2012 Chrysler Town and Country Review
2012 Chrysler Town and Country Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+120
Used Town and Country for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Versatile rear seating configurations
- attractive interior.
Cons
- Drivetrain lacks refinement
- limited driver legroom.
What’s new
For 2012, the Chrysler Town & Country gets more standard equipment, as leather seating and a rear-seat entertainment system now come on all trim levels.
Edmunds says
Although the Chrysler Town & Country boasts a strong engine, confident handling and a well-trimmed cabin, it still trails the competition in terms of refinement.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$204/mo for Town and Country Touring
Town and Country Touring
vs
$217/mo
Avg. Midsize Minivan
Vehicle overview
Chrysler's Town & Country moniker has been affixed to everything from an elegant 1940s convertible with real wood side panels to a massive 1970s station wagon with fake wood body trim. Starting in the 1990s, it has adorned a luxury minivan -- initially with fake wood paneling, then thankfully without. The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country just might be the most deserving edition of its historic nameplate, as it is equally adept at shuttling business folks around the city as it is taking the family on a cross-country vacation.
Though it's mostly a twin of its Dodge Grand Caravan cousin, the Town & Country has some unique styling features along with a more upscale cabin to set it apart from its more common relative. The T&C has long been known as one of the more satisfying minivans to drive, and last year's major hardware improvements (more power and a recalibrated suspension) make piloting the latest Town & Country a more enjoyable experience. Comfortable seats and a generous roster of practical and luxury features make Chrysler's minivan ideal for most anything from taking a trio of couples out to dinner to getting a dining room table home from the furniture store.
But the Town & Country isn't the only minivan chasing buyers who want all the trimmings of a touring sedan along with versatile cargo-carrying capacity in their spacious people mover. Top trim levels of the recently redesigned Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna are also pretty plush and benefit from more refined powertrains. But the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country's combination of pleasant driving dynamics, strong performance, comfortable ride and available upscale features make it worthy of consideration.
Performance & mpg
The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The engine drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.
In Edmunds testing, the Town & Country accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, about a half-second slower than the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
Safety
The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country comes with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, active front head restraints, full-length side curtain airbags, front seat side-impact airbags and a driver knee airbag. A blind-spot monitor and a rear cross-path detection system are also standard. In Edmunds brake testing, the Town & Country came to a stop from 60 mph in 128 feet, an average distance for a minivan.
In government crash tests, the T&C received four out of five stars for overall protection, with four stars awarded for overall frontal impact protection and five stars for overall side impact protection. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing, the Town & Country earned the highest score of "Good" in that agency's frontal offset and side impact tests.
Driving
The muscular engine and confident handling on winding roads make the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country a contender. But segment leaders like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna still offer more refinement. The Chrysler's engine, while powerful, sounds and feels rougher, and there's an odd whistling noise under deceleration. The six-speed automatic transmission does an admirable job of keeping power on tap, but gearchanges can sometimes be jarring. The steering effort is slightly heavier and the suspension is a bit less compliant as well. On the highway, we've also noticed some creaks and squeaks, although nothing compared to older models.
Interior
Last year's complete makeover brought with it a nicely trimmed cabin stocked with quality materials and a pleasing design. Positioning the Town & Country as a luxury vehicle means an interior that is downright posh on the top-of-the-line Limited trim level.
Unlike other minivans that require the awkward removal of the middle-row seats to achieve maximum cargo capacity, the Chrysler's Stow 'n Go seats fold flat into the floor. Operating these surprisingly comfortable seats is fairly simple, as only a quick tug of a strap and a few gentle yanks are required to make them disappear into the floor.
The third-row seats are also comfortable, but headroom might be tight for taller folks, while shorter folks may find the aggressive tilt of the seat cushion akin to sitting in a dentist's chair. The 60/40-split third-row seat can be had with a slick power-folding option and can also be flipped backwards to create comfortable seating for tailgate parties and the kids' soccer games. Several Edmunds editors of different heights noticed that the driver seat and pedals are mounted too close together, even when moved to the widest setting offered by the power adjustments.
With all three rows of seats in use, the Town & Country offers a healthy 33 cubic feet of cargo room. Folding down the second- and third-row seats creates a flat load floor with a competitive 143.8 cubic feet of space.
2012 Chrysler Town and Country models
The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan is offered in three trim levels: Touring, Touring-L and Limited.
The entry-level Touring model comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, automatic wipers, a roof rack, power sliding doors, a power tailgate and rear parking sensors. Inside you'll find air-conditioning, leather upholstery, a power driver seat, power-adjustable pedals, Stow 'n Go second-row seats, cruise control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, full power accessories (including second-row power windows and third-row power vents), a conversation mirror, a back-up camera, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 115-volt AC power outlet. Electronic features include a rear-seat entertainment center (second-row screen), Bluetooth, a USB port and a six-speaker CD sound system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and digital music storage.
Moving up to the Touring-L model gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming outside mirrors, remote ignition, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats and second- and third-row window shades. The top-of-the-line Limited model adds xenon headlights, keyless ignition/entry, upgraded leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, Bluetooth, a navigation system, an additional third-row screen for the entertainment system and a nine-speaker premium audio system.
