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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  A good all purpose vehicle - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By dspickard - March 7 - 4:36 am

  Mine is an early model produced in Nov. 2003 currently with 17,400 miles. A good all purpose vehicle that has been very reliable with only two minor warranty items (brake light and right side mirror automatic adjustment) repaired. Very comfortable on long trips with reasonable highway gas milage of 22-24 while averaging 75+ mph. Handles well around town with somewhat disapointing accelleration and gas mileage of 16 -17mpg. Well appointed but some parts rather cheaply made.

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  Car okay - Chrysler Service terrible - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Cindy Berger - March 4 - 12:46 pm

  I knew several negatives about the car prior to purchase, too many blind spots. The car has been okay but the service department have been terrible now there everything is wrong because they did not identify transmission problems at 14,000 miles when 1st complaint was submitted. Id never purchase another Chrysler product for that reason.

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  Favorite things-No Complaints - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Fab4radko - March 2 - 5:40 pm

  Great handling. Happy with the mileage on long trips. The navigation system has helped many times I would have been lost.

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  Decent Car. Quit Nitpicking. - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Cole - March 2 - 12:13 am

  Not the most fuel efficient car (18/25) it certainly is a car that depends on driving style to get the most out of the mileage. Decent power, went through the rockies without problem. Build quality is much better than its non-Daimler predecessors. Is great for our 2 kids. Reverse facing car seats in the 2nd row do not affect the front seat passengers (didnt get that from our old Windstar) Great stereo (love the mp3 player), nice and comfortable for long trips. Cant beat it for the price.

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  Great Alternative to the minivan! - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mike - March 1 - 3:30 pm

  This is a great car. Its quite a step up from a 92 Toyota Tercel. I love the crash test ratings on this vehicle. Makes me feel very safe transporting my family. The base model had most of the features I wanted, since I really didnt need all the extra bells & whistles. The all wheel drive has come in very handy in the Michigan winter. It is a very nice alternative to the minivan. I dont feel like a robot driving the same thing everyone else is. The fuel mileage is not that great, but what do you expect with a 4000+ lb. vehicle. Overall, I would definitely buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  Picked Pacifica over Freestyle - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Lowcarb - March 1 - 11:25 am

  Overhead DVD option is grossly overpriced at $1500. Same for in dash GPS. Avoid these options. Excellent vehicle for hauling the kids and dog to all of their activities. We looked at the Ford Freestyle also and chose Pacifica.

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  One test drive and I was ready! - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Amy - February 28 - 1:33 pm

  I cant review on reliability or maintenance yet, since I just bought this van on Saturday, but so far I love it. My kids and I agree that a mom must have designed this van. Every single feature on the vehicle seems to be so nicely thought out and planned. There is lots of storage room in the whole van and lots of cupholders! My almost 16 year old son was unimpressed with the cool factor of going back to a minivan after mom driving SUVs for years but after he rode in and drove the Pacifica, he changed his opinion. The safety features, including adaptive cruise control are awesome as well as the auto high beam headlights. The theater system in the van is great and keeps the kids occupied and happy with games, music and movies. The 2nd row heated seats are also wonderful. I have owned both Honda and Toyota vans and this one is my favorite by far! As a matter of fact, my plan was to test drive all three, but I stopped after I fell in love with the new Pacifica!

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  Excellent Adult Transportation - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mark - February 28 - 9:38 am

  After 53,000 miles Im still very pleased with my Pacifica. The only maintenance issue was loose spline bolts at 47,000 miles. It cost $100 to have the dealer tighten the bolts. My family of 4 took the vehicle on a 3,500 mile vacation that covered much of the eastern USA and Canada. The vehicle is one of the best road cars Ive owned in the last 30 years. A 510" 200 lb adult can drive the car for 12 hours and not be sore. The middle row seats are just as comfortable as the front seats. The power is good out of the 3.5 liter FWD drive train as long as you use at least 89 octane fuel. That is what the owners manual recommends too. Fuel economy observed is 19 city/23 highway

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  What i dont like - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By cfhair2003 - February 27 - 4:50 am

  My control arms right and left side had to be replaced before 10,000 miles. Bushing were noisy when braking, or turning. Console gearshift has a chessey, stainable cover.Stains (soda,coffee), of any kind can not be removed.Im replacing mine with the other flat configuration, which are on later models.$50.00 cost.I dont care for the transmissions shifting, which could be just me. Its the same as my 140,000. mile Nissan Maxima.

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  Money pit - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Tee - February 26 - 7:13 pm

  Buyer beware with this one. We bought this car used for a seemingly awesome deal. Fully loaded, cd, dvd, nav, one year old half off of a new sticker. ABS is a real issue. Now you need to replace an entire wheel if a sensor goes out. That is $500 for a $50 part. General maintenance also adds up to almost another $100/mo. New tires, and I shopped this, almost $1000! At least I didnt have to pay for the recall issue, which the dealer didnt tell me about. Also, the air conditioning is not great. Nice ride, but not worth the cost.