Performance: 2005 Chrysler Town & CountryPowertrainThe base Town & Country and the LX are offered only with Chrysler's anemic and dated overhead valve 3.3-liter V-6 engine that makes 180 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. The Touring and Limited benefit from a larger, if still old-fashioned, 3.8-liter V-6 that makes 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet. Both engines are mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Neither engine matches those of Japanese rivals for power or smoothness, but at least fuel economy is decent.
Behind the Wheel No one is going to be intimidated by driving the Town & Country. Although, at 200.5 inches overall, it is pretty big, it drives small, thanks to precise, light steering, good brakes, and nimble responses. It isn't exactly sporty to drive, but most soccer moms and empty-nesters won't care about that--they'll be more interested in the well-controlled, smooth ride, and the refined highway performance. The only real flaw with the Town & Country is that the engines are wheezy and coarse at the top end, and the van doesn't get up and go with the same alacrity as the Honda and Toyota minivan offerings, which have more powerful, more modern V-6 engines. (Honda boasts 48 more horsepower and slightly better fuel economy.) The four-speed automatic transmission lacks the smoothness of the best five-speeds on the market, too.
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