Chrysler Town & CountryIt's the minivan that thinks it's a luxury sedan. And it just might be right. Chrysler's Town & Country has the sedan competition whupped when it comes to roomy accommodations: Not one of them can handle seven passengers in style like the T&C can. Now Chrysler's made a left-side sliding door standard on all three trim levels and has worked to further quiet the interior. Low-speed traction control also is now optional. Two engines are available: a 3.3-liter V-6 that purrs out 158 horsepower, and a 166-horse 3.8-liter V-6 that can also be paired with full-time all-wheel drive. Outfitted with three rows of leather seating in LXi trim, the T&C flat pegs the luxo-meter.
Body type: MinivanDrivetrain: Front engine, front drive/AWDAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3877Base engine: 3.3-liter V-6, OHV, 158 hpOpt. engine: 3.8-liter V-6, OHV, 166 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS std.Price range: $26,500-$33,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 17/24
Dodge AvengerMost sporty coupes have schnauzer-size back seats; the Dodge Avenger-and its Chrysler Sebring sibling-on the other hand, conceals a real rear seat under an alluring roofline. With the style of a coupe and much of the utility of a small sedan, it's a good deal any way you look at it. The base-level Avenger places the emphasis on value, or you can move up to the nicely equipped ES. Both come with a 2.0-liter/140-horse inline-four. Coupled with the standard five-speed manual, expect 0-60 mph to pass in less than nine seconds. For superior smoothness (but not much superior speed), an optional 2.5-liter V-6 that kicks out 163 horses is available paired with a four-speed automatic.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2888Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 140 hpOpt. engine: 2.5-liter V-6, SOHC, 163 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $15,000-$19,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 22/32
Dodge CaravanIf one vehicle can be all things to all people, Dodge's Caravan just might be it. Somewhere in a vast matrix of options and trim levels, there's a Caravan tuned to your requirements. Two wheelbases each come in three different trim levels. Four engines (one inline-four and a trio of V-6s) supply the power, and you can even pair the top powerplant with full-time all-wheel drive. New just last year, the Caravan-recipient of Motor Trend's 1996 Car of the Year award-returns for '97 with a quieter interior, an upgraded optional anti-lock brake system, available low-speed traction control, and other improvements. Don't buy any minivan without driving a Caravan-or its sibling, the Plymouth Voyager-first.
Body type: MinivanDrivetrain: Front engine, front drive/AWDAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3544Base engine: 2.4-liter I-4, DOHC, 150 hpOpt. engine: 3.0-liter V-6, SOHC, 150 hp;3.3-liter (gas or CNG) V-6, OHV, 158 hp;3.8-liter V-6, OHV, 166 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS optPrice range: $17,500-$29,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 20/25
Dodge IntrepidOne of Chrysler's LH series of large sedans, the Intrepid shares the breed's virtues of uncommon roominess and distinctive lines. Not a lot has changed for the new year. The Intrepid has the same automatic-transmission logic refinements you'll find on many Chrysler products this year, and it has new bolt-on wheel covers and a better base-level cassette radio. There's also a Sport Group option available on the base Intrepid that combines the big 3.5-liter/214-horsepower V-6, the Autostick transmission control system, eight-way power driver's seat, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. For more luxury ambiance, look into the uplevel Intrepid ES.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3411Base engine: 3.3-liter V-6, OHV, 161 hpOpt. engine: 3.5-liter V-6, SOHC, 214 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $19,500-$23,000 Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 19/27
Dodge NeonOnly the brand-name badge separates the Dodge Neon from the otherwise-identical Plymouth Neon. Available as a coupe or sedan, the Neon is one of the more spacious cars in its class-and one of the most affordable. The standard engine is a powerful (for the class) 132-horse inline-four that slings the Neon to 60 mph in just 8.4 seconds. Go for the optional 150-horsepower DOHC engine, and the trip shortens to eight seconds flat. In addition to base and Highline trim levels, the Neon offers plenty of options and packages. Choose the Sport Group or opt for the Competition Group, complete with race-tuned suspension and the Unique Unconstrained Top Speed Engine Controller. Wow!
