2017 Chrysler Pacifica Preview
New for 2017
The Pacifica is a completely new model that replaces the Town & Country.
A New Breed of Minivan
Everything about the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is new, including the name. As the replacement for the Town & Country, the Pacifica looks to show that minivans are still relevant in a world of crossovers. And it does just that with handsome styling, a spacious and thoughtfully-designed interior, and the technology, including a segment-first plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica breaks new ground with two class-leading powertrain options, including a potent gasoline V6 and a first-ever plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Option one is an upgraded version of Chrysler’s trusty 3.6-liter V6, with efficiency-focused features like exhaust-gas recirculation, engine start-stop (late availability), and upgraded variable-valve lift and variable-vale timing systems. The result is 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, which makes the Pacifica the most powerful minivan around, Chrysler says.
The Pentastar V6 is coupled to a nine-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Having so many gears enables a wide, 9.81 ratio spread for smooth acceleration, and a high top gear for better fuel economy. Despite having so many more gears, Chrysler says the TorqueFlite is actually more compact than most six-speed automatic transmissions. It’s also got a nifty “rotary dial” electronic shifter that frees up cabin space, and recalls the pushbutton shifters on Chrysler models from the 1950s.
Leave it to the company that invented the minivan to use one of these versatile vehicles as the platform for its first plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid uses an Atkinson-cycle version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, assisted by an “electrically variable transmission” consisting of two electric motors, along with a 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Total system output is 248 hp, and Chrysler says the Pacifica Hybrid will be able to drive 30 miles on electric power alone.
Chrysler says the battery pack, which is located under the second-row floor, can be recharged in as little as two hours from a 240-volt Level 2 AC source. It expects the Pacifica Hybrid to return an EPA-rated 80 MPGe, although official figures for both the plug-in hybrid and non-hybrid Pacifica models won’t be released until closer to launch.
Features and Trims
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is offered in a standard minivan configuration, with seating for seven or eight, depending on configuration. The standard Pacifica will be offered in six trim levels when it goes on sale this spring. The Pacifica Hybrid will follow later in the year in two trim levels only.
Standard features on the base LX model include 17-inch aluminum wheels, Active Noise Cancellation, three-zone automatic climate control, a 5.0-inch central touchscreen display, Bluetooth®, Stow n’ Go seating and storage system, Easy Tilt second-row seats, tilt and telescoping steering column, and more.
Moving up to the Touring model, additional standard features include automatic headlights, power-sliding side doors, SiriusXM® satellite radio, and more interior lighting. The Touring-L includes all of those features, as well as extra exterior brightwork, a power tailgate, fog lights, second and third-row window shades, leather seats, and heated front seats. The Touring-L Plus builds on that with features like a 7.0-inch TFT gauge-cluster display, 8.4-inch touchscreen display, and second-row 10.0-inch touchscreen with DVD/Blu-Ray player.
The penultimate Pacifica model is the Limited, which incorporates all of the applicable standard features from the other models and adds a hands-free tailgate, HID headlights, LED fog lights, 18-inch aluminum wheels, hand-free sliding doors, navigation, and a premium leather interior. Finally, the Limited Platinum adds a tri-pane panoramic sunroof, power-folding mirrors with memory, ventilated front seats with a memory system for the driver, and other features.
In addition to the standard equipment, optional features include 20-inch aluminum wheels, 20-speaker haradmon/kardon® or 13-speaker Alpine sound systems, a trailering package, and Uconnect® Theater rear-seat entertainment system.
Design
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica goes a long way toward wiping away the stigma around minivans with its stylish exterior. The front fascia has a sleek look borrowed from the 200 sedan, which Chrysler says gives this minivan unrivalled aerodynamic performance. Sculpted sides and hood give the Pacifica a more dynamic appearance, as does the kicked-back rear pillar. The silhouette is also less van-like, with a hood distinctly separated from the rest of the body.
The interior is equally stylish, but also quite functional. Chrysler says it was “drawn” horizontally to create a feeling of spaciousness. To de-clutter the dashboard and center console, Chrysler gave the Pacifica a “rotary dial” electronic shifter, and consolidated HVAC controls in the headliner. To keep up technologically, the Pacifica also gets a standard gauge cluster TFT display and a center-stack touchscreen, the latter available in 5.0-inch and 8.4-inch sizes.
But what about the main function of a minivan: hauling lots of people? As with previous Chrysler minivans, the Pacifica features the Stow n’ Go system, which allows the seats to fold into pockets in the floor to quickly switch from passenger to cargo hauling. The pockets where the seats stow make for handy storage bins too. There’s even an available built-in vacuum cleaner. Chrysler really thought of everything with that one.
The Pacifica seats seven in a 2/2/3 configuration, or eight in a 2/3/3/ configuration (the Pacifica Hybrid is only offered as a seven seater). Maximum passenger volume is 165 cubic feet, with 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Cargo space grows to 140.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, a rearview camera, and a full array of airbags. Optional features include ParkSense rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, Surround View camera system, and ParkSense with parallel and perpendicular parking assists.
Bottom Line
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica gives the minivan a 21st-century upgrade.
Be sure to contact us online or visit us at Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Virginia Beach to be among the very first to experience the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.
Image: Chrysler