Even with a good showing from the Honda Odyssey in March – coming within 62 units of second place – the Town & Country is 5,000 units sales ahead for the year.
Combine the up to $3,500 in rebates with the predetermined aggressive pricing of the T&C versus the Odyssey, and it is possible Chrysler Group could make 2005 a banner year for the segment they created over 20 years ago.
The key to the Town & Country's success [and the Caravan's] lies in two and a half words: Stow 'n Go.
Introduced in December ’03, Stow ‘n Go is a seating system that allows the second and third row seats to fold flat. In the upright position, both rows have usable storage bins that keep gear, pocketbooks, laptops and all manner of modern accouterments out of the way.
Though the Odyssey has a third row Magic Seat system, and the Toyota Sienna has the Split & Stow third row, neither has the storage capacity or overall functionality of the Chrysler Stow ‘n Go.
With both rows sporting either upright storage, total fold-flat options or any of the 254 options in-between, the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country appear to have what more people really want in minivans.
In the words of Kevin McCormick, a Chrysler Group spokesman, Stow ‘n Go is the “killer app” of minivans. In other words, Chrysler continues to show it understand why people buy minivans – family-oriented hauling, convenience and usability.
“The Stow ‘n Go system is definitely the feature,” that’s driving Chrysler Group’s minivan sales, McCormick said. Stow 'n Go equipped minivans make up about 80% of Chrysler Group's minivan sales.
Designed and produced at a stated cost of $400 million, the Stow ‘n Go system is Chrysler’s statement they intend to own what they invented.
“We’ve had leadership dominance since we created the minivan in 1984,” McCormick said. “We’re not sitting on our heels. We have no plans to give up our dominant position.”
The Stow 'n Go system is only available on Chrysler Group minivans with a long wheelbase, though short wheelbase options are available. Prices for the Town & Country with Stow 'n Go range from $25,905 to $36,260, including destination fees.
Chrysler currently offers a $2,500 cash back rebate for the Town & Country, plus an additional $1,000 when purchased through Chrysler's financial arm.
The Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan has several different ways to get into a Stow 'n Go equipped minvan, with prices from $24,295 to $27,625. Similar rebates and financing deals are available with the Caravan.