With SUV look, tech touches, Chrysler aims to revive minivan

With the Pacifica, Chrysler is fighting back with features like a built-in vacuum cleaner, an idea first seen on the Odyssey. As crossovers gain steam, minivans need to be more competitive than ever before, and the new Chrysler Pacifica aims to attract with a whole load of technology and a super-efficient, plug-in hybrid variant. But when you break down some of the great features in the Pacifica – some original, others swiped from competitors – hey, the competition took the minivan idea from Chrysler – this family hauler is ready to roll into the future. It’s a pretty, flowing look with a dramatically angled rear pillar and a front end like the one on the mid-size Chrysler 200 sedan. It replaces both the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, although FCA’s vehicle chief Tim Kuniskis says the company will keep making the current model of the Grand Caravan for as long as there is buyer demand.

But the big news for what’s under the hood is the unveiling of the Pacifica Hybrid. The Chrysler Pacifica will arrive at dealer showrooms in spring 2016 and the Pacifica Hybrid will arrive in the second half of the year.

“We started from the ground up to design the most technologically advanced minivan, which offers bold styling, class-leading ride and handling and unmatched fuel economy, with the Pacifica Hybrid delivering up to 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in city driving”, added Kuniskis.

“We want to give every bit of space to the customer – every millimeter”, says LaFond.

Under the hood the minivan will boast a naturally aspirated V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed auto. Minivans suddenly looked clunky and undesirable.

The Pacifica, which will go on sale later this year, will have a huge range of features and options.

He also defended the decision to revive the Pacifica nameplate despite its association with a crossover vehicle that had only a five-year production run from 2002 to 2007.

When the battery’s energy is depleted to a certain threshold, the Pacifica Hybrid becomes a part-time electric vehicle, like a conventional hybrid. The battery pack is located underneath the middle of the floor and can be fully recharged in two hours using a 240-volt plug. The new drivetrain combines a 3.6-liter V-6 with a two-motor hybrid system that acts as the transmission.

Advertisement

The popular Stow ‘n Go system has been completely re-engineered. The vehicle also can automatically perform parallel and perpendicular parking, and the rear-seat entertainment system has two 10-inch touchscreens that let passengers play games, watch movies or surf the Internet. The Pacifica features a Surround View camera, ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Hold, Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning-Plus, blind-spot monitoring, ParkSense rear park assist with stop, ParkView rear backup camera, electronic stability control and electric park brake.