New Cars for 2017: Chrysler
Pacifica (shown above): Replacing the Town & Country minivan, this all-new entry to the family-busing segment is a reinterpretation of Chrysler’s old “magic van.” One engine is currently available: the familiar 3.6-liter V-6, good for 287 horsepower and mated to a nine-speed automatic. The EPA estimates 22 mpg combined, which puts it even with virtually every other sliding-door family hauler. A plug-in-hybrid powertrain will arrive later this year. Still able to accommodate either seven or eight passengers, the Pacifica offers all the benefits of a minivan but with striking looks to help mitigate the segment’s largest foe: mom-car stigma. The interior harbors an abundance of sculpted shapes, large buttons, and Chrysler’s intuitive infotainment system. But fear not, pragmatic breeders: Stow ’n Go seating remains, combining the comfort of second-row captain’s chairs (seven-passenger configuration) and the utility of a flat load floor without the burden of lifting seats out of the van. It’s a true minivan, so even if some other road users might think you’re in the family way, at least your back won’t suffer. See test ››
Minor trim changes: 200, 300
Dead: Town & Country
