It goes almost without saying that the world of minivans is
Chrysler's turf. Since
1984, the company has been building--and the public has been buying--the vans other
manufacturers love to emulate. Whether sold with Plymouth (Voyager), Dodge (Caravan)
or Chrysler (Town & Country) badges, these not-so-boxy boxes have set industry
standards for value, comfort and space utilization. Now, thanks to last year's total
makeover, they set the standard in style as well.
Style is important here. These are family machines, cars that have replaced sedans
in many households. Whether taking the kids to school, providing vacation transport or
going out for an evening on the town, they are expected to look right. And they do.
As you'd expect, Chrysler's discovery of a new and profitable market didn't go
unnoticed. Since the mid-1980s, Ford has jumped into the fray with its Aerostar and
Windstar minis, GM offers its rear-drive Astro and Safari, plus its plastic-skinned
vans with Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile labels, and imports such as the Toyota
Previa, Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager and Mazda MPV have joined in.
Among the contenders, Windstar comes closest to matching the Chrysler trio. In some
subjective areas, this challenger has shown the veteran a few new tricks. GM has
lagged behind, but will rectify that in 1997 when a trio of all-new, steel-bodied
minivans comes to market.
But despite all the competition, Chrysler continues to lead the way in both style and
sales.
Though our test drive centered on the Town & Country, Caravan and Voyager are
identical in structure, similar in powertrain and equipment. Differences will be
noted, but most subjective evaluations apply to all three. If you like the T&C, but
want to save a few bucks, you'll almost certainly be happy with Caravan and Voyager.
It is impossible not to appreciate the way
Chrysler designers have blended style and
utility. At heart, the T&C is a box meant to carry seven people and/or a lot of goods
efficiently and, its reason for being, in luxury. That it is attractive, as well, is a
bonus.
The front-end treatment is especially handsome. The low, sloping nose, combined with
low cowl height, is of great benefit in maneuverability, and reduces aerodynamic drag.
T&C is elegant, with a shiny plated grille flanked by rounded headlamps. The grille is
a damage-resistant thermoplastic molding. The Dodge version's air intake has simple
horizontal slats, while Plymouth has a good-looking eggcrate grille.
From the side, all three share a sleek, rounded profile. Differences are confined to
minor lower bodyside details. Rear views are likewise the same except for badging.
One standout feature is a left-side sliding rear door, an option that appears to have
taken the minivan market by storm. It joins the existing wide front doors, right-side
slider, and large tailgate in providing unhindered access to the interior.
Between the three nameplates, Chrysler offers some 15 varieties of trim, wheelbase and
overall length and drive systems, plus four engines and three transmissions among the
three nameplates. Leaving powertrains aside for the moment, the most important is
length: All three are available with either a 113.3- or 119.3-in. wheelbase; overall
length increases by 13.3 in. with the longer wheelbase. The longer van's advantage is
real, as the extra space is devoted to passenger and load area.