Some of the standard features found on the upper Town & Country trim levels can be added to the lower trims via optional packages. Other major options include a sunroof, a power-folding third-row seat and an upgraded center console.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
3 out of 5 stars3/5Above Average
#11 out of 14 among Minivans
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Chrysler Town and Country from 2008-2022.$621/yr
vs. $549/yr
for Average Minivan
for Average Minivan
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.58x/yr
vs. 1.47x/yr
for Average Minivan
for Average Minivan
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).14.9%
vs. 12.5%
for Average Minivan
for Average Minivan
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2012 Chrysler Town and Country.
5 star(73%)
4 star(12%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(6%)
1 star(6%)
33 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.13 out of 5 stars
Great Van
buenink, 01/07/2013
2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We got our T&C in June of 2012 and have loved it from day one. We took it on vacation to northern WI and averaged 29.9 MPG for the trip. Our son loves the DVD and the amount of space in the van is great. The only negative thing I can say about the vehicle is that when you accelerate it can be slow to shift. That being said, if performance is important youre likely not looking at buying … a van. $ for $ it is the best van you can buy. One warning, the day after we bought our van we found out we were having another baby
.buyer beware ;-)
4.88 out of 5 stars
Why is this van not a bigger deal?
2000tjsport, 06/09/2012
2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring-L 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We purchased a 2012 T&C about six months ago, and we've put about 5,000 miles on it so far. And as an avid reader of car blogs, my main question is: why is no one raving about this van? It's far and away the most heavily-featured van available; our mid-level model (purchased for about the base model's MSRP) has leather, dual DVD, power doors and liftgate, bluetooth, navigation, Sirius … XM, three zone climate control...it's just ridiculous what you get for your money. We stopped at the Honda place first, and told the sales guy the features and price Chrysler had on their van. He did his salesman thing for about 15 minutes and then declared himself beaten. He was right. Buy the Chrysler.
4.88 out of 5 stars
Classy Minivan
yeahteam, 03/15/2012
2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring-L 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
This is my second Chrysler Town and Country.
My first was a 2003 Limited.
I chose the 2012 TC because this is the first model year I actually found the seats in the second row comfortable.
Comparing the interior styling of the minivans available today, I think the TC wins hands down.
It just looks nicer, with some definite attention to styling.
The front seats are very comfortable.
The … features available are reasonably priced and work very well.
The ride is very good and the engine is definitely adequate, though eco-mode leaves a bit to be desired.
Overall, after 7K miles, I am very satisfied.
5 out of 5 stars
Love it!
portofkahl, 04/22/2012
2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We have had a number of Dodge and Chrysler mini vans.
Since 1995 we have had 6 of them.
The stow and go is a brilliant feature and the 3.6 engine has all the capacity we need.
We are active, love to kayak, bicycle and go antiquing, the storage capabilities are awesome.
we also have a yellow lab who loves the ride.
Our grandaughter loves the entertainment package and I love the bluetooth … hands free cell phone feature.
While the van is the most expensive cell phone I've ever owned, it is an awesome ride.
My wife and i love it.
Smooth ride, plenty of power, lots of luxury, practical for hauling stuff, and looks sharp to boot!
We will hang on to this one for a while.
2012 Town and Country Highlights
Touring
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $29,995 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Flex-fuel (ffv) |
Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $204/month |
Seating | 7 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 33.0 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Town and Country include:
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover16.4%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
3.5 average Rating out of 14 reviews. |
Starting at $38,240 |
4.5 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $37,685 |
4.4 average Rating out of 12 reviews. |
Starting at $33,600 |
Related Used 2012 Chrysler Town and Country info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Ram Promaster Window Van 2017
- Used GMC Rally Wagon 2019
- Used Cadillac CT4 2017 For Sale
- Used Ford Econoline Wagon 2010
- Used Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe 2016
Shop similar models
- Used Dodge Grand-caravan
- Used Chrysler Voyager
- Used Ford Transit-connect-cargo-van
- Used Ford Transit-connect-passenger-wagon
- Used Nissan Quest
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Chrysler Town and Country 2011 For Sale
- Used Chrysler Pacifica 2014
- Used Chrysler Pacifica 2015
- Used Chrysler Pacifica 2013
- Used Chrysler Pacifica 2016
- Used Chrysler Pacifica 2010
- Used Chrysler Town and Country 2012
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Kia Ev6
- Cadillac Escalade Esv SUV
- Lexus Is300
- Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Mercedes GLC 300 Coupe
- Polestar 2 2024
- Car BMW X7
- Genesis G80 Sedan
- Genesis G70 Sedan
- Mazda CX9
Research other models of Chrysler
Research similar vehicles
- 2023 Honda Odyssey
- 2023 Sienna
- Ford Transit Connect Cargo Vans
- Mercedes Metris Vans
- 2023 Kia Sedona
- Honda Odyssey
Other models
- Used Scion XB in Las Vegas, NV
- Used BMW M6 in Boiling Springs, SC
- Used Lexus NX-200T in Stillwater, MN
- Used Fiat 500E in Schenectady, NY
- Used Audi RS-6 in Bellefontaine, OH
- Used Hyundai Nexo in Buda, TX
- Used Scion Xa in Old Bridge, NJ
- New Nissan Z for Sale in Springdale, AR
- Used GMC Sierra-Classic-3500 in Martinsville, IN
- Used Mitsubishi Lancer in Bloomington, IN