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Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Chrysler
Minivan? SUV? Crossover?
None of the above: Road tripper. That’s what the Chrysler Pacifica is for. This unique vehicle is a nigh-perfect long-distance transportation device for four people and their luggage. Comfortable seats, luxurious appointments, a smooth ride and luggage space for everyone, it’s all here. There are even jumpseats for two more, should you decide to me
Perhaps we're getting ahead of ourselves; it's spring, and the open road beckons. The Pacifica is intended to be a combination of car, SUV and minivan. Chrysler was one of the first folks to climb onto the "category-buster" bandwagon that eventually came to be known as the crossover market. The Pacifica is designed to be equally at home running suburban errands, cruising down to the country club or hauling the kids to school.
But all of that is the nuts and bolts. What the Pacifica really screams for is a long, open road and a far-off destination. We took a quick three hundred-mile trip in the Pacifica, just to keep it happy.
When it was introduced in 2004, the Pacifica was one of the first vehicles to sport Chrysler's new, stylish face. Quad-look headlamps flank a nicely tapered eggcrate grille, and the distinct hood line keeps the Pacifica's one-box shape from looking too minivan-like. It is a long, boxy vehicle, but the roof is low and unsullied by a roof rack. The sides are creased into a slight wedge shape. 17" wheels are standard, but Chrysler will kit the Pacifica out with chromed 19s if you want.
Of course, the inside matters more than the outside with this car. Luxurious leather seats, metal-finish accents and excellent fit and finish give the Pacifica a comfortable upscale feeling inside. Thanks to a high seating position, the Pacifica offers a good view of the road ahead. Visibility to the rear is somewhat constricted because of the Pacifica's length. A choice of five- or six-passenger seating is available. The six-passenger Pacifica has three rows of seats in its relatively stubby length. To have sufficient luggage space, the third-row seats need to be folded. They flop easily and leave a flat cargo floor. When used for transporting humans, the third-row seats are best suited to small folks.
Whether it's intentional or not, the Pacifica is set up perfectly to be a road-tripping vehicle. Large consoles front and rear provide space for drinks, small electronics, maps, purses, and other travel detritus. Front and second-row passengers get individual seats with plenty of elbow room, and the rear seats can be had with heaters just like the ones up front.
The navigation system display is projected onto the back of the instrument panel. This puts it in easy view of the driver, but has the downside of being a much smaller image than a centrally-located image screen would offer. At least it's not obtrusive; we found ourselves forgetting that it was there when we drove. The Pacifica can be outfitted for serious luxury if you choose, with a parking sensor, leather interior, CD changer, moonroof, satellite radio and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. On the safety front, side airbags are also available.
From behind the wheel, it's hard to tell where the Pacifica's hood ends, so maneuvering in parking lots takes a bit of guesswork. The lower roof means that visibility isn't as good as it would be in a taller minivan. That doesn't mean that this vehicle is difficult to drive, however. We enjoyed piloting the Pacifica more than we did its similarly-intentioned cousin the Mercedes R-Class.
Power is adequate. The 3.5 liter V6 engine that's standard in all AWD Pacificas makes 250 horsepower, and is rarely intrusive. A bigger-displacement but cruder and less powerful 210-horse 3.8 liter V6 is standard on front-wheel drive, base-model Pacificas. With the 3.5 liter engine, the Pacifica is happy on the freeway, offering a relaxed cruising pace and a nice, quiet cabin. A four-speed automatic transmission with Chrysler's AutoStick selectable gearshift is the only transmission offered on the Pacifica. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available throughout the Pacifica range as well. The AWD system tends to make the Pacifica feel more tied to the road, as well as improving bad-weather handling. Front-wheel drive Pacificas are available with traction control. Towing capacity is also on par with some small SUVs, at 3500 pounds. With the generous 23-gallon fuel tank and acceptable 22-mpg freeway fuel economy, the Pacifica has great road-trip range, as well.
Braking is also adequate; if you happen to sail past a cool roadside attraction, the Pacifica is not always happy about making sudden stops and U-turns. Anti-lock brakes are standard on all Pacificas. The independent suspension uses a five-link rear setup that's comfortable on the road but not as composed as it could be during rapid transitions. Rapid maneuvers can be unsettling, so it's best to use the available navigation system to plan your trip carefully. The Pacifica's not as tall as an SUV, and has a more secure-feeling center of gravity than most minivans, but the handling isn't exactly carlike, either.
The Pacifica is offered in three trim levels; base, Touring and Limited. Though it got a reputation in its early years for being a premium-priced vehicle, the $25,615 price of entry to the base model isn't all that steep. Standard equipment on the bottom-line Pacifica includes antilock brakes, keyless entry and power front seats. Of course, that doesn't mean the Pacifica can't go uptown on you, either. Our tester was a Signature Series with all-wheel drive. The leather interior, heated seats, side-curtain airbags, navigation system, rear parking sensor and Sirius satellite radio meant a sticker price of $35,905.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica AWD.
Length: 198.9 in.
Width: 79.3 in.
Height: 66.5 in.
Wheelbase: 116.3 in.
Curb weight: 451-4720 lb.
Cargo space: 92.2 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Towing capacity: 3500 lb.
Base price: $25,615
Price as tested: $35,905
Engine: 3.5 liter SOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 250 @ 6400
Torque: 250 @ 3950
Fuel capacity: 23 gal.
Est. mileage: 17/22
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