Overview & Reviews

The Chrysler Pacifica was one of the original large crossover wagons. In order to combine the driving attributes of a car with the utility offered by minivans and sport-utility vehicles, the Pacifica crossover had four front-hinged doors, an elevated seating position, five- or six-passenger seating and a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Compared to other crossover wagons, the Chrysler Pacifica was relatively upscale and offered a wide array of creature comforts wrapped in elegantly chiseled sheet metal. Unfortunately, the Pacifica didn't possess particularly great interior packaging. While the first two rows were spacious for occupants, the third row was acceptable only for children and left very little space for cargo behind it when deployed. The rearmost seat does, however, fold flat into the floor in convenient 50/50 sections.

The Pacifica's Mercedes Benz-derived suspension garnered wide praise for its carlike ride and handling. But early Pacificas suffered from reliability woes and mediocre engines in a price bracket where potent and refined powertrains were the norm. Not helping matters were the large wagon's hefty weight and relatively unsophisticated four-speed automatic transmission, both of which took their toll on fuel economy. A significant update for 2007, however, brought about a new V6 engine, a new six-speed automatic for most models and updated styling.

Most Recent Chrysler Pacifica

The Chrysler Pacifica debuted for the 2004 model year, at which point it was offered only in base and Limited trim levels. The original base model was relatively well-equipped, but it was offered with fewer features and a lower price when the Touring trim level slotted in above it in 2005. At first, Pacificas were powered by a 3.8-liter V6 with 210 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Reviewers faulted the gruff engine, which was barely up to the task of battling the Pacifica's formidable mass, especially on fully loaded all-wheel-drive models. Given that early 2004 Pacificas also had some well-known repair issues, we'd play it safe and restrict our search to 2005 and newer models.

A 3.5-liter V6 with 250 hp and 250 lb-ft became standard on all but the base front-wheel-drive model in 2005, and the 3.8-liter V6 was eliminated for 2006, leaving the 3.5-liter unit as the sole available engine. For 2007, the 3.8-liter mill returned in the base front-wheel-drive model, this time rated at 200 hp, and a 4.0-liter V6 replaced the 3.5-liter V6 in all other models. The 4.0-liter engine cranked out a respectable 255 hp and 265 lb-ft, and it was teamed with a new six-speed automatic transmission (the base engine continued with the old four-speed unit). All Pacificas were rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Base 2004 Pacificas featured two-row, five-passenger seating and were fairly comfortable, thanks to niceties such as dual-zone climate control, a power driver seat and a load-leveling suspension. Starting in 2005, Touring models received additional standard features, a much longer options list and six-passenger seating via the addition of a two-passenger third-row seat and the replacement of the regular second-row bench with two bucket seats and a center console. The 2005 base model, meanwhile, lost some standard accoutrements and was priced lower going forward. The best-dressed and most luxurious Chrysler Pacifica was the Limited, which featured cleaner styling, bigger wheels and a long list of luxury features, including an upmarket audio system and a power liftgate.

In Chrysler Pacifica reviews, our editors found the crossover wagon's strengths to be its exceptional comfort for four, sedanlike driving characteristics, top-notch safety scores and upscale interior. The 3.8-liter engine is to be avoided, but the 3.5-liter and 4.0-liter V6s are decent performers. Downsides include a lack of legroom in the third row and a lack of overall utility when compared to the top available minivans.

