2017 Chrysler Pacifica a sexy pick
Chrysler wants to redefine the minivan market with the Pacifica, and it just might. For our first two weeks with the Pacifica, I found myself sneaking glances at the streamlined, rich-cherryred, chrome-enhanced minivan, thinking, is it sexy? Would I actually use that word to describe a minivan? Well, I’m going out on a limb and saying … yes!
But will the style soon look dated? The gauges, backlit in blue, are what started this debate for me. I couldn’t help thinking of a Lite-Brite toy every time I checked how fast I was going.
For mileage, overall, after logging almost 500 km, the Pacifica averaged close to 14 L/100 km, but that was mostly in the city. With a gentle foot and less stopand-go traffic, it promises to be fairly thrifty for its size.
Starting at the base price of $46,995 for Touring-L Plus trim (already more than the nicely equipped Toyota Sienna I recently drove), this tester then added the Advanced SafetyTec Group ($1,995), which includes a 360-degree surround-view camera, giving an eerie above-car perspective next to the standard backup guides. Once you get used to the feature, it’s fascinating.
Clearly, this vehicle is technologically advanced; the transformation from car to “mobility computer” is almost complete. But how many of us know better than to trust a computer totally? For example, when I stopped in a “safe” range and looked over my shoulder, I was surprised at how close an obstacle was. And while the system registered a tall weed near the bumper with an audible alert, the rear-view camera didn’t show a chain-link fence just inches away, to the side.
The ultimate cost for all this high-tech gadgetry is a noticeable lack of features for the price. Compared with the Toyota Sienna, for example, the pricing delivers considerably less bang for the buck when it comes to conspicuously absent (but optional) features such as entertainment screens for the second and third rows. Sure, you can get a built-in vacuum (only in the top-trim Pacifica), but I’m not basing a vehicle purchase on whether it has a vacuum. And speaking of options, the Toyota Sienna is currently the only minivan you can get in Canada with all-wheel drive.
If your priority is style and flash, the Pacifica will catch your eye, unlike every other minivan. The interior ergonomics are well thought out, and you certainly get a bit of jet-set feeling behind the wheel. The 287-horsepower Pentastar 3.6-litre V-6 engine purrs happily along, working smoothly with the nine-speed automatic; this is the same power plant that lives in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, with stop-start technology to optimize fuel economy. Although an SUV like the Durango can tow considerably more, its gross vehicle weight is almost 500 pounds more than the Pacifica’s, with considerably less flexibility in interior space, while the two vehicles have almost identical gas-mileage ratings.
Plus, the Pacifica’s Stow ’n’ Go second- and third-row seating makes it effortless to haul a ton of stuff. The seats take seconds (and hardly any muscle) to recline into the floor, creating a perfectly flat load area — no need to rent a cargo van!
We put the Pacifica’s cargo capacity to the test while moving, filling it almost to the roof with boxes and smaller furniture. The only quirk we discovered is a lack of securing points for a bungee cord, and the inability to override the interior lights.
Although our Pacifica wasn’t equipped with Chrysler’s Uconnect Theatre, the system is a few steps ahead of the Sienna’s setup. The Pacifica package includes touch-screen monitors for the second row, built-in apps and games, and the requisite plug-ins for DVD, USB or HDMI-sourced media. There’s also an “Are we there yet?” app so they can follow along the trip route and stop asking that annoying question.
Any entertainment system would suffice for most children, but kudos to Chrysler for raising the bar. In many ways, I think that’s the point the automaker’s making with the all-new Pacifica. As the inventor of the segment, it’s Chrysler’s prerogative (and perhaps, obligation) to reinvent the minivan. Being the first to offer a hybrid version and forging a path into the autonomous-car future certainly keep the Pacifica at the head of the pack.
Don’t forget to check out the competition, knowing that both the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna will be rolling out significantly refreshed minivans in the near future. But if you’re looking for the best money can buy, and price is no object, this is likely the minivan for you.