Chrysler Pacifica Review

2008 Chrysler Pacifica LX Station Wagon

The Chrysler Pacifica is one of the original entries in the relatively new vehicle segment of large crossover wagons. In order to combine the driving attributes of a car with a measure of the utility offered by minivans and sport-utility vehicles, the Pacifica crossover has four front-hinged doors, an elevated seating position, five- or six-passenger seating and a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Compared to other crossover wagons, the Chrysler Pacifica is relatively upscale and offers a wide array of creature comforts wrapped in elegantly chiseled sheet metal. Clever styling tricks make it look smaller than it actually is. Unfortunately, the Pacifica doesn't possess particularly great interior packaging. While the first two rows are spacious for occupants, the third row is acceptable only for children and leaves very little space for cargo behind it when deployed. The rearmost seat does, however, fold flat into the floor in convenient 50/50 sections.

The Pacifica's Mercedes-Benz-derived suspension has garnered universal praise for its carlike ride and handling, although early models suffered reliability woes. Early Pacificas also featured mediocre engines in a price bracket where potent and refined powertrains were the norm. Not helping matters were the large wagon's hefty weight and relatively unsophisticated four-speed automatic transmission, both of which took their toll on fuel economy. A significant update for 2007, however, brought about a new V6 engine, a new six-speed automatic for most models and updated styling.

It's best to get your Pacifica soon, however, as Chrysler has announced 2008 will be the Pacifica's last year on Earth.

Current Chrysler Pacifica

The current Chrysler Pacifica is offered in three trim levels: LX, Touring and Limited, each of which is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Base LX front-wheel-drive Pacificas are powered by a modest, 200-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 connected to a four-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. All other Pacifica models are motivated by a more sophisticated and powerful 4.0-liter V6 capable of 255 hp. The latter engine comes with a six-speed automatic, also with manual shift control. All Pacificas are rated to tow up to 3500 pounds.

Base models feature two-row, five-passenger seating and are fairly comfortable, with such niceties as dual-zone climate control, a power driver seat and a load-leveling suspension. Touring models contain several additional standard features, as well as a much longer options list. Touring models also boast six-passenger seating via addition of a two-passenger third-row seat and the replacement of the regular second-row bench with two bucket seats and a center console. The best-dressed and most luxurious Chrysler Pacifica is the Limited, which features cleaner styling, bigger wheels and a very long list of luxury features, including an upmarket audio system and a power liftgate, both of which are optional on the Touring array.

The Pacifica has a proven safety record, thanks to standard safety features such as stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, all-row side curtain airbags, driver-side knee airbags and a tire-pressure monitor. A rear backup camera is optional on Touring and Limited models.

In Chrysler Pacifica reviews, our editors have found the crossover wagon's strengths to be its exceptional comfort for four, sedan-like driving characteristics, top-notch safety scores and upscale interior. Downsides include a lack of legroom in the third row and the lack of overall utility as compared to the top available minivans.

Past Chrysler Pacifica Models

Consumers interested in a used Chrysler Pacifica wagon have a few years to choose from. It debuted as a 2004 model, at which point it was offered only in base and Limited trim levels. Worth noting is that the original base model was better equipped than that of today; it was offered with fewer features and lowered in price when the Touring trim level slotted in above it in 2005. At first, Pacificas were powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 with 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Reviewers faulted the gruff engine, which was barely up to the task of battling the Pacifica's formidable mass, especially on fully loaded all-wheel-drive models. The 3.8-liter V6 became the power source on front-wheel-drive base models in 2005. Given that early 2004 Pacificas had some well-known repair issues, we'd probably play it safe and restrict our search to 2005 and newer models.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.