The 2010 Chrysler Town and Country is The Coolest Minivan Ever

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
05/31/2014 at 19:51 • Filed to: Minivan

Yes, I know. The Supercharged, Mid-engined, 4WD Toyota Previa is considered by this amazing community as the ACTUAL coolest minivan on the planet. I have to agree, it really is a thing of awesomeness the Previa. Mid-engined like a prancing horse, supercharged like a pounding Jaguar, 4WD Like an enraged Bull, and meticulously designed too look like a dogs turd. Though Toyota must be praised by this great product, it pains me to say this Jalopnik/Oppo but you were wrong naming the un-viagra'd oscar mayer Weinermobile as the most epic family hauler. The legitimate Coolest minivan of them all is in fact the 2010 Chrysler Town and Country.

The Toyota Previa is so praised because it had the most characteristics a driver would care about. The specs are basically the same as an Audi's R8's or a Lamborghini Gallardo, which was really surprising from something designed to haul kids, bags, and all the yellow Cheetos grease that any kid would save up in their fingers, just to smear it on the seats when the mother wasn't looking. But the issue is Jalopnik/Oppo, the Previa was looked at with the wrong perspective. The Previa was seen by us as brilliant due to the supposed "driver oriented" engineering it had, which isn't a wrong thing to do as this is a "driver oriented's" web site. But the fact is, the Previa still drove like a minivan. Yes, it had AWD, but it was just to help you out in the snowy hills, not to do a scandinavian flick. Yes, it was mid engined, but its center of gravity isn't going to be amazing with the roof being a foot away from your head. Yes, it was supercharged, but it HAD to be! Otherwise it would be dangerously slow. The perspective that should've been taken, was from the perspective the designers of the things had in the first place. As passengers.

This is where the 2010 Chrysler Town and Country really shines. The designers that thought of everything in this minivan had the passengers at the back of their heads as a father would if his 15 year old daughter was taken out on a first date by a guy with a panther tattooed on his neck. The difference of this minivan to any other is the amount of Luxury, Uniqueness and Features it offered against its rivals. Also you might ask, why only the 2010 model? This was the last model before Chrysler redesigned it, which brought many improvements such as a squidgy dash, tasteful fake wood, and the almighty Pentastar V6. But as good things went in, they took the best ones out, therefore making it less cool that when it came out in 2007.

Lets start with the exterior looks of the van, which aren't too bad compared to the Jelly Bean Sienna of the time, the angry looking Odyssey, or the plain doped look of the pseudo-spacesip Nissan Quest. This looks classy, in the same way that a nice watch, or cufflinks would. It also has the door rail nicely hidden under the window, and the tailpipes nicely ridden under itself. To wrap it up, it is illuminated with an air of sophistication. Its HID's give a bright, modern look. Then approaching it at nigh, you unlock it and there are welcoming white lights under the mirrors, and inside the dome lights give the most illumination to the interior of any other car.

Now to the most important aspect of its coolness. Its interior. Climbing in, you have to admire the green glow of all the instruments. As some manufacturers put a vulgar red, or a glaring orange, Chrysler puts this greatly soothing tone of green that makes it feel cozy. It makes you feel like you want to be in it. What is even better, is that the blue lighting goes through the roof as if you were in a fancy hotel, or in a plane in first class. You just want to spend your time in the interior with such a tiny detail as the lighting.

As you glance to admire the lighting in the roof, you will notice not 1 but 2 entertainment screens. This is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to see something different to their road trip buddy. Each of them can be either seeing a movie with their headphones while their parents continue listening their 80s playlist through the excellent sounding stereo. But the real kicker with those screens is that they offered the worlds first streaming video system to be engineered into a production vehicle. This means, they can either watch a DVD, play a console, watch Spongebob, or even a Baseball game whilst getting to their destination. The deal was to buy a 470 dollar subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio from the dealer, antennas were fitted in the van, and you just had to keep paying year by year to have TV everywhere you went.

