Earlier in the 21st century, Chrysler offered a Pacifica model, which never set a fire in the marketplace. Now, the Pacifica name has been revived on an all-new, completely different vehicle, supplanting the long-lived Town & Country minivan, which has been around for more than three decades.
What's New for 2017
The Pacifica is a brand-new model, replacing the Town & Country minivan. Built on a new platform, the 2017 Pacifica has a new look that strives to veer away from familiar minivan appearance, as well as a fresh set of features.
Choosing Your Chrysler Pacifica
Under the Pacifica hood, a 3.6-liter V6 engine develops 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mating with a nine-speed automatic transmission that’s controlled by a rotary e-shifter. Fuel economy is estimated at 18 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (22 mpg combined).
Sleeker in appearance than the Town & Country, the front end reveals a few styling cues adapted from the Chrysler 200 sedan. At the rear is a traditional liftback, with a bit more curvature than a minivan would have. LED headlights and foglamps are available.
Chrysler has sought to make the interior more stylish and sedan-like, stressing a horizontal layout that helps avoid the riding-high feeling that’s been typical in minivans.
Stow ‘n Go seating has been redesigned. Available features include an 8.4-inch touchscreen, a Uconnect Theater for rear occupants, Enter ‘n Go, a three-pane panoramic sunroof, hands-free sliding doors and liftgate, and even an integrated vacuum cleaner. Optional safety features include a 360-degree surround-view camera, ParkSense parallel/perpendicular parking assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and hold, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a backup camera.
Five trim levels are offered, each with front-wheel drive:
Fiat Chrysler claims nearly 40 minivan “firsts” for the Pacifica, along with “class-leading” ride, handling, and noise/vibration/harshness levels. Despite the altered, more sculpted styling, the Pacifica still has the familiar features of a minivan, from sliding doors to an available power liftgate. During the second half of 2016, a Pacifica Hybrid is expected to emerge, qualifying as the first plug-in hybrid minivan.