Chrysler Pacifica
Encyclopedia
The Chrysler Pacifica is a mid-size crossover wagon produced by Chrysler from 2003 to 2007, for the model year
s 2004 to 2008.
The Pacifica was the first jointly engineered product of the 1998 Chrysler-DaimlerBenz "merger of equals."
Chrysler developed the vehicle in 30 months at a cost below $1 billion. The CUV was inspired by the 1999 Chrysler Pacifica
and 2000 Chrysler Citadel
concept car
s. Chrysler
marketed the Pacifica as a “sports-tourer," building the vehicle at the Windsor Assembly Plant
, alongside the long-wheelbase minivans from early 2003 through November 2007.
The interior was also slightly restyled. Faux wood trim came standard in Pacifica Touring and Limited models, while the base-model "Pacifica" (later Pacifica LX), offered interior colored plastic trim. Signature Series models had metal clad interior trim and two-tone leather seats.
The Pacifica's exterior was slightly restyled for 2007, including its headlights, hood, fenders, grille, front fascia and wheels. The brand new 4.0 L SOHC V6 engine was added, to complement the standard 3.8 L EGH V6. With the addition of the new engine and transmission, Dual Exhaust was added. New options included a rearview camera incorporated into the navigation system
, stain, odor, and static-resistant seat fabric and new wheel options.
almost concurrently introduced the Journey
, a CUV sharing an identical wheelbase to the out-going short wheelbase Chrysler minivans.
Chrysler developed the vehicle in 30 months at a cost below $1 billion.
Parent DaimlerChrysler's other entry in the luxury SUV market, the M-Class
(badged as the ML) appeared to be a rushed engineering job from the Mercedes-Benz
truck division yet it was a great success (the second-generation M-Class would move from a light truck to a crossover platform).
Despite the Mercedes-like interior and other Mercedes-derived technologies, however, the Pacifica may have been overpriced for its marque, as general public perception did not consider Chrysler a luxury brand like that of BMW, Lexus, Lincoln, and Mercedes-Benz. A three year, multi-million dollar contract was signed with singer Celine Dion
in 2003, with advertisements designed to reposition Chrysler as a premium marque. However, the promotional campaign was widely considered a flop and so DaimlerChrysler ended it just one year later. Indeed DaimlerChrysler was reluctant to heavily promote the fact that the Pacifica (as well as several other jointly-engineered vehicles such as the Crossfire
and 300
) featured technologies from its Mercedes division due to fear of cannibalization, as Benz vehicles had much higher prices and profits than their Chrysler equivalents.
The Pacifica was widely praised for its carlike ride and handling. However the 2004-06 model years of the Pacifica were fuel thirsty and vastly underpowered considering its hefty weight, with its weak 250hp 3.5-liter V6 and aging four-speed automatic transmission, which gave poor performance considering the price of this vehicle. This was only rectified in 2007 with a new V6 engine and a new six-speed automatic which was nonetheless too late to salvage sales. Throughout its lifetime there were few engine options, yet despite client requests there was never an available Hemi or SRT version like the 2005 Chrysler 300. The first Pacifica models were equipped lavishly and were expensive as a result, as they included costly but mostly unnecessary features such as a navigation system, DVD entertainment system, and a load-leveling suspension. For the 2005 model year Chrysler released a de-contented LX trim that deleted the third row seats and had cloth upholstery.
The initial production models of the Pacifica gave the nameplate a bad reputation, due to poor mechanical reliability of the transmission and engine, liner and interior flaws, electrical glitches, and low build quality. Furthermore, Chrysler was slow to react in fixing these problems.
DaimlerChrysler heavily touted the Pacifica as the next "big thing" in the fledgling crossover market, forecasting sales of 100,000 per year. These estimations proved to be wildly optimistic, as sales never came close to expectations. There was stiff competition from other luxury crossovers like the Lexus RX
and BMW X5
; the RX was the volume leader and widely considered the benchmark for the class. Furthermore the company lost money on every Pacifica sold, as it used a modified minivan platform, but it didn’t have any interior commonality with other Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicles.
