2017 Chrysler Pacifica: The Minivan Gets A 80 MPG Makeover
Chrysler invented the minivan more than 30 years ago. The company did not dominate the minivan market; it was the minivan market. For decades, the Chrysler Town & Country was the ultimate family hauler with more cup holders (and juice box holders) than kids on a starting soccer team. Years later, the original Stow ‘n Go seating turned the boxy interior into a small airplane hanger. It was incredibly original, and helped defined a generation of families, a rare feat in the automotive world.
But when one carmaker creates something so eccentric, interesting and profitable, everyone else joins the rush to cash in on the gold in this new segment.
Through the years, competition slowly eroded Chrysler’s lead. It took 25 years, but eventually, Honda and Toyota, offering extremely well-built and innovative minivans, overtook the Town & Country (which split some sales with its low-cost sibling, the Dodge Caravan). Frankly, the Town & Country was expensive, lackluster and dated. It didn’t deserve to hold the crown it alone had created. In 2015, the Town & Country was the fourth best-selling behind the top selling Toyota Sienna, No. 2 Honda Odyssey and the Caravan — and the world had shifted its family-hauling preferences toward SUVs.
Today, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will attempt to return to those juice-box-holding salad days by unveiling the Chrysler Pacifica at the Detroit Auto Show – the new nameplate for Chrysler’s minivan. Perhaps the Town & Country deserves a better send off than just having its role replaced by something younger, faster, and more creative. But so it goes in life and cars. Who has time to think about those old clunkers that just can’t keep up with the speed of life?
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Better yet, the Pacifica is impressive in all the ways the modern Town & Country was not. In a preview of the Pacifica in December, Chrysler officials said the new Pacifica arrives with more than 100 innovations, which in automotive parlance is not always so impressive. But when you break down some of the great features in the Pacifica – some original, others swiped from competitors – hey, the competition took the minivan idea from Chrysler – this family hauler is ready to roll into the future.
First, there’s the plug-in hybrid powertrain. This is a first for any minivan, and it’s certainly about time. The hybrid Pacifica, which newly developed electric variable transmission uses two electric motors to drive the wheels and 16 kWh lithium ion battery pack, will achieve 30 miles on electric power before the engine kicks on to help. It hits 80 mpg-e in city driving. Other fuel economy numbers were not released.
The hybrid Pacifica includes its all-new powertrain and some unique exterior features including its wheels.
The other powertrain is the venerable and improved Pentastar V-6, which creates 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Engineers tweaked some parts of the engine to provide some incremental improvement and will add a start/stop system to the vehicle later in the year to improve fuel economy even more.
Because minivans and families seem to go together, the Pacifica arrives with more than 100 safety features. It has a surround view back up camera that uses four cameras to create a complete view to see everything around the minivan when it’s backing up. It includes blind-spot monitoring, lane sense warning, and adaptive cruise control. And if you have five children who need to sit in car seats, Chrysler offers LATCH systems on five locations.
If you do have that many kids on one haul, you might enjoy Chrysler’s UConnect Theater entertainment system and the standard six-speaker sound system or the 13-speaker Alpine or the 20-speaker Harmon Kardon system.
Older kids will enjoy UConnect rear seat entertainment system that includes two 10-inch high definition touchscreens that can play movies and video games. On some models, the Pacifica will feature a shop vacuum already installed in the rear. The vacuum, made by RIDGID has a hose that can reach every nook and cranny inside the Pacifica to make quick clean ups. There is also a new version of Stow ‘n Go seats that are thinner and wider.
The interior is well organized and offers comfort throughout the cabin. There particularly excellent execution on all of the soft touch points. There are lots of storage places throughout the cabin, something handy for parents in a rush to stow something out of the reach of a child.
While minivans by design have limits to exterior styling, the Pacifica does have a beautiful stance and strong lines along its exterior. The sliding door tracks are hidden under the rear window, giving it a more sleek design. It’s also longer and lower than the outgoing Town & Country so it has a more powerful stance, especially when sitting on its optional 20-inch wheels. It may be a minivan, but it’s a sharply dressed inside and out.
All told, there will be eight versions of the Pacifica, six gas models and two hybrid models. Pricing has not been announced. The gas models will arrive at dealerships this Spring and the hybrid models will arrive in the second half of 2016.
