It looks aerodynamic in profile, with its raked windshield, rising roofline and beltline, and fast D-pillars framing canted rear windows. Crisp, formal creases have replaced the rotund forms of the 1990s. Pronounced wheel arches complement sharp character lines that flank the integrated grille. Rear-end styling tends to make Town & Country look wider and not as tall as it really is. Huge taillamps feature clear red lenses and jewel-like reflectors.

There's really nothing mini about this minivan. Compared to other minivans, the Town & Country ranks among the largest, at 200.5 inches long and 78.6 inches wide. Its wheelbase stretches a full-size 119.3 inches. The Honda Odyssey is 201 inches long on a 118-inch wheelbase; the Oldsmobile Silhouette 201.4 inches long on a 120-inch wheelbase; and the Ford Windstar 201 inches long a 120.7-inch wheelbase.

Dual power sliding doors (standard on eX, LXi and Limited) can add considerable convenience to your daily life, particularly when you find yourself herding children or carrying two armloads of gear. Press a button on the remote transmitter and the door slides open; press the button again and it slides closed and seals. From the second-row seat, the power sliding door can be opened and closed by pressing a button; it can also be opened manually. A safety lock switch hidden on the trailing edge of the door can be engaged to prevent a child from opening the sliding door from inside. The power sliding doors can be fussy when passengers are in a hurry, however, and they usually are in a hurry.

Pulling on the outside lever opens the power door manually, with just slightly more effort than opening a regular manual door. Our LX came with a power sliding door on the passenger's side and a manually operated sliding door on the driver's side; the manual door is easy to operate, smoothly sliding open and closed with the pull of a nicely designed lever. The outside door handles are comfortable, easy to operate and well designed; they impart a feeling of quality in appearance and operation. All door handles should be this good, but they aren't.

A power rear liftgate (optional on eL and LX, standard on eX, LXi, and Limited) adds further convenience when picking up groceries or supplies. Press a button on the remote control and the liftgate opens or closes automatically. It's great feature for those all-too-frequent times when you approach the van with an armload.