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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fnm - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By trdt - May 14 - 2:00 ami thought this was the best car i ever drove it was awesome and a very fast car in acceleration
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Finally, the "everything" car... - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By R. Abbott - May 14 - 2:00 amHaving owned minivans, full-size SUVs, pickups, and most recently a Subaru Forester, we felt we had some experience in what to look for in a vehicle. We could never find our everything car, though: smooth ride but with lots of room; AWD but with great gas mileage; luxury interior but reasonably priced; able to carry lots of people or lots of cargo -- comfortably! Whoa! -- weve just described our 2004 Pacifica AWD!
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Limited model-Little disappointed - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
By Melissa - May 11 - 11:04 pmIve had my Pacifica for now 2 weeks. I got the limited model with sunroof. First thing I notice is one of the screens on the UConnect is not working. So dealership had to order another one. The second disappointment is the noise coming from the roof. Its very loud and annoying. So I couldnt rate the noise level due to this. Come to find out this is not the only sunroof problem this dealership has found with the Pacificas. Hope they can figure out and fix this problem. I would hate to know Ive paid this much for a vehicle I cant enjoy driving due to this.
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Great car - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By Swanee - May 9 - 2:00 amOnly have 1000 miles on the car but love it. Handles great both in snow and on dry pavement. Quiet and great ride. Mileage OK with about 18 to 19 combined city and highway. Lots of room for adults although third seat only for children. Finish top notch.
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Why dont I see more on the road?! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By clrkstevo - May 9 - 2:00 amThis car is the ultimate in proportional beauty. Ive had numerous people comment on what a pretty car this is, inside & out. The look is extremely rich, yet aggressive. A vehicle with classic lines & detail, with an interior to match. A "cult-car" for the thirty-somethings.
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Pacifica Advantages - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By scjake697 - May 9 - 2:00 amThe Pacifica is a pleasing blend of European road sedan (Mercedes E-Class) and minivan. The interior - although less functional than a minivan - is much more luxurious. The vehicle steers and stops with the precision of an expensive sedan yet provides more interior space, flexibility, and comfort. It is a classy family wagon with safety and comfort first on the satisfaction list.
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Very Satisfied - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By HappyOne - May 9 - 2:00 amIve had it for a couple of weeks now, and am very pleased. It is a joy to drive, and has awoken the old car bug in me that has been asleep for a long time.
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Impressed so far - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By DBK - May 9 - 2:00 amOur long driveway slopes from 20 to 35 degrees. So during snowy weather, two wheel drive vehicles dont stand a chance. The Pacificas AWD goes up and down the hill with very little slippage and gives us confidence. (We had the dealer swap the OE tires with Goodyear Forteras) We have been extremely pleased with the comfort of the ride and the quietness of the cab. In fact those were the 2 main reasons we chose the Pacifica over the Pilot, which we found to be rather stiff and noisy on the highway. The rear seats are comfortable, even the third row is very sedan like.
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Chrysler Pacifica 2004 - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
By djmattox - May 4 - 10:00 amGood drive, good ride, comfortible. Poor rear vision, inside rear too narrow (golf clubs & bag will not fit lying side to side) steering wheel sometime obscures speedometer. Window buttons difficult to touch to raise window up.
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Nothing But Problems - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
By JeffinChicago - May 4 - 10:00 amPains to me to say this - I love the car - all the features - nav system is excellent, its comfortable, etc. BUT had NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS with it - had it for 6 weeks - been in the shop 3 weeks - tons of parts replaced. Serpentine belt, horn mechanism, AC compressor. The blind spots are ridiculous - you simply cant see behind you. And the center console thing in the back seat is a joke - why is it there?
