In the world of people-movers the mere use of the word minivan can cause an involuntary cringe, but one look at the Chrysler Pacifica Touring will put a smile on your face. With so many car companies ditching the minivan moniker, Chrysler uses it proudly and with good reason.
The all-new Pacifica basically replaces the dated Town & Country which has been discontinued. This new Chrysler minivan is all about style and comfort with a lighter body, stylish exterior and well-appointed interior. It is definitely giving its competitors a run for their money in pricing, equipment and looks.
The Pacifica comes in five trim levels: LX, Touring, Touring-L, Touring-L Plus and Limited. This review will focus on the Touring trim.
The Touring level adds power sliding rear doors and satellite radio to the base model features of 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, seven-passenger seating, Stow n’ Go second-row seats, a 60/40-split folding third-row seat, eight-way power driver seat, three-zone climate control, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, electric parking brake, 5-inch center touchscreen display, rearview camera, Bluetooth, voice commands,Uconnect Access, and six-speaker sound system with USB and auxiliary inputs.
My model also included optional equipment of SafetyTec Group which added Blind Spot detection, and rear park assist. Also added was an eight passenger seating and a rear power liftgate.
Equipped with a 3.6-liter engine, the Chrysler Pacifica travels along the highway with 287 horses and 262 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission makes everything work smoothly. Expect to get 18/city, 28/highway, and 22/combined mpg.
The Pacifica has a dashboard that makes the USS Enterprise look dated. It has flowing lines and a shifter that takes a little getting used to but once you’ve got it, it’s a breeze to operate.
The Pacifica is rife with storage space from the smallest slot to the roomiest bin, you’ll find plenty of space to store all that necessary stuff and it’s also fun to explore and see what you can find.
My test model was equipped with the standard 5-inch touchscreen, but if you can upgrade to the 8.4 for ease of reading. The Uconnect infotainment system is easy to use and has clear graphics.
The second-row seating still has Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go feature that allows the seats to be folded into under-floor compartments. The third row seating is comfortable even for adults and has a standard 60/40 folding feature. There’s also a new center seat available for the second row to allow seating for eight. With the third-row seats up there is 32.3 cubic feet of storage space and with them down it grows to 87.5 and with all seats stowed it grows to a whopping 140.5 cubic feet.
Whether driving on the open road or the stop and go traffic of the city, the Pacifica delivers a smooth and quiet ride. Seating is comfortable and steering is true.
Have a lot of people to move? Want a stylish minivan? Give the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Touring a test drive.
