2002 Chrysler Town & Country LXi

As America's leading purveyor of minivans, Chrysler continues to roll more of these practical and comfortable vehicles off its lots than any other manufacturer on Earth. There are credible challengers to be sure, but when America thinks "minivan," the majority of people summon up a familiar vision from DaimlerChrysler. But which one, exactly? That's a tough question, since between its Dodge and Chrysler nameplates, DaimlerChrysler offers a dizzying array of choices.

The unmistakable Chrysler minivan profile carries over to the 2002 Town & Country.

From the Dodge Boys, eight different versions of the Caravan mix and match two wheelbases with various engine and powertrain choices and a host of other features. Under the Chrysler badge, two distinct model names are offered. The Voyager (formerly offered under the defunct Plymouth badge) comes in two short-wheelbase versions. But if luxury is what you're after, the top-of-the-line offering is the Chrysler Town & Country, which comes exclusively in long-wheelbase form in eight different versions. Working from the bottom up, the Town & Country lineup goes eL, LX, LX AWD (all-wheel drive), EX, LXi, LXi AWD, Limited and finally Limited AWD.


For this review, we drove the Town & Country LXi, a generously equipped $29,175 front-drive van that is second only to the Limited trim level in sheer decadence. The opulence ante was further upped on our test vehicle with a $2,200 Preferred Package that included leather, power seats, 16-inch alloy wheels and a lot more good stuff. Eight more stand-alone options totaled another $2,625, and brought our Town & Country LXi up to a total price of $34,980, including destination charges. That's a serious chunk of change for a minivan, but when you stack the Town & Country up against its competition and even the alternatives from among the large sedan ranks, it's clear that the T & C has a lot going for it.

Redesigned last year, the interior is well laid-out and has numerous cubbies and cupholders.

In its basic layout, the Town & Country LXi has just about everything in common with its DaimlerChrysler siblings (the long-wheelbase ones, specifically). Interior space is voluminous, and bins, cubbies and cupholders seem to sprout from virtually every possible location. The seating, particularly in the front and middle row captain's chairs, is impressively good. Whether you're carrying the family to Grandma's or a bunch of work colleagues to a big presentation, the T & C is a great traveling machine.