2008 Chrysler Town & Country

Minivans are a little like punching bags: Certain critics keep trying to count them out. Quite a few consumers shun them in favor of presumably tougher SUVs and crossovers. Yet, minivans keep bouncing back from every assault, continuing to attract 1.1 million common-sense buyers every year.


Ever since 1993, despite the arrival of dozens of sport-utility vehicles on the market, the minivan share of total vehicle sales has remained stable. Since that time, too, Chrysler has easily held the lead. Currently, 38 percent of the minivans sold in the U.S. wear Chrysler or Dodge badges.

Styling

"We think we've revolutionized it yet again," said product communications director Rick Deneau. Chrysler boasts 35 new or improved features for the 2008 minivans, including innovative Swivel 'n Go seating, a new 4.0-liter V-6 engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission.


Starting with their 1996 redesign, Chrysler/Dodge minivans have exhibited a curvy appearance that's been dubbed the "jellybean look." That look has been copied a lot recently, said chief designer Mark Trostle, so developers sought a "different direction" for the 2008 models. Most noticeable are the sharper, crisp edges along the body, moving beyond the prior softness. Chrysler also promotes "glass to body proportion that's contemporary," according to Trostle. Bodies are 18-percent stiffer. Aerodynamically, the 2008 minivans are said to be just about as slippery as the previous "jellybean" shape.


Chrysler proclaims greater differentiation between the two brands, beyond the usual variances in grilles and details. Dodge Grand Caravans get unique headlamps, fascia, and hood. "When you see it in the mirror, you know it's a Dodge," Trostle said. Like the new Avenger sedan, Caravans promise a "sinister look," contradicting the minivan's tame image. "It's tough, it's angry, it's in your face." Why anyone would want an angry minivan remains a mystery.