2017 Chrysler Pacifica
If you’ve found yourself in a family way, there are few vehicles as ingeniously helpful to parents as a minivan. Sure, they’ve lost some luster since buyers started rebelling and escaping to crossovers, but the stylish Chrysler Pacifica goes a long way toward dispelling the van’s stodgy image. Innovative disappearing seats, class-leading infotainment, and an available plug-in hybrid powertrain set it apart from its rivals. With a brilliantly flexible interior layout and a long list of available safety features, modern amenities, and thoughtful touches, the Pacifica is ideal for families—or for anyone wanting a cavernous, comfortable, and highly capable conveyance—which is why it earned a 10Best nod for 2017.
What’s New for 2017?
The Pacifica is an all-new model for 2017, replacing the Chrysler Town & Country. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine continues on in this new model, but even it has been tweaked for more power and better fuel economy. In addition to a more stylish appearance inside and out, a host of available convenience and safety features also join the party: hands-free power-sliding side doors and tailgate, a triple-pane sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system with two 10-inch touchscreens, and a built-in vacuum cleaner are particularly appealing.
Trims and Options We’d Choose
We’d opt for the midrange Touring-L trim, which is priced at $36,090 and includes the features most buyers will want. Among those are:
• Power-operated sliding side doors and liftgate
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors
• Three-zone automatic climate control
For an extra $895, we’d recommend the premium audio package, which adds a 13-speaker, 506-watt Alpine stereo system and a third-row USB charge port and upgrades the standard 5.0-inch infotainment touchscreen to a larger 8.4-inch unit that makes operating the system easier while on the go.