Body type: Coupe, sedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2385Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, SOHC, 132 hpOpt. engine: 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 150 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $10,500-$12,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 28/38
Dodge StratusLooking for big-car roominess and a small-car price? Stratus delivers both in a handsome package. Along with its siblings, the Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Breeze, the Stratus has an appealing, accommodating interior that's blessed with a particularly capacious back seat. Ergonomic details also are competitive, with the exception of lumpy-feeling standard seats. Three different engines supply the power: 2.0- and 2.4-liter inline-fours that generate 132 and 150 horsepower respectively, and a capable 2.5-liter V-6 that cranks the dyno needle over to 168 ponies. Changes this year include racket reduction for the 2.4-liter engine, a new floor console, and improved sound systems.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2922Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, SOHC, 132 hpOpt. engines: 2.4-liter I-4, DOHC, 150 hp; 2.5-liter V-6, SOHC, 168 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $15,000-$16,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 25/36
Dodge Viper RT/10, GTSResponsible for more midlife crises than any other device yet created by man, the Dodge Viper and GTS coupe return for '97. Both versions are the stuff of dreams, but it's the GTS coupe (it arrived mid-'96) that causes the strongest adrenal spasms. With its 8.0-liter/450-horse V-10, lighter, stronger chassis, and climate-controlled interior, it has the Viper roadster beat in terms of comfort and straight-line performance. Most of this year's production will be devoted to the GTS, then will switch back to the roadster near the model year's end. The GTS' dual-airbag interior should find its way into the roadster, along with other improvements, possibly even the 450-horse engine.
Body type: Convertible, coupeDrivetrain: Front engine, rear driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3375Base engine: 8.0-liter V-10, OHV, 415 hpOpt. engine: 8.0-liter V-10, OHV, 450 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/discs, ABS not avail.Price range: $59,500-$67,500 (est.)Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 13/21
Eagle TalonFrom mild to wild, the Eagle Talon (platform-mate to the Mitsubishi Eclipse) covers the full sport-coupe spectrum. A quartet of trim levels starts with the 2.0-liter/140-horse inline-four, front-drive Talon. The ESi retains the same powerplant, but adds style, performance, and comfort items such as a spoiler, cupholders, and a six-way adjustable driver's seat. A steamy turbo variant of the same engine injects 210 horses into the TSi and TSi AWD and shaves 0-60-mph times down to the mid-six-second range. A five-speed manual transmission is standard for all, but a four-speed automatic is optional; it nips five horsepower off the turbo cars. Freshened exterior styling leads the '97 changes.
Body type: CoupeDrivetrain: Front engine, front drive/AWDAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 2729Base engine: 2.0-liter I-4, DOHC, 140 hpOpt. engine: 2.0-liter turbo I-4, DOHC, 205/210 hp (auto./manual)Brakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $14,000-$20,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 22/32
Eagle VisionThere are only a handful of improvements to the Eagle Vision for the coming year. Its transmission logic has received software refinements, the base-level sound system has been upgraded, and the big 3.5-liter engine is now available as an option on the base-level ESi. Don't forget one new exterior color, too. The rest of the Vision carries over intact, which is actually pretty good news for drivers hankering for class-leading interior room and wholly competitive pricing. A 3.3-liter/161-horsepower V-6 is the standard powerplant for the ESi. In TSi guise, you get a 3.5-liter 24-valve V-6 that ups the ante to 214 horsepower and drops 0-60-mph acceleration into the eight-second bracket.
Body type: SedanDrivetrain: Front engine, front driveAirbag: Driver/passengerBase curb weight, lb: 3446Base engine: 3.3-liter V-6, OHV, 161 hpOpt. engine: 3.5-liter V-6, SOHC, 214 hpBrakes, f/r: Discs/drums, ABS opt.Price range: $20,500-$24,500Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: 19/27
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