Those in search of an affordable minivan to take their family around town will find it with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. As the Pacifica was all-new for the 2017 model year, it has most of the features and stylings of the current model, while letting you take advantage of depreciation to save thousands of dollars on your purchase right away. The 2017 Pacifica has also been around long enough to prove itself reliable and has earned many rave reviews.
Styling
To some extent, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica breaks the mold of boring minivans, giving you something with a bit more style. Although you still have the same overall one-box shape you expect from a minivan, the exterior is sleeker. The cabin is large and glassy with bright chrome. The sliding doors are slightly hidden, with the tracks actually underneath the glass of the rear quarter windows. Inside, the dashboard is sculpted and stitched without feeling overly rectangular.
Powertrain
Out of the minivans from this model year, many agree that the 2017 Pacifica is the most fun to drive. It runs on a 3.6-liter V6 with 287 horsepower and a torque of 252 pound-feet. This engine works with a 9-speed automatic transmission that features stop-start for fuel savings while in the city. As you drive, you will notice pretty crisp shifts and smart acceleration.
Seating and Versatility
The Pacifica continues Chrysler’s trend of leading the minivan segment in terms of seating; it provides the ability to fold the rear rows of seats flat with more ease than before. The front-row storage and passenger room are extensive. The second row has two buckets seats plus a removable third seat, all of which can fold flat under the floor. The sliding-door frames got power-assist buttons for the 2017 model year, moving the front seats out of your way so you can just flip a panel up, tug on a loop, and spring-latch the second-row seats. That second row can also tilt forward to make it easier to get into the third row. This is even possible even with a car seat in place.
Even the third row is spacious and comfortable for most adults with power-folding ability. With these qualifications, the Pacifica is the only 2017 minivan that can carry dozens of 4×8 sheets or as many as eight passengers.
Safety
Parents do not need to sacrifice safety for affordability with a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. This is a Top Safety Pick+ and earned a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. All models have a rearview camera. You also can opt for a Pacifica with surround-view cameras, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision warnings. There are even advanced features available, such as perpendicular and parallel park assist. You also can opt for lane-departure warning, which can guide you back into your lane.
Stand-Out Features
The 2017 Pacifica is also recent enough to offer all the major features you want to make drives around town with your kids go more quickly. You can get navigation, voice commands, onboard data, an 8.4-inch touchscreen with infotainment, and a Blu-ray rear-seat entertainment system featuring 10-inch touchscreens.
