Pacifica’s style comes at a price
Road Test: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
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 cherry red (officially Velvet Red Pearl), chromeenhanced 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, in this case yes!
The gauges, backlit in blue and featuring bright blue illuminated markers, 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. On the other hand, the central digital display is crisply designed and flawless, giving second-by-second feedback on how good (and sometimes, terrible) the gas consumption is.
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. I may even have parked a bit better than usual, only because the dual-view vectors provide a confidence-inspiring guideline to work with. Still, old habits die hard, and I’ll probably always crane over my shoulder just to double check because, from experience, you never know when a pedestrian or cyclist might jump unexpectedly into your path.
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 (and somewhat annoying) alert, the rear-view camera didn’t show a nearby chain-link fence just inches away, but to the side of the vehicle.
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 builtin vacuum (only in the top-trim Pacifica), but I’m not basing a vehicle purchase on whether it has a vacuum. Then again, I only have one child, and she stopped throwing food years ago. On that note, you might not want to choose the lovely (and easily stained) Alloy/ Toffee colour scheme in our tester if you still have a few mess-makers to ferry around. And speaking of options, the Toyota Sienna is currently the only minivan you can get in Canada with all-wheel drive.
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, which stay on if the liftgate is open.
Although our Pacifica wasn’t equipped with Chrysler’s Uconnect Theatre — optional in the top two trim levels, standard in the hybrid version — 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. Whether you’re willing to pay the price for some, but not all, bells and whistles is a decision you may need a few test drives to decide.
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.