The next amazing feature, is the ability of the van to be used as a Starbucks. Yes, you can connect a blender with an adapter, but not in that kind of way is the Town and Country a Starbucks. For another $500 Dollars or so, Chrysler would connect a router called UConnect Web feature and your Minivan that can receive TV signal also doubles as your Wi-Fi hotspot. Several cars are doing this now, but there is another feature in the van that compliments this one even further.

Possibly the most significant of the features was the Swivel-and-Go seats with the integrated table. Board games, picnic table, Laptop desk, it could be all those things. this was a brilliant idea I don't know how it didn't catch on. I know it was complicated to put up, but the way it could make the passengers interact and eat was stupendous. Also, the seats itself have the softest leather you can think of that will give you all the comfort you could possibly want or need. Now, Put yourself in this perspective. You are making a road trip that is 1,000 miles of distance. At your disposition there are 2 screens that can show TV, the ability to use your laptop through all the trip without making your legs warm, whilst enjoying a much less filthy lunch.

I made all of these realisations since I have traveled in a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country on numerous trips, as well as a base LX. And this Jalopnik/Oppo, is why I think the 2010 Chrysler town and Country is the Coolest Minivan there is. It is the closest thing to a Rolls Royce with sliding doors, just without an umbrella holder.

DISCUSSION (18)

Reigntastic > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:00

In what world is a FWD Chrysler product cooler than a RWD/AWD drift van?

oldirtybootz > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:07

That pre-refresh interior was utter shit though. The new T&C and CV are vastly superior in that regard, plus the Pentastar shits on the 3.8L and 4.0L. Swivel n Go is nifty but its less useful than Stow n Go.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:08

My friend's dad drives a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and I'm always shocked by how nice it is t0 ride in. Theirs has pretty much everything you listed except the leather seats or cool table. I really love the lights that run down the length of the roof. And Mini-Vans shouldn't be allowed to have a stereo as good as these.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:12

I hate those vans/things. Every time I've almost got into an accident(never have been in one thank god), it was caused by some old lady/guy or a lead foot soccer mom in one of those evil things. There are also too many of them and I see 20+ a day, sometimes in a convoy, and even worse, the same color convoys; sickening.

They are as much of a mortal enemy as caravans are to Top Gear UK.

There is nothing you can do change my mind, even a Windstar is better! Try to convince me otherwise. :P

Vicente Esteve > Reigntastic
05/31/2014 at 20:26

Valid Opinion, what I mean by this article, is that Its a much cooler vehicle as a passenger than the Previa. The Previa is cool, but seriously, how many times you are doing that?

Reigntastic > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:28

Different goals, I guess; I drive my vehicles. Every day.

Vicente Esteve > oldirtybootz
05/31/2014 at 20:28

I got to experience the pre-refresh interior, and while it has got pretty bad materials, it was a pleasing place to be. The motor in my opinion is not THAT important. Yes, yes, I know it is miles better, but in the end you are trying to haul your kids, not the Nürburgring taxi.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
05/31/2014 at 20:30

Exaclty my point! When you think about all this thing has that moves electrically: The doors, the sunroof, the rear seats in a lot of positions, and the tailgate, you start to think how amazing it is to design a minivan. Also love how cozy the interior is with those lights. Really makes you want to sleep, and have a roadtrip.

Vicente Esteve > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/31/2014 at 20:33

Haha, agreed on the soccer moms driving like maniacs. And I know what you mean, I fel the same way with how the Sienna is getting popular in my school. I just get disgusted that poeple dont even think about other options they could buy.

And this is just my opinion, even if it sounds too imposing and declarational.

Vicente Esteve > Reigntastic
05/31/2014 at 20:35

Yeah, I also wouldnt mind having a RWD van obviously. But for what it seems to be its purpose, I guess I feel the Chrysler takes the edge.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
05/31/2014 at 20:35

Making you want to have a roadtrip seems to be a common theme among older Mopar vehicles. The '10 Caravan my friend's dad has and the '09 Avenger my girlfriend's mom has are two vehicles that pack features that make them awesome roadtrip cars. And the seats in both are all-day comfortable; just don't touch the plastics around them.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
05/31/2014 at 20:38

Exaclty! I also found out that the satellite TV could be fitted to the 300!

Kinja'd!!!