The sole 3.6 engine does a good enough job of surrying the Pacifica along around town and on the highway. You may feel as if the 3.6 often gets lost in the nine-speed auto gearbox which is the only transmission choice you can have with it. We loathe the way it felt in the smaller Renegade and even the new Compass. It often feels as if the transmission doesn't really know what to do next, due to all the gears and it often does feel lost. It's not a bad translation here in the Pacifica, but there are keen rivals from Kia and Honda that have this all sorted out. While most buyers won't be taking their Pacifica through tight corners and bends, we do however appreciate that it doesn't feel like a chore to drive. Handling is taut and the overall feel of the chassis is where it should be. Steering feedback is good but not great, after all this is an MPV and most buyers (like we've stated earlier) won't be driving how we are driving.
Where it matters the most is around town which it does a good job of not feeling like a big lug, even though it is. We do however recommend opting for blind spot monitoring system and surround view camera system as the front hood is angled in such a way that makes it hard to judge whether you have the clearance or not in tight parking spaces. There isn't much wind or road noise to complain of, but you'll have to step up from the base trim to get active noise cancellation. You'll want this as it will keep all passengers on board happy. What will make them even happier is the on-board entertainment system that is optional kit on all but the top of the range. Again, it all depends upon whether or not you really need it and are willing to pay the premium for it. At least you can get a vacuum cleaner for those days when the kids get a little too excited about watching SpongeBob and spill popcorn all over the floor. Minivans do live a pretty rough life, but it's the little things that do make you smile. The second and third row seats fold completely flat into the floor, giving you a cargo van when needed. The boot space is decent with the third row in place, but you'll want to fold that down to really exploit the full potential of the boot space. When the seats are in place you've got enough room for five people, even adults won't find much to complain about in the third row. They may not want to sit back there for long but at least you can always put the kids back there if push comes to shove.
The U-connect infotainment screen does take some getting used to, but it's not as fussy as the one found in the Honda Odyssey. What we hate though is every automaker is switching to the overly complicated gear selector. While in defense of the Pacifica, this gear selector is not hard to use. It is fussy operate and there is so delay in shifting between gears. Sometimes the best way to go is a traditional gear selector. The view out is good thanks to large windows and plenty of parking aids.
The LX trim comes with a rear view parking camera, six-speaker sound system and 17-inch alloy wheels. Touring trim adds automatic high beam headlights, keyless entry on all doors and power sliding doors. Touring Plus adds power boot opening and three-zone climate control. Touring L trim gets remote vehicle start; blind spot monitoring system and Rear Park assist system. Touring L Plus trim adds a 13-speaker audio system, 7-inch information display, power front passenger seat with Stow 'n Go assist and heated steering wheel. You'll have to step all the way up to the top of the range Limited Trim to get 18-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, HID headlights, navigation system and power-folding exterior mirrors.
You'll have to really want an MPV to overlook the vast number of crossovers that are just as roomy and easier to live with. However, there are buyers who really do need a vehicle that can live up to the hustle of family life. The Chrysler Pacifica is a great choice, but it's not the best choice as reliability ratings should be considered as well as the fact that Kia, Honda and Toyota all offer a much more compelling MPVs. When it comes to MPVs however, we still say the Honda Odyssey is the best of the bunch even if you do have to pay bit more for it. You're walking away with something that's much better than Chrysler can ever muster up and that's a shame because Chrysler/Dodge invented the segment.
Likes: It seats up to seven people. Stow 'n Go Seats are easy to use and increases boot space when seats are folded down; one of the more stylish of the MPVs.
Dislikes: It can get expensive the higher up the range you travel (especially the hybrids). Chrysler's reliability record is iffy along with overall build quality.
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