2000 Chrysler Town & Country Review (continued)
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Walkaround

A 3.3-liter Flex Fuel V6 engine, which can use gasoline or ethanol, is standard on the LX and LXi-except in California, New York, Massachusetts or Vermont, where it is not available. A 3.8-liter V6 is optional on the LXi front-wheel-drive model, standard on the LXi all-wheel drive edition, and standard on the Limited. The four-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models, and all-wheel drive is optional on the LX, LXi and Limited.

The Town & Country rides on a 119.3-inch wheelbase, and is 199.7 inches long. The LX and LXi weigh in at 4,045 pounds, while Limited tips the scales at 4,189 pounds. All-wheel drive adds another 300 pounds.

The Limited's sporty visage is, at once, elegant and slightly imposing. A steeply raked windshield blends into the sloping hood, finished with a sweeping grille and winged Chrysler badge. Rounded corners, sculpted body panels and understated side moldings add to the its imposing look, particularly in dark colors.

The Limited comes with a high level of standard equipment: anti-lock brakes, traction control, dual-zone air conditioning, power windows and door locks, cruise control, heated power eight-way front seats with memory, easy-out rear seats with rollers, adjustable driver's-seat lumbar support, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, overhead console trip computer, power garage door opener, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, rearview mirror with automatic day-night feature, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo with equalizer, extra sound insulation and 16-inch cast aluminum wheels.

Side-door beams and dual airbags are standard and the driver gets a Next-generation airbag designed to deploy less forcefully in an accident. An accident response system unlocks the doors and turns on the interior lights whenever an airbag deploys.

Interior Features

We can't say enough about how much we love the sliding doors on both sides of the Town & Country. They improve access considerably. The two-sided access means you don't have to walk around to the passenger side to fetch an impatient toddler. Heated leather front seats (standard on the Limited and optional on the LXi) are a big plus in Michigan and other chilly regions.

For hauling smaller loads, the seat backs can be folded down yielding enough room for the proverbial sheet of plywood. For bigger loads, the back seats can be removed, and the center-row bucket seats can be quickly unlatched and pulled through the sliding side doors. A firm yank on a lever pops the third-row bench seat up onto a set of wheels, allowing it to be rolled backwards and removed via the tailgate. However, you'll need another person to do so, because they are not light.

The front seats are plush and comfy, and provide a panoramic view of the road ahead. There's copious headroom and legroom, whether you're in the front seats or the second-row seats. Getting into the back seats is easy, and those seats are quite comfy. The rear bench can seat two adults or three children.

The Town & Country is one of the most spacious minivans on the market, with 163.4 cubic feet of cargo space. By comparison, GM's extended minivan family, the Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Pontiac Montana, offer just 156 cubic feet. The Honda Odyssey, which made headlines for its size, offers just 141.1 cubic feet.