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What do you do for an encore to the longest running show in town?

Simple. Spruce it up.

Chrysler, creator of the minivan 24 years ago, did just that with a redesign for 2008.

It still holds not only Dad, Mom, kids and dog, cups, juice boxes, bottles, coins, maps, groceries, luggage and dry cleaning, but also purse and/or laptop.

It still has power sliding doors on both sides plus a tailgate that powers up and down. Now it adds a power third-row seat that folds flat into the floor to open more room in the cabin.

It had a VCR so kids could watch movies on an overhead screen on the way to Grandma’s. Now (for $2,020) it has screens in the second and third rows to watch DVD movies or the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon or the Cartoon network on satellite TV, while parents watch movies on the radio display screen in the dash — when the vehicle is in “park,” of course.

The last time around, Chrysler introduced Stow ‘N Go, second- and third-row seats that fold into compartments in the floor for more cargo room. This time it gets Swivel ‘N Go, second-row seats that turn 180 degrees to face the third row. A tabletop slips between the rows so kids can eat or play games.

Chrysler remains the sales leader with 40 percent of the 1.1 million units sold annually and has invested $1.4 billion to redesign its vans for 2008 to keep buyers coming back.

We tested the Chrysler Town & Country in top-of-the-line Limited trim.

“We moved away from the jelly-bean look by lowering and widening the roof and adding wheel flares” to make it athletic, says Mark Berube, manager of Chrysler brand marketing.

Not sure what an “athletic” van looks like but the T&C is an unmistakably long, three-row, sliding-door machine that shares the chrome-winged-logo grille with the 300 sedan.

In addition to the goodies mentioned above, Chrysler boasts 35 new or improved features for 2008 to keep its sales lead. Those include a center console upfront that holds a purse. On top, four cupholders slide back 21 inches to “deliver” drinks and food to the second row. Those are part of the 13 cup or bottle holders not to mention two glove boxes and an umbrella holder along the driver’s seat that the T&C packs.

A 4-liter, 251-horsepower V-6 also is new, with more get-up-and-go than the 3.8-liter, 197-h.p. V-6 that had been the largest engine. Despite more power to climb or pass, the 4 is rated at 17 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway, same as the 3.8. Both come with a new 6-speed automatic with first gear designed for quick getaways — for soccer Moms on a mission.

The T&C not only keeps up with the flow of interstate traffic, the new shape also holds it to the road without getting slapped about by crosswinds.

When it comes to ride, no van is a sports car. Ride correlates with where you sit. Front row is smoothest, second row a little less so and third row — over the rear wheels — the least smooth.

The body tends to lean when piloted into and out of corners and turns. A minivan is meant to be versatile and hold lots of people and things, not to be the most agile vehicle on the road. For optimum security in the big people hauler, the T&C comes with electronic stability control and traction control so it doesn’t wiggle or wobble. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and side-curtain air bags are standard.

A few gripes. Second row seats swivel, but not always on the first pull of the lever and not when the front seats are pushed too far back. When second and third rows are facing with the table slipped between, leg and foot room is at a premium. Kids can play Go Fish on the table, but adults can forget Texas Hold’em.

When seats aren’t swiveled, second-row leg room is decent, but third-row is tight for legs, tolerable for noggins. Front-row seats are comfy, second and third a bit firm.

The deep well behind the third-row seat holds lots of groceries/luggage. With optional power ($595), one or both third-row seats fold flat into the well.

You can’t get Swivel ‘N Go ($495) and Stow ‘N Go ($795) together because the larger swivel seats wouldn’t fit into the floor compartments. But the compartments are there even with the Swivel seats to hide things like a laptop or two. Nice touch.

This minivan’s appeal is the wealth of noteworthy features, such as a mini, palm-size gearshift lever in the dash to the right of the wheel; second/third-row window shades; heated first/second-row seats; power pedals, keyless ignition and key fob controls for power doors/tailgate/locks plus remote start; park sensor with backup camera; holders for iPod/MP3, cell phone, coloring book and crayons plus a removable and rechargeable flashlight; power windows, locks, mirrors and seats; and automatic climate control.

Integrated second-row child booster seats and a place to attach the table for tailgating will be added later.

Base price of the Town & Country Limited is $35,670. That’s $1,400 less than 2007, even with $2,000 in added equipment, Berube says.

Still, pricing is confusing and can top $40,000. Some options are stand-alones, including power sunroof at $895. Others are only in packages — like having to buy pepper to get salt. There are 1,300 equipment combinations, a huge drop from 11,000 in 2007, but still too many for the average Joe — or Jane.

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2008 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LIMITED

Wheelbase: 121.2 inches

Length: 202.5 inches

Engine: 4-liter, 251-h.p. V-6

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Mileage: 16 m.p.g. city/23 m.p.g. highway

Price as tested: $39,055 *

THE STICKER

$35,670 Base

$2,020 Entertainment system with second- and third-row DVD screens and Sirius TV for third row

$600 Trailer-towing package

$595 Power folding third-row seat

$495 Swivel ‘N Go second-row seats/table top

$275 U-Connect hands-free phone

* Add $730 for freight.

PLUSES:

Redesigned to be wider and lower with less of a jelly-bean look.

Second-row seats swivel to face the third row with a table between.

Power folding third-row seats.

Stow ‘N Go compartments in floor to keep stuff there when seats aren’t.

Stowage galore.

DVD and TV for kids.

MINUSES:

Legroom tight with second-row seats swiveled.

Third-row legroom tight regardless.