Fun and functional
Chrysler is credited with inventing the minivan, despite the VW Bus preceding it by a few decades.
While the VW Microbus is now a counter culture symbol, back in the 1960s it seemed like a sensible choice for my dad. Did I ever mention I am the oldest of seven offspring?
When I had two of my own children, I became a not-ashamed owner of a 1993 Dodge Caravan with the rare (less than 5 percent) option of AWD. It proved to be a great vehicle for us, and so I approach each minivan test with some experience in the “soccer mom” segment.
The Pacifica replaces the Chrysler Town and Country, and it represents more than a makeover. The changes in driving dynamics that the Chrysler engineers have wrought are downright astonishing. I understand that very few minivan buyers put fun-to-drive on their list of important characteristics. But I have to ask the question, “Why can’t a minivan be both practical and not a chore to drive?”
My 2017 Jazz Blue Chrysler Pacifica Touring L tester had just about all the amenities. While it came equipped with the amazing Stow and Go seats, at a $36,385 total price, I was expecting NAV and blind-spot warning. Oh well, both and more are available in the higher trim levels.
The 3.6-liter V6 engine sends its 287-hp. and 262 lb.ft. of peak torque though a nine-speed transmission to drive the front wheels. Just heading out of my driveway, the directness of the steering, and the increased quiet of the Pacifica were immediately apparent.
On the highway, its tall seating position and 28 mpg EPA highway rating make the Pacifica a great vehicle for extended trips. It even proved its worth nicely on a brief jaunt down my favorite back road. It did not remind me of any BMW M or Mercedes-Benz AMG models, but it did increase my future expectations of how a minivan can carve corners.
I was mostly taken with
just how livable the Pacifica is for a daily driver.
Despite its size, it was a breeze to park. The backup camera and the all-around visibility make it easy to keep the Pacifica’s corners in sight. The comfort of the eight-way power driver’s seat with its four-way lumbar adjustment was excellent. The steering wheel can be positioned perfectly, and mostly all the controls provide proper feel and feedback.
Prices range from $28,595 for the Pacifica LX on up to the $42,495 Pacifica Limited. At $34,495, the Touring L gives you most all of the features one might need. Having said that, the $9,895 customer preferred package 25L added a 506-watt amplifier that played through 13 Alpine speakers. The 8.4inch touchscreen display allowed you to use Chrysler’s UConnect and is “NAV Capable – see dealer for details.” The active noise control most likely helped in my impressions of how quiet the Pacifica cabin is.
The feature that sets the Pacifica above all competition is the rear and middle row seats that can be completely folded into the floor. Opening the power tailgate, you are greeted by a deep storage well that can swallow a week’s worth of grocery bags with ease. A tug on two straps and the thirdrow sections drop into the well.
The middle row can also be stored once you open the hatches that also serve as lid for a cavernous hidden storage space under the floor. When both rows are folded, your comfortable 7-8 seat passenger vehicle is quickly converted into an expansive cargo hauler.
Best of all you have the seats with you if you need to seats back, and no need to worry where in your overcrowded garage they can be stored.
The new Pacifica is a noticeable improvement over the Chrysler Town and Country and sets a new standard for the competition.