While not the core mission of any minivan, the Pacifica drives well enough to almost make you forget you’re driving a minivan, without compromising on the required comfort for a family vehicle.  Let’s not kid ourselves, a minivan is not the tool you choose to carve up a canyon road, but if that’s all you got, that is the car you’re taking on the long road trip that might take you through fun curvy roads. The Pacifica generally stays out of its own way and stays composed without any sort of rough ride. The steering is light but steady, so you feel in control as the vehicle responds promptly and precisely, without feeling like your piloting a small school bus or moving truck. Most importantly, the ride is always comfortable, the Pacifica absorbing bumps easily, and the chairs are supportive and accommodating, with better cushioning and support on the second row Stow ‘n Go seats. Even the third row is spacious and manageable for adult passengers.

The new Chrysler minivan is packed with the kind of technology you can see and use, but it also wisely uses the latest engineering to deliver unexpected driving competence along with safety and efficiency gains that make it a leader in the segment. It also sheds some dowdy styling for a sleek new look that embraces the long, low and wide shape that a minivan requires to accomplish its function, with novel touches like the wraparound rear window cutout and hidden rails for the sliding doors to give it a streamlined shape.

While improving the breed and the brand in pretty much every way it remains to be seen if the Pacifica can regain lost market share in North America and revive the image of the minivan from practical last resort to a smart and stylish alternative to the trending SUV that better serves more of a family’s needs.

Pricing: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Base Price (Touring-L): $43,995
Base Price (Touring-L Plus): $46,995
Base Price (Limited): $52,995

Standard features: 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps, roof rails, leather seating with heated driver and front passenger seats, 12-way power driver’s seat, rear power sliding doors and power liftgate, power windows and locks, tri-zone automatic temperature control, Active Noise Cancellation, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls, cupholders, trays and cubbies galore, Sunscreen glass with second- and third-row window shades, capless fuel filler, Uconnect 5.0 with five-inch touchscreen and six speakers, SiriusXM satellite radio with one-year subscription, Bluetooth phone and audio, USB charging port and two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, overhead ambient and courtesy lighting, spy mirror, universal garage door opener, Keyless Enter ’n Go with proximity entry and push-button start, remote start, back-up camera, tire pressure monitoring and Stow n’ Go.

Touring-L Plus: Blind-spot monitoring, Park-Sense rear park assist with active braking and rear cross-path detection; power 12-way adjustable front passenger seat with Stow ’n Go Assist (which is standard on the driver’s seat), heated steering wheel and second-row seats; “Deluxe Insulation Group” with acoustic windshield and Active Noise Control; 506-watt stereo; 13 speakers; Uconnect 8.4 (8.4-inch touchscreen); customizable 7-inch full-colour in-cluster display in gauges; second- and third-row USB charging ports.

Limited: Ventilated, perforated Nappa leather seats; power-folding third-row seat, two-tone steering wheel; premium dash materials, navigation for UConnect, HID headlights with LED fog lamps and DRLs, 18-inch alloys with a driver’s memory system for exterior mirrors, seat and radio presets and a triple pane sunroof.

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