2017 Chrysler Pacifica sets a new benchmark for the minivan

2017 Chrysler Pacifica sets a new benchmark for the minivan (Photo: Antoine Joubert/Autofocus.ca)

The Pacifica is an all-new minivan platform for Chrysler and that's leaps and bounds above the still-for-sale Dodge Caravan. It's a highly capable, spacious performer that sets the new benchmark in the family-hauling minivan segment.

Walkaround

When I first laid eyes on the Pacifica, I thought it was stunning, easily the most attractive minivan in the segment, and in the flesh, it’s even more so. Minivans do get maligned, much like “dad jeans,” perhaps, but I don’t think that’s entirely fair either.

Sure, since Chrysler invented the minivan, a couple of generations have grown up with them and perhaps as a natural consequence, consumer favour has shifted towards today’s ubiquitous crossover.

For families accustomed to the minivan, there really isn’t a substitute that fulfills the same role. They haul families, sporting gear, cargo, home improvement supplies, just about anything you can imagine. A minivan is more of a utility knife than it is a conservatively designed pair of Levis.

Technology

Given that we’re talking about a 2017 model, each row has USB points, and, yes, there’s even a high-tech version of a second-row entertainment system.

The new Uconnect Theater includes a BluRay DVD player for the two second-row seats. The system’s killer app, so to speak, are a series of apps. In my case, I had two grown children playing the checkers and tic-tac-toe apps together. Amazing stuff.

Parents will love the are-we-there-yet app. The optional Harman Kardon sound system has brilliant fidelity, but the volume doesn’t quite go loud enough for these racecar-deafened ears.

Performance

While it may be unorthodox to test a minivan’s performance characteristics, it’s quite an important aspect. How any vehicle performs is its first line of passive safety, in fact. Any vehicle that handles better, brakes better, and gives the driver a level of confidence greater than they feel in another car is inherently the safer vehicle. This goes for minivans as much as it does sports cars.

Under that premise, we hustled a minivan full of grown men (or, grown children that resemble men) up and down the Ortega Highway in Orange County, California and, from the driver’s seat, it handled remarkably well.

There is a respectable amount of grip available from the tires and chassis, but what’s more impressive is the precise steering. Feel is modest, of course, due to electric assist, and the fact it’s tuned for a minivan, not a sports car.

Braking from the four-wheel discs is superb and you always have confidence with the brake pedal. Not once during some very spirited driving – the sort that no Pacifica owner will subject their minivan to – did I detect any fade from the brakes.

With a 55 front/45 rear weight balance, the Pacifica has a tendency to push near the limit, which is perfectly safe for the average driver, but otherwise handling is remarkably competent.

Heck, I’m even willing to say that I enjoyed pushing the Pacifica’s limits and, for a complete petrolhead like me, the only thing that is missing is a sport mode or manual shift mode for the transmission, which is truly inappropriate for a minivan. The fact that it makes the least bit of sense for the Pacifica speaks volumes to how well the Pacifica drives.

The ride is relatively quiet, though there is some more noise from the engine, particularly when under load, as well as from the tires. The good news is that the engine sounds good under acceleration.

Related: Google chooses Pacifica minivan for self-driving technology testing

On the other hand, with a Pacifica full of grown men, the otherwise wonderful Pentastar V6 was a little strained. With just the driver in the Pacifica, however, the 3.6-litre’s 287 horsepower and 262 pounds of torque are definitely adequate. Think of it this way – if you’re carrying any sort of cargo, you’ll want to think twice about executing a pass on a two-lane. For those concerned with mileage, the Pacifica is rated at a relatively miserly 8.4 litres per 100 km highway.

Cargo

Speaking of cargo, Chrysler says that with the second and third rows folded into the floor, the Pacifica can carry a stack of 4X8 sheets, whether that’s plywood, drywall, or otherwise, and your only concern is the GVWR of 2,724 kilos.

With a curb weight of 1,964 kilos (over 100 kilos lighter than the Town & Country it replaces), you can haul over 750 kilos inside. Even more impressive is the fact the Pacifica will tow 1,633 kilos, which is more than enough for a small boat, a pair of motorcycles, or a pair of Sea-Doos.

Interior

Pacifica’s designers call this minivan a family room on wheels, and in many ways that’s true, with much credit due to the interior design. The front row underscores the notion of premium. The design of the dash and instrument panel is clean, simple, and even a bit luxurious. The flush-mounted infotainment touchscreen takes the dash to another level and the simplicity of the controls makes it easy for the driver to keep his or her attention focused on the road, which is the most important thing one should be doing when carrying family on board.

Furthermore, as the inventor of the segment, Chrysler has a lot of history to draw from. The famous Stow ‘n Go seats are improved; there is seemingly endless storage; and it boasts an impressive number of cup-holders. We counted eleven, but there could be more.

Value

Chrysler’s latest take on the minivan is light-years ahead of the old one, and in virtually every way, the Pacifica has leapt well ahead of the competition. Make no mistake, though, because the Pacifica is positioned as the premium choice, it starts at $43,995.

In Limited trim, it starts at $52,995, and with options, pricing will climb closer to $60,000. However, spec-for-spec, the Pacifica remains competitively priced while being the most technologically advanced minivan on the market. The Dodge Caravan remains in production to satisfy the entry-level end of the market.

In the near future, there will be a plug-in hybrid model that’s said to have an electric-only range of 48 kilometres, and further down the road, expect to see an all-wheel-drive option.

Conclusion

With its ability to carry and tow this much weight, there’s even less of a reason to consider a crossover over a minivan this capable. Since Chrysler invented the segment because of the minivan’s inherent utility and car-like drivability over traditional vans, this Pacifica fits the bill as a great alternative to today’s popular crossovers, but more importantly as the new benchmark for minivans.