2017 Chrysler Pacifica: That Name Sounds Familiar...

The new Chrysler Pacifica seeks to reinvent the minivan segment that Chrysler pioneered over 30 years ago.

BEHOLD!!! The car that stole the 2016 North American International Auto Show this year! But wait??? Isn't this is a MINIVAN of all things!? That can't be possible!!! But yes, IT IS. Here is the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan, and it's more interesting than you might expect. Not necessarily because it's generated so much buzz despite being a minivan, but because it actually is hiding a few clever tricks up its sleeve that may just shake up this nearly dead, soccer mom segment. Well, at least for a little while anyways.

To the Grocery Store! And Beyond!

Alright, it's no secret: Minivans are not particularly exciting. Well, not anymore anyways. Although, I do admit: I have somewhat of a bias for them since my mom has owned a couple. But you see, when Chrysler pioneered this segment back in the 80's, they were total hits. Even through the 90's, minivan sales remained quite brisk. It wasn't until the 2000's and after that the "soccer mom" or "lame parents" image began to really cramp the minivan's style. Now, we see automakers doing everything in their power to make their vans "hip" in the age of the crossover. Toyota is probably the most recent example that pops into people's minds with their Sienna commercials. But heck, GM even dubbed their refreshed minivans "crossover sports vans" back in the mid-2000's in an attempt to cash in on the growing crossover craze! Needless to say, they've now exited the market along with a few other automakers. But for those remaining, its a constant uphill battle. Chrysler hopes to steal some thunder away from the segment leaders, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, by releasing their all new Pacifica minivan for 2017. At first glance, it certainly looks up to the task of giving them a run for their money.

Now, if the name "Pacifica" sounds familiar to you... DING DING DING! You get a prize! ...Ok not really, but the modern Pacifica everyone likely still remembers was a three-row crossover made from 2004-2008 by Chrysler. Before that, it was the name of various trim packages on older Dodge cars and some Chrysler concept cars too. Now fast-forward roughly 10 years, and Chrysler is dropping the Dodge Grand Caravan entirely and also dropping the Town and Country nameplate to leave just one sole minivan called Pacifica. I'm not sure I'm crazy about this move, given that the Grand Caravan and Town and Country are such historic, well-known nameplates while the previous Pacifica essentially... Flopped. My friend's mom owned the old Pacifica, and it was nice, but nothing super extraordinary. 

Good Designs Stand the Test of Time

This new Pacifica will come with a revised, weight saving 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine mated to a 9-speed automatic (presumably the same one from ZF we've seen in other Chrysler products recently). While no fuel economy figures for this 3.6 V6 are available yet, power is up to 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Now here's the showstopper: For the first time in a minivan, the Pacifica will offer a GAS ELECTRIC model. This model uses the 3.6 liter V6 paired to a 16 kWh battery pack, and a twin electric motor set up for a total power output of 260 horsepower and up to 80 MPGe. I had been wondering why there was no electric or hybrid minivan for years! According to Chrysler, a 240-volt charging station can replenish the batteries in less than two hours. Electric only range is said to be 30 miles.

On the interior, the design is fresh and features Chrysler's latest design language to boot. The interior as a whole looks infinitely more premium than the last Town and Country's interior, which dated back to 2008. The new dashboard looks more like the Chrysler 200's layout, and even features the signature rotary shift knob that's found its way into a few other new Chrysler products. Chrysler's exclusive Stow-N-Go seating is still here as well (so long as you don't get the electric model, as the battery packs are in the wells where the seats would go instead), and now functions in a sliding/tilting manner that allows child seats to remain in place. Chrysler claims they're bringing 36 new innovations to the minivan segment with this 2017 Pacifica, but there's one they can't claim: That's the built in vaccum cleaner in the rear of the vehicle. Honda did that first with the Odyssey a few years back. All of the modern safety and convenience tech will be available, such as a 360 degree parking camera system, forward collision warning with autonomous braking, lane departure warning with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, two optional 10-inch television screens in the rear with built-in Wi-Fi, smartphone, and app connectivity with an "are we there yet?" mode that allows backseat passengers to track how close or far away they are from a destination. There's a slew of other surprising technology available as well. PRETTY FASCINATING! That's actually really cool, I say thumbs up Chrysler!

Moral of the Story: You Shouldn't Judge a Car By Its Stigma

So while minivans may not be all the rage these days, it's hard to deny that Chrysler hasn't pretty much redefined some aspects of the segment with this new Pacifica. Having had a parent that owned a couple minivans during the time period that I was growing up, I always felt like they were unappreciated sometimes. They're comfortable, practical, and though not sporty, most drive reasonably well. That said, I'm not sure if this segment will ever be what it was decades ago again. In fact, I'm positive it won't be... But all things considered: Chrysler's 2017 Pacifica minivan may boast an old name on a new frame, but it's certainly more than game for anything that the competition throws at it. Especially in the technology department. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect to see the new Pacifica later this year.

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