2012 Chrysler Town & Country Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Chrysler Town & Country overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Town & Country, and includes Town & Country safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

For more than two decades, the Chrysler Town & Country has been plying American highways as the single luxury-brand offering in the segment. The claim is a dubious one, however, as competitors wearing mainstream nameplates are each available in high-zoot trim levels that compete directly with the T&C.

Chrysler shuffles equipment around for 2012, most notably adding leather and a rear seat DVD entertainment system as standard equipment on the least expensive Touring model. New Sapphire Blue lighting bathes the cabin in an icy glow at night, and the Limited model now includes a wood-and-leather steering wheel. Three new paint colors are also available: True Blue, Crystal Blue, and Cashmere Pearl.

The Town & Country Touring is the entry-level model, but one glance at the standard equipment list tells you this minivan is anything from basic. Beyond the types of features you expect to find on a Chrysler, the Town & Country Touring has triple-zone climate control, leather seats, eight-way power front seats, power sliding side doors, a power tailgate, a rear DVD entertainment system, a 30-gig hard drive for the touch-screen sound system, a ParkView reversing camera, and Uconnect hands-free calling capability. Additional standard items include 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, automatic headlights, LED overhead lighting, and a rechargeable and removable portable flashlight. Heated side mirrors are included, along with a USB port, satellite radio, a HomeLink universal remote control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 115-volt power outlet, and power adjustable pedals.

Clearly, the Town & Country Touring is well equipped. But for customers who want more, Chrysler offers the Touring L model. It has a full suite of safety technologies including ParkSense rear parking sensors, Blind-Spot Monitoring with Cross-Path Detection (CPD monitors traffic approaching from the sides of the van when reversing from blind driveways or parking slots), SmartBeam headlights with auto-dimming high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a tire pressure monitor display showing inflation rates at each individual wheel. The Touring L also includes a remote engine starting system, a security alarm system, rear side window sunshades, side mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, and auto-dimming glass for the driver’s side mirror.

The Town & Country Limited is the most luxurious of Chrysler’s people movers. It’s decked out in extra chrome trim, and features premium Nappa leather seats with suede inserts, a leather-and wood heated steering wheel, heated front and second-row seats, a dual-screen rear entertainment system, a premium sound system with Bluetooth music streaming capability, a navigation system, keyless entry and push-button start, a super center console between the front seats, and high-intensity discharge headlights.

Each Town & Country model can be upgraded with options that take it closer in price and content to the next level, and both the Touring L and Limited are offered with exclusive extra-cost items that provide incentive for moving up the trim level ladder. Highlights of some of these goodies include a power sunroof, upgraded second-row “luxury” captain’s chairs, and a power folding third-row seat. Any Town & Country can be converted into a mobile wi-fi hotspot with Uconnect Web service, and a Trailer Tow Group with a load-leveling suspension is offered on all three models. Notably, the Touring model is offered with a SafetyTec Group that includes the safety features that come standard on the Touring L model.

As you may have noticed whilst perusing the standard features lists, Chrysler offers numerous safety items on the 2012 Town & Country. Seven airbags are aboard, including a knee airbag for the driver, along with traction control, stability control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, and a reversing camera. Get the SafetyTec Group, standard on all but the base Touring model, and the van comes with Blind-Spot Warning with Cross-Path Detection, ParkSense rear parking sensors, SmartBeam headlights with auto-dimming high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a tire pressure monitor display showing inflation levels of all four tires.

In the event of an impact, data is somewhat inconclusive on whether the Town & Country will protect its occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t bothered to re-test the Town & Country since it revamped its crash-test program for 2011, so there’s nothing to be learned from them except for a 4-Star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not evaluated the T&C for roof crush strength, which means the van – which otherwise gets Good ratings across the board – is ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating. Hey, it’s not like the Town & Country is one of the most popular minivans on the market or anything. No rush, guys.

Reliability predictions are similarly lacking in detail. Consumer Reports has not, at this writing, made a call on whether it thinks the new-for-2011 V6 engine and related updates will change the Town & Country’s formerly dismal fortunes in the consumer watchdog agency’s surveys. J.D. Power and Associates thinks the Chrysler minivan will provide slightly better than average dependability over time, and gave the Town & Country an award in 2011 for its initial quality.

As you may have noticed whilst perusing the standard features lists, Chrysler offers numerous safety items on the 2012 Town & Country. Seven airbags are aboard, including a knee airbag for the driver, along with traction control, stability control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, and a reversing camera. Get the SafetyTec Group, standard on all but the base Touring model, and the van comes with Blind-Spot Warning with Cross-Path Detection, ParkSense rear parking sensors, SmartBeam headlights with auto-dimming high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a tire pressure monitor display showing inflation levels of all four tires.

In the event of an impact, data is somewhat inconclusive on whether the Town & Country will protect its occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t bothered to re-test the Town & Country since it revamped its crash-test program for 2011, so there’s nothing to be learned from them except for a 4-Star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not evaluated the T&C for roof crush strength, which means the van – which otherwise gets Good ratings across the board – is ineligible for a Top Safety Pick rating. Hey, it’s not like the Town & Country is one of the most popular minivans on the market or anything. No rush, guys.

Reliability predictions are similarly lacking in detail. Consumer Reports has not, at this writing, made a call on whether it thinks the new-for-2011 V6 engine and related updates will change the Town & Country’s formerly dismal fortunes in the consumer watchdog agency’s surveys. J.D. Power and Associates thinks the Chrysler minivan will provide slightly better than average dependability over time, and gave the Town & Country an award in 2011 for its initial quality.

Minivans are built to carry people and stuff, and the Town & Country is no exception. It is equipped with what Chrysler calls Stow ‘N Go seating, which means the second- and third-row seats collapse and can be stored in the floor of the van. When the second-row seats are in use, the underfloor bins used to contain them can be used for hidden and, since they don’t open unless the front seats are powered forward, fairly secure storage.

In addition to being able to tow 3,500 pounds, the Town & Country can carry 1,400 pounds of payload. Stick seven 200-lb. linebackers into this thing, and you’re within spec. But we certainly would recommend the load-leveling suspension that’s included in the optional Trailer Tow Group.

Finally, there’s the size of the Town & Country’s interior. With all three rows of seats occupied, 33 cubic-feet is available in the Chrysler’s trunk. Fold the third-row bench, and you’ve got 83.3 cubes of space with which to work. Maximum cargo volume behind the two front seats measures 143.8 cu-ft. That’s more space than inside a Chevy Suburban.

Truth be told, there’s never been a better time to buy a minivan, because with the exception of the aged but value-laden Kia Sedona, they’ve all been redesigned in the past two years. As for the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, Vehix cautiously recommends this model. Preliminary and inconclusive data surrounding safety and reliability are the main reasons we can’t be more enthusiastic about what is otherwise a fairly credible entry in the minivan segment.

By Christian Wardlaw