2003 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.

In its basic layout, the Town & Country LXi has just about everything in common with its DaimlerChrysler siblings (the long-wheelbase ones, specifically).

The Dodge Boys offer multiple versions of the Caravan, mixing and matching 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 and the Town & Country. And if luxury is what you're after, the top-of-the-line offering, exclusively in long-wheelbase form, is the Chrysler Town & Country. Working from the bottom up, the Town & Country lineup goes eL, LX, eX, LXi, LXi AWD, Limited, and Limited AWD.


For this review, we drove the Town & Country LXi, a generously equipped $33,400 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 $38,905, 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.


In its basic layout, the Town & Country LXi has just about everything in common with its DaimlerChrysler siblings (the long-wheelbase ones, specifically). The unmistakable Chrysler minivan profile carries over to the 2003 Town & Country. New exterior colors for 2003 include Satin Jade, Butane Blue and Brilliant Black. New features for 2003 include a power sunroof, a factory-installed DVD entertainment system and power adjustable pedals. Interior space is characteristically 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.

Interior space is characteristically voluminous, and bins, cubbies and cupholders seem to sprout from virtually every possible location.

There's generous legroom for tall adults even in the third row. Should you need to mix cargo and people or convert entirely to cargo use, the T & C is highly adaptable. The rear bench is actually comprised of two separate seats that can be folded down or rolled completely out independently. The middle-row captain's chairs offer similar convenience. Though not exceptionally light, the simple latching mechanism and built-in rollers make the Chrysler's seats relatively easy to manage. Though the Honda Odyssey remains the minivan utility champ by virtue of its generous internal dimensions and an ingenious rear bench seat that folds down into a well in the rear cargo floor, the T & C needs to make few excuses on the utility front.