Chrysler Pacifica. ‘Apartment on wheels’
Chrysler Pacifica is a vehicle produced by Chrysler (USA) that forms part of Fiat Group (Italy). In 2003-2007, a ‘CS’ model was produced, positioned by the company as a crossover. From 2016 to the present, a minivan has been produced with a petrol engine or a hybrid system, in a 7 or 8-seater variation. This is the very model that can be purchased on the Israeli market.
The first generation
It was released from 2003 to 2007 as a 5-door SUV. The first Chrysler Pacifica (CS) rolled off the production line in January 2003 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The developers of the vehicle named it ‘Sport Tourer’, which means a sports-touring car.
The second generation
It has been produced from 2016 to the present (as for 2020). The first Chrysler Pacifica minivan was presented on January 11, 2016 at the Detroit Auto Show. Unlike other Crysler minivans, the Pacifica was built on a new platform and had a different design - a sportier, crossover-style exterior differing from the traditionally rough design of minivans. The design of the new model was based on the style of the Chrysler 200 Sedan. The minivan passed crash tests in a series of crash tests conducted by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and received the maximum rating of Top Safety Pick+.
The new Pacifica is longer than its competitors. It is slightly smaller than the big Chevrolet Tahoe. The basic version of the Chrysler Pacifica will compete with the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey, but the top-end level Pacifica looks more attractive.
In the United States, after literally half a year, a total of 3.5 thousand of the new Chrysler Pacifica models were sold, conquering 20% of the market and becoming the second most popular minivan after the Toyota Sienna. The new Crysler minivan has made it to the final of the USA Car of the Year competition in the SUV category. In 2019, the basic and medium trim levels of the vehicle were renamed the Chrysler Voyager. In February 2020, the upgraded all-wheel drive Chrysler Pacifica was presented at the Chicago Auto Show.
Engines and dynamics
In running condition, the Pacifica pleases with its tight and moderately comfortable suspension and good steering response. It is equipped with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with 280 or 287 hp, running together with a nine-speed automatic transmission. With them, the minivan accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.4-7.6 seconds. In addition, the model has become the first plug-in hybrid in the United States capable of driving up to 50 km in 100% electric mode.
Exterior
Why is the Pacifica worth your attention? This is not a ‘boring’ minivan for housewives or for a busy mom who picks up a horde of children from school and delivers them to all kinds of sports clubs and dances! Irina Zavatskaya, a mother of two kids, was responsible for the design of the new Chrysler Pacifica. She graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a degree in automotive design, got a job at General Motors, and then at the Chrysler concern. Irina was entrusted with the development of the Pacifica’s exterior from the very beginning prior to the production start-up. It was based on the corporate identity, first tested on the Chrysler 200. As a result, the new Pacifica turned out to be elegant on the outside and functional on the inside. On advanced trim levels, the interior pleases with high-quality materials. The two-tone dashboard, combined with smooth lines and very high quality materials, gives the feeling of a European school, although the image of the vehicle was developed in America. The panoramic roof with the largest glass area in its class allows all passengers to enjoy natural light.
Interior
Another mother, Vinnie Cheng, was responsible for the interior design, and she coped with her task brilliantly. There is plenty of room at the feet of the driver and front passenger. It is partially filled with drawers and a slot for a Blueray disc player. The armrest is large but not deep, part of its useful volume is provided under a box for rear passengers.
In the USA, the new Chrysler Pacifica conquered 20% of the market, became the second popular minivan and made it to the final of the Car of the Year competition.
The monitors are not built into the second-row headrests, but they are made in the form of screens folding into the back, like in laptops. Next to each screen is an HDMI, USB port and headphone jack. There are handy pockets under the monitors. In addition, the UCONNECT multimedia system for the second row supports the installation of their own applications and games, which can be controlled by touch or from the remote control. The signature Stow’n Go system is responsible for the transformation in the interior. Plus, for the Pacifica, the popular hands free trunk opening system also works with side doors.
In the seven-seater version, all the second and third row seats can be folded into the floor with a slight movement. With the seats folded out, the floor niches can be used for storage. The third row seats can be folded into the floor even more easily, as they ‘fall back’ and simultaneously fold in half. In the eight-seater version, the only seat that will have to be removed from the interior is the middle seat in the second row. And there is also a built-in vacuum cleaner! As an option, there is a compressor, with which you can pump not only wheels, but also bicycles, balls and even inflatable ‘crocodiles’. This is the true ‘real apartment on wheels’!
Equipment
The advanced options of the new Pacifica minivan include an automatic parking system, active cruise control, lane departure warning system, collision avoidance system and blind spot monitoring system, a keyless access and start system, a rearview camera and an all-round vision system in combination with front and rear parking sensors. The list of options includes ventilation and heated seats, a multimedia system with an 8.4-inch screen and 13 speakers, as well as LED headlights.
The collision avoidance system deserves particular attention. First, unlike many other models, the Pacifica will not only stop in front of an obstacle, but will continue to hold the vehicle. Secondly, the parking sensors are also connected with the emergency braking system, and in case of approaching an obstacle, the vehicle itself will hit the brakes.
