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The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica’s one problem.

by Roger Garbow... In a perfect world, we enthusiasts would exclusively drive our choice of British roadsters, German sport sedans, Italian exotics or American muscle cars. Unfortunately, back here on Planet Reality, we sometimes need more practical vehicles, especially for folks with families. If that’s you, read on. Chrysler reportedly spent $2 billion creating their all- new Pacifica and it shows. The body structure is nearly twice as stiff yet lighter in weight than the 2016 Town & Country minivan which it replaces in the lineup. The extra stiffness rewards the driver with car-like response, ride and handling. A large part of the improved handling prowess can be attributed to a stiffer front suspension and a new independent rear suspension. It may be hard to believe for a vehicle like this, but with the new platform rigidity and suspension design, the 2017 Pacifica is actually fun to drive. If driving excitement is not your thing, you’ll still be happy: the seats are seriously comfortable and the Active Noise Cancellation technology creates a very quiet cabin. The 287hp 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is responsive, making the Pacifica feel quick both off the line and in mid-range passing maneuvers. The engine’s Variable Valve Timing combined with the new 9-speed transmission is rated at 28mpg highway, but for a quick trip to Boston and back, I saw over 30mpg. For those seeking even better efficiency, the Hybrid version returns 80 MPGe, up to 30 miles on electric power alone and has a range of up to 530 miles. On the outside, the Pacifica make a bold statement with exterior styling that is fresh, fluid and much more attractive than anything else in its class. It is a fine [...]

By |2017-07-21T18:24:48+00:00March 19th, 2017|Blog post, Reviews|Comments Off on The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica’s one problem.