Positioned as a large crossover wagon, the Pacifica was designed to combine the convenience of a minivan, the elevated position of an SUV, and the handling of a sedan. Compared to traditional (light-truck based) luxury SUVs such the Lincoln Navigator
, the Pacifica had less heavy cargo-hauling and towing capacity but otherwise it was superior in handling, comfort, interior, and amenities. Crossovers with three-row seating tend to be inferior to minivans in passenger room; the Pacifica was no exception as its third-row seats were considered too small compared to that of the Chrysler Town & Country which was less expensive and more fuel-efficient. However other luxury automakers have no minivans in most of their lineups which avoids cannibalization of the sales of their large crossovers, so it didn't help that the Pacifica inevitably drew comparisons to the Town & Country. Furthermore DaimlerChrysler was unable to convince the public that the Pacifica was a pioneer of new category of vehicle, as consumers preferred more traditional SUV-style crossovers, and they faced the same problem with the release of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
in 2005. Like the Pacifica the R-Class is supposed to share the attributes of the minivan, SUV, and a wagon, and despite the R-Class being more upscale and sophisticated (based on a rear-wheel drive platform) with a better executed launch (while the Pacifica was plagued with production and marketing flaws), it has sold poorly compared to the GLK
and M-Classes
.
At first, Pacifica was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 with 210 horsepower and 240 lbft of torque. Reviewers faulted the gruff engine, which was barely up to the task of battling the Pacifica's formidable mass, especially on fully loaded all-wheel-drive models. A new 3.5-liter V6 with 250 hp and 250 lbft became standard on all but the base front-wheel-drive model in 2005, and the 3.8-liter V6 was eliminated for 2006, leaving the 3.5-liter unit as the sole available engine. For 2007, the 3.8-liter mill returned (an example of Chrysler's poor judgment) in the base front-wheel-drive model, this time rated even lower at 200 hp, and a 4.0-liter V6 replaced the 3.5-liter V6 in all other models. The 4.0-liter engine cranked out only 255 hp and 265 lbft, but mated with a new six-speed automatic transmission (the base engine continued with the old four-speed unit), gave more impressive 0-60 mph times of 7.4 seconds. Until the 2007 introduction of the 4.0-liter V6, engines were always a poor choice from Chrysler with underpowered inefficient engines. The Pacifica was the bottom of the chart in its category with regards to fuel economy.
as the “best pick frontal”. In 2007, the Pacifica won a five star front and side crash test rating. The Pacifica received this award for being equipped with traction control, four wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, all-row side curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program, and tire pressure monitoring system..
NHTSA
is currently investigating a propensity toward engine bay fires in the 2007 Chrysler Pacificas equipped with the 4.0-liter V6.
and four-way power passenger seat on all standard Pacificas. The Limited and Touring included a ten-way power seat for the driver. The Pacifica could be optioned with a seating preference memory system that also controlled mirrors and pedals. Seats were available with stain and odor resistant fabric or leather on all seats and six different fabric designs.
Cargo space was 79.5 cubic feet (2,251.2 l) with the second and third rows folded. All Pacifica models came with AM/FM radio along with CD player and a seven speaker, 200-watt audio system. Limited models came with a year subscription of Sirius
satellite radio, 6-disc DVD player
capable of playing MP3
, DVD
audio, DVD video, DVD-R
and DVD-RW
discs, and an eight-speaker audio system. Standard models included dual-zone manual temperature control while the Limited and Touring offered automatic temperature control
system. Limited and Touring models offered an available navigation system
, along with an optional rear-view camera. A hands-free communication system was also available.
magazine rates the Chrysler Pacifica as "much worse than average" in terms of reliability. Consumer Reports also rated the Chrysler Pacifica with an extremely low consumer satisfaction of 48/100, one of the lowest ratings in the magazine's database for the consumer satisfaction survey.
or all-wheel drive models.
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
s 2004 to 2008.
The Pacifica was the first jointly engineered product of the 1998 Chrysler-DaimlerBenz "merger of equals."
Chrysler developed the vehicle in 30 months at a cost below $1 billion. The CUV was inspired by the 1999 Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler Pacifica (1999 concept vehicle)
The Chrysler Pacifica 1999 concept vehicle, not to be confused with the 2004-2008 Chrysler Pacifica crossover vehicle, was a concept luxury minivan built to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the minivan. The overall design of the Pacifica, was a cross between a minivan and a limousine, with the...
and 2000 Chrysler Citadel
Chrysler Citadel
The Chrysler Citadel was a concept car created by DaimlerChrysler under the Chrysler marque. It was shown at the 2000 Washington DC Auto Show. The Citadel was a hybrid with good performance and the inspiration for the production-model Pacifica....
concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
s. Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
marketed the Pacifica as a “sports-tourer," building the vehicle at the Windsor Assembly Plant
Windsor Assembly
Windsor Assembly is a Chrysler automobile factory in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The factory opened in 1928 and started minivan production in 1983. Windsor Assembly is also Windsor's largest employer with about 4,450 employees.-Overview:...
