and called it a "Family Limousine" (Philippine STAR, February 12, 2003). It was very luxurious, spacious and accommodating with its plush interior, removable seats and excellent noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) insulation. We were entertained, as many of our friends were, with the fully automated dual power sliding doors and rear lift gate. Although a bit more expensive than other brands, the American minivan was worth every centavo of its one point nine million peso price tag.

Norkis Automotive Resources Corporation (NARC), the Philippine distributor of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep automobiles recently gave us the scoop on what’s new with up-market minivan for next year. NARC’s national marketing manager, Porti Vencer gave us the keys to the 2004 Chrysler Town & Country for a weekend test drive and this is what we found...

At first glance, the 2004 Chrysler Town & Country looks exactly the same as the 2003 model. The exterior still has the same forward gesture design, the same facade with the reflector head lamps and fog lamps, the same shiny 16-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and the same rear treatment. In fact, it looks the same as the previous model that when you park a 2004 Town & Country beside a 2003 model of the same color, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

That’s because the difference lies under the hood. Last year’s 3.3-liter single overhead cam (SOHC) V-6 is replaced by a larger 3.8-liter power plant. Power is up by 35 from 180 to 215hp while torque is also up by 35 from 210 to 245 lb-ft. The new engine moves the luxury minivan with more verve while its 4-speed automatic transmission shifts gears almost seamlessly. The extra torque delivers stronger off-the-line acceleration while the extra ponies deliver a higher cruising speed.

There is a one mile per gallon (mpg) fuel consumption penalty for the larger displacement according to the American Environment Protection Agency (EPA) but this writer recorded a fuel efficiency of 7.04 kilometers per liter compared to the 6.92 k/l previously recorded with the 3.3-liter version. Could it be that the greater torque requires less right-foot pressure on the gas pedal? Regardless, less pressure is likewise required to slow the new minivan down because stopping power is still provided by 4-wheel discs brakes with ABS.

Another difference can be found on the dashboard. The headlight switch has an additional setting labeled "A", which stands for automatic. The headlights are now equipped with a photo-sensor that automatically turns the headlight on or off when you’re driving. Thus, if you’re passing through a dark tunnel, there is no need to reach for the light switch; the Town & Country does it for you automatically. It also comes in handy when driving during dusk (headlamps from off to on) or during dawn (headlamps from on to off).

Conveniences like these abound in this minivan. Besides the aforementioned power dual sliding doors with the industry-first inside-the-door electric motor and the power rear lift gate, the Town & Country comes with 8-way power adjustable front seats, folding arm rests, reclining second and third row seats, an Infinity AM/FM/cassette/CD audio system with 8-speakers and a slew of cup holders for all seven passengers. Second and third rows are very accommodating with spacious legroom and folding armrests, as well as three-point seatbelts, with a lap belt for the center passenger in the third row.

These seats can also be removed individually to tailor to your cargo configuration or both rows can be removed entirely to maximize the minivan’s cargo capacity. With both rows removed, an 8" X 4" sheet of plywood can be laid flat on the floor. Perish the thought, though, because it might leave splinters on the cut-pile carpet. Moving a cache of cabernets or a couple of large Ming Dynasty vases, not to mention your child’s entire school basketball team, may be what the designers had in mind when they first worked on this minivan.

Our test vehicle had a silver blue exterior elegantly matched by a blue leather interior. The dual aircon system worked well to keep the interior comfy and cool, while the audio entertainment system provided music that sounded almost live. The ride was absolutely relaxed and the suspension was American-soft with a little body roll grafted in to remind you that you’re driving a luxury minivan.

By now, you could guess that our overall impression of the 2004 Chrysler Town & Country is very favorable. It is after all, an up-market minivan, one that can ferry you to a social gathering without besmirching your status. At almost two million pesos, it is not inexpensive but is superior to other locally-available minivans when it comes to features. Likewise, NARC has undertaken several changes to improve its dealer sales and service network to further improve customer satisfaction. Only time, and the state of the post-election economy, can show the true performance of this luxury people mover in our brand-conscious car-crazy market.