User Reviews:

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  very nice ride - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bustergen - September 12 - 10:00 am

  could use more power with awd price goes up fast with options

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  Paid a lot, got a lot - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By K-anon - September 7 - 11:04 am

  My wife and I spent months researching and test driving almost all minivans on the market. The clear winner was the Pacifica. We purchased a brand new blue Touring L-Plus in September 2016. Weve been driving it for nine months and have had a fender bender (rear ended) and had the van repaired. Weve been on three big road trips and have over 9,000 miles on the van. Weve been averaging around 17-18 mpg in the city and about 27 mpg on the highway, so pretty darn close to the manufacturer specs. One annoyance is that the transmissions has to really kick into a much lower gear when you want to accelerate on the highway. Say you are cruising at 60mph, the transmission will be in top gear, but say you want to accelerate to 70 mph, itll hesitate for a second, then shift anywhere from 1-3 gears lower to provide power to accelerate. It doesnt feel smooth or sound smooth, but if thats what it takes to get me better mileage, Ill sacrifice the smoothness. The storage space is just wonderful; the van is quiet, handles great, and has so far been very reliable. We learned that the rear hatch is made of partly magnesium alloys, so in our fender bender, they had to order a whole new rear hatch (it was expensive, but our insurance covered it). The Blueray/DVD entertainment system is super popular with our kids. Be aware though, they young kids (under 5) have no hope of figuring out how to listen to their movies on the headphones. We just use the listen in feature and have to listen to their movies/shows wherever we drive. I recommend the van; we have no regrets about our purchase to date.

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  Still love this car! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By TEL - September 6 - 1:26 pm

  We have now had our Pacifica for 2 years (although only 15k miles). Nothing has gone wrong. It is a beautiful ride that attracts a lot of attention. We put the mat on the back bumper but thats it for extras. Im surprised to hear of others troubles since weve had none.

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  A classy ride - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Car Review - September 5 - 10:00 am

  We really enjoy the car and were delighted to experience about 24 to 25 miles per gallon with the Font wheel drive. We were also pleased with the performance in Minnesota snow. We have had many compliments on the vehicle.

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  To heck with a Lexus - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Dave Thomas - August 17 - 10:00 am

  One test drive and I was sold. Better than most 40K plus SUVs. Handling is superb, performance is above average and styling is unbelievable. I got mine loaded and well I could not imagine what more they could offer. Incredible Vehicle, fantastic value.

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  Excellent High Cruiser For Larger People - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By uwil0m - August 14 - 11:56 am

  I bought a used program base model Pacifica that had 10k miles on it. I have since put 22k miles on the vehicle. The only issue I had with the vehicle was a loose bolt on a seat belt tensioner for a rear seat. My family drove the car on a 3,400 mile trip through the mountains of VA, WV and PA then up to northern Canada. The Pacifica was extremely comfortable with four large people and all their gear. We averaged 22 mpg on the trip. Normally I drive the vehicle on a 15 mile commute in stop and go traffic. It averages 19 mpg on the commute with just me in the car. I special note is that the engine requires at least 89 octane.

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  Signature Series rocks - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By BW - August 13 - 8:40 am

  This is my second Pacifica and its much much better than the 2004 version with more power and the rear camera group help with backing up greatly and Navigation package really attractive. Marine Blue is great and they have thought of everything. Crash tests and roll over 5 of 5, not too many SUV can say that. The all speed traction control and ESP are standard as well

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  Love My New Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By hlhover - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Anyone considering buying this car will love it! We purchased the new 2004 Pacifica with the additional R1 package. We didnt get the DVD player or the navigational system. Riding in this car is so comfortable. I drove my friends Jaguar the other day and I found the inside of the Pacific to be just as nice.

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  2005 pac tour awd - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By CHEESEHEAD - August 2 - 4:46 pm

  I bought this car with 17k on it and now have 36k on it. I had a gasket problem on the transmission that was fixed at 20k and have had no other problems. We have driven this car from Wisconsin to Florida and to S. Carolina this year and it is by far the most comfortable car I have driven! It went through the mountains better than expected and we had no trouble cruising at 70+ mph. The suspension was superb. Gas mileage has varied from 19.5-23.5 on the highway and from 16.5 to 19 bopping around town (lower value in winter).

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  tow me - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Walt Lambert - July 31 - 10:00 am

  It handles very poor on uneven roads, way to much wobble. Good get up and go, nice and comfortable. Tows good with my motorhome with a Remco pump installed for transmission lubing