, alongside the long-wheelbase minivans from early 2003 through November 2007.
2005 and 2006
The 2005 Pacifica offered four trim levels: Base, Touring, Limited, and the limited-version Signature Series.The interior was also slightly restyled. Faux wood trim came standard in Pacifica Touring and Limited models, while the base-model "Pacifica" (later Pacifica LX), offered interior colored plastic trim. Signature Series models had metal clad interior trim and two-tone leather seats.
2007
Automotive navigation system
An automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses a GPS navigation device to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations...
, stain, odor, and static-resistant seat fabric and new wheel options.
2008 (discontinuation)
Chrysler announced on November 1, 2007 discontinuation of the Pacifica, producing the last Pacifica that same month. DodgeDodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
almost concurrently introduced the Journey
Dodge Journey
The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV built by the Dodge division of Chrysler.-First generation :Unveiled first at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and later appearing at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Journey identified internally as the JC49, has an almost identical wheelbase as the...
, a CUV sharing an identical wheelbase to the out-going short wheelbase Chrysler minivans.
Marketing and reception
The Pacifica was the first jointly engineered product of the 1998 Chrysler-DaimlerBenz "merger of equals."Chrysler developed the vehicle in 30 months at a cost below $1 billion.
Parent DaimlerChrysler's other entry in the luxury SUV market, the M-Class
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a luxury mid-size sport utility vehicle , first offered in 1997 as a 1998 model, and built by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. Gradually, the M-Class became a sales success in the United States and Mexico. In terms of size, it is slotted in between the smaller...
(badged as the ML) appeared to be a rushed engineering job from the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
truck division yet it was a great success (the second-generation M-Class would move from a light truck to a crossover platform).
Despite the Mercedes-like interior and other Mercedes-derived technologies, however, the Pacifica may have been overpriced for its marque, as general public perception did not consider Chrysler a luxury brand like that of BMW, Lexus, Lincoln, and Mercedes-Benz. A three year, multi-million dollar contract was signed with singer Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
in 2003, with advertisements designed to reposition Chrysler as a premium marque. However, the promotional campaign was widely considered a flop and so DaimlerChrysler ended it just one year later. Indeed DaimlerChrysler was reluctant to heavily promote the fact that the Pacifica (as well as several other jointly-engineered vehicles such as the Crossfire
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and was built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany.-Design:...
and 300
Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
) featured technologies from its Mercedes division due to fear of cannibalization, as Benz vehicles had much higher prices and profits than their Chrysler equivalents.
The Pacifica was widely praised for its carlike ride and handling. However the 2004-06 model years of the Pacifica were fuel thirsty and vastly underpowered considering its hefty weight, with its weak 250hp 3.5-liter V6 and aging four-speed automatic transmission, which gave poor performance considering the price of this vehicle. This was only rectified in 2007 with a new V6 engine and a new six-speed automatic which was nonetheless too late to salvage sales. Throughout its lifetime there were few engine options, yet despite client requests there was never an available Hemi or SRT version like the 2005 Chrysler 300. The first Pacifica models were equipped lavishly and were expensive as a result, as they included costly but mostly unnecessary features such as a navigation system, DVD entertainment system, and a load-leveling suspension. For the 2005 model year Chrysler released a de-contented LX trim that deleted the third row seats and had cloth upholstery.
The initial production models of the Pacifica gave the nameplate a bad reputation, due to poor mechanical reliability of the transmission and engine, liner and interior flaws, electrical glitches, and low build quality. Furthermore, Chrysler was slow to react in fixing these problems.
DaimlerChrysler heavily touted the Pacifica as the next "big thing" in the fledgling crossover market, forecasting sales of 100,000 per year. These estimations proved to be wildly optimistic, as sales never came close to expectations. There was stiff competition from other luxury crossovers like the Lexus RX
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX is a crossover sport utility vehicle sold since 1998 by Lexus, the luxury division of the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Three generations of the Lexus RX have been produced to date, the first being compact in size, and the latter two classified as mid-size...
and BMW X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
; the RX was the volume leader and widely considered the benchmark for the class. Furthermore the company lost money on every Pacifica sold, as it used a modified minivan platform, but it didn’t have any interior commonality with other Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicles.
Positioned as a large crossover wagon, the Pacifica was designed to combine the convenience of a minivan, the elevated position of an SUV, and the handling of a sedan. Compared to traditional (light-truck based) luxury SUVs such the Lincoln Navigator
Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV built by the Ford Motor Company for its luxury division, Lincoln. Introduced as a 1998 model, production began May 14, 1997 with sales beginning in August. The Navigator was Lincoln's first SUV as well as its first four-wheel drive capable vehicle...
