For the last several years, massive SUVs have dominated the automotive market. However, minivans are undeniably useful for moving people and transporting cargoes. Now, Chrysler reinvents the concept of minivans by releasing the 2017 Pacifica.
Chrysler's 2017 Pacifica has comfortable passenger seats which are highly adjustable. The car's interior is so luxurious and comfortable. Its front seats are heated and cooled. In the second row, it has twin entertainment screens, wireless headphones and remote controls. In addition, its dashboard infotainment system sports 8.4-inch touchscreen that has 3G connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspot function.
Outside, Car and Driver says 2017 Pacifica is one of the best-looking van bodies ever plopped atop four wheels.
Furthermore, its two side doors slide open with just a press of a button. With the lift of a panel and a tug of a strap, the second-row seats slide forward to create a totally flat loading area. When the seats are upright, its subfloor cubbies can be used as storage cabin.
There's another button that can make third-row seats robotically disappear into the floor to open up huge space that extends from the driver to the back bumper.
On the road, the Pacifica is very responsive. It is powered by Chrysler's 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine that chunks out 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Its engine is mated to a nine-speed electronic transmission. All that torque is awesome. Without a full load, the car is lively in traffic and accelerates quickly.
The Pacifica is rated at 18 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, according to CNET.
In terms of security features, Chrysler's upcoming modern minivan comes with a host of driver aid technologies. Drive comfortably with the forward pre-collision warning with auto braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, active lane departure prevention and more.
Later this year, Chrysler will reveal a plug-in hybrid electric version of 2017 Pacifica, making it the first minivan to be sold in the U.S. in that format. The same source from CNET claims the hybrid electric version can go for up to 80 mpg on a single charge. More details about this version will be revealed weeks before the car's launching.
However, all of these features and luxury don't come cheap. LA Times reports the base price for the entry-level Pacifica will cost around $29,000. For the top-spec version with KeySense, Advanced SafetyTec group, 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio and Uconnect Theater, it could be priced around $43,000.
