**Full Disclosure: I test-drove the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica for review purposes thanks to Drive Shop. No compensation was received & all opinions are my own.
If you asked me if I’d ever own a minivan, I’d laugh in your face. For the most part, I think they feel like buses. The perk of my job, though, is that brands have a chance to change my mind about their products. Given the opportunity to drive the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, I couldn’t pass it up. I had heard great things about the vehicle and wanted to try it for myself.
After it was delivered, I sat in the driver’s seat and thought to myself, ‘Oh boy! This thing is HUGE!’ I didn’t shy away from it, though. Instead, I embraced the Pacifica. It was useful for a variety of daily & weekly errands: going to meet the teacher, meeting friends for fellowship, taking Colin to and from school, picking up groceries, and visiting the LEGO Americana Road Show.
After driving the Chrysler Pacifica for a day or two, my favorite features were easy to pick out!
- SO much light!
- There are so many windows & sunroofs that while inside the van, a person could feel like they were standing outside. I love all that natural light!! Also, the third row has its very own sunroof which is great for those times I didn’t want the sunroof open.
- There are so many windows & sunroofs that while inside the van, a person could feel like they were standing outside. I love all that natural light!! Also, the third row has its very own sunroof which is great for those times I didn’t want the sunroof open.
- Stow-N-Go seats:
- The second row seats can be manually folded down into the floor – leaving a completely flat surface! And, if the seats remain upright, there’s plenty of storage for road trips!
- The third row bench completely collapses into the floor with the push of a button. When another button is pushed, it pulls itself back up. It can also recline which is also great for road trips!
- The second row seats can be manually folded down into the floor – leaving a completely flat surface! And, if the seats remain upright, there’s plenty of storage for road trips!
- Back-Up camera:
- I was so blown away by the clarity of the back-up camera! I’m not sure how I live without the top and rear view cameras in one screen on a daily basis, though.
- I was so blown away by the clarity of the back-up camera! I’m not sure how I live without the top and rear view cameras in one screen on a daily basis, though.
I don’t think any vehicle is 100% perfect, though, and there were a few features I didn’t love as much. The gear shift was a knob and it’s not that I didn’t like it but I just couldn’t get used to it! The turning radius was a little to wide for my liking. I loved all the motorized & computerized components right now, at some point they will need some fixing. While the van was in my possession, one of the doors didn’t sound quite right.
All-in-all, I was impressed with the Pacifica. If I were forced to purchase a minivan, this would probably be a top contender. Actually, my kids loved the Chrysler Pacifica so much that Colin hugged the van before we left for school and he was sad I wouldn’t have it for school pick-up that day!
Looks like a great vehicle~ I love the idea of all the natural lighting.
That hug! So glad you enjoyed the Pacifica, Sara and fam!!
Reminds me of my last minivan which I miss so much. Love the stow-n-go spaces, used those any time we went on vacation. I would really love the back up camera, I hate backing up. (always afraid of someone darting out behind me)
I am on the no minivan for me train. That gear shift would bug the crap out of me! I lvoe the cameras though