The engine/tranny duo is quite pleasing, and gives this minivan some badly-needed character. In addition, the 4.0-liter engine isn't available in the Grand Caravan, which makes do with a 3.3-liter V6 and the 3.8-liter unit.

Too bad the big V6 has an appetite for unleaded fuel; my average of 16.6 L/100 km is nothing to cheer about.

The Town & Country's road manners inspire confidence; it's no longer a floatmobile like previous generations, with sharper reflexes as well as a smooth and comfortable ride.

The woodgrain trim provides a pleasant contrast.

Nice dashboard
The seats offer an impressive level of comfort, thanks to a multitude of power adjustments. The materials that compose the dashboard seem improved over the old model, because I really like its appearance and finish. The woodgrain trim contrasts well with the rest of the dash.

A big improvement over the old T&C is the location of the navigation system's screen; mounted on the top of the center stack instead of down low in it, it's now much easier to read.

The shift lever is placed really close to the steering wheel, which initially looks clumsy. However, it's cleverly located there so you can nudge the lever in order to use the manual mode without taking your right hand off the wheel.

This minivan reserved quite a few other surprises. The sound system offers an excellent sound quality and includes a hard disc drive for storing music. The keyfob is nice, inspired by the ones that ignite Mercedes-Benzes. And at night, the green-tinted ambiance lighting in the cockpit reflects on the white leather and looks good.

The only thing that really deserves criticism is the floor console between the front seats. It's got lots of storage, but is loose-fitting and it gives the impression that it's going to break off its base at some point in time. Oh, and every time I climbed in to sit down in the 3rd-row bench, my back would rub against all the overhead compartments, which open every time...

Swivel n' Go: not very interesting
Although Chrysler profusely advertises their new gadget, the final result is more or less interesting.

The 2nd-row seats pivot on their base to face backwards; the table is planted in the middle of the floor, and we can collectively sit together to eat or do a group activity like playing cards, which we promptly did when the Town & Country arrived at our office.

This poker game is brought to you by Swivel n' Go.