, the Pacifica had less heavy cargo-hauling and towing capacity but otherwise it was superior in handling, comfort, interior, and amenities. Crossovers with three-row seating tend to be inferior to minivans in passenger room; the Pacifica was no exception as its third-row seats were considered too small compared to that of the Chrysler Town & Country which was less expensive and more fuel-efficient. However other luxury automakers have no minivans in most of their lineups which avoids cannibalization of the sales of their large crossovers, so it didn't help that the Pacifica inevitably drew comparisons to the Town & Country. Furthermore DaimlerChrysler was unable to convince the public that the Pacifica was a pioneer of new category of vehicle, as consumers preferred more traditional SUV-style crossovers, and they faced the same problem with the release of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
The R-Class is a multi-purpose vehicle offered by Daimler AG in 2006 model year under the Mercedes-Benz brand. It is the first full-sized multi-purpose vehicle ever produced by Mercedes-Benz...
in 2005. Like the Pacifica the R-Class is supposed to share the attributes of the minivan, SUV, and a wagon, and despite the R-Class being more upscale and sophisticated (based on a rear-wheel drive platform) with a better executed launch (while the Pacifica was plagued with production and marketing flaws), it has sold poorly compared to the GLK
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
The Mercedes-Benz GLK is a compact luxury crossover released as a 2009 model elsewhere and as a 2010 model in North America after its public debut at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show alongside the competing Audi Q5....
and M-Classes
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
The Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a luxury mid-size sport utility vehicle , first offered in 1997 as a 1998 model, and built by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. Gradually, the M-Class became a sales success in the United States and Mexico. In terms of size, it is slotted in between the smaller...
.
Powertrain
The Pacifica offered a towing capacity of 3500 pounds (1,587.6 kg). The CUVs were equipped with "Autostick" transaxles, Chrysler's version of a manually controlled automatic transmission. Other features include five-link rear suspension, self-leveling rear shock absorbers, and variable assist rack-and-pinion steering.At first, Pacifica was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 with 210 horsepower and 240 lbft of torque. Reviewers faulted the gruff engine, which was barely up to the task of battling the Pacifica's formidable mass, especially on fully loaded all-wheel-drive models. A new 3.5-liter V6 with 250 hp and 250 lbft became standard on all but the base front-wheel-drive model in 2005, and the 3.8-liter V6 was eliminated for 2006, leaving the 3.5-liter unit as the sole available engine. For 2007, the 3.8-liter mill returned (an example of Chrysler's poor judgment) in the base front-wheel-drive model, this time rated even lower at 200 hp, and a 4.0-liter V6 replaced the 3.5-liter V6 in all other models. The 4.0-liter engine cranked out only 255 hp and 265 lbft, but mated with a new six-speed automatic transmission (the base engine continued with the old four-speed unit), gave more impressive 0-60 mph times of 7.4 seconds. Until the 2007 introduction of the 4.0-liter V6, engines were always a poor choice from Chrysler with underpowered inefficient engines. The Pacifica was the bottom of the chart in its category with regards to fuel economy.
Safety
In 2006 the Chrysler Pacifica won an award from the Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyInsurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
as the “best pick frontal”. In 2007, the Pacifica won a five star front and side crash test rating. The Pacifica received this award for being equipped with traction control, four wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, all-row side curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program, and tire pressure monitoring system..
NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
is currently investigating a propensity toward engine bay fires in the 2007 Chrysler Pacificas equipped with the 4.0-liter V6.
Features
Third row seating was standard on all but the base Pacifica. Front row seats featured an eight-way power driver seatPower seat
A power seat in an automobile is a front seat which can be adjusted by using a switch or joystick and a set of small electric motors. Most cars with this feature have controls for the driver's seat only, though almost all luxury cars also have power controls for the front passenger seat.In addition...
and four-way power passenger seat on all standard Pacificas. The Limited and Touring included a ten-way power seat for the driver. The Pacifica could be optioned with a seating preference memory system that also controlled mirrors and pedals. Seats were available with stain and odor resistant fabric or leather on all seats and six different fabric designs.
Cargo space was 79.5 cubic feet (2,251.2 l) with the second and third rows folded. All Pacifica models came with AM/FM radio along with CD player and a seven speaker, 200-watt audio system. Limited models came with a year subscription of Sirius
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
satellite radio, 6-disc DVD player
DVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
capable of playing MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
audio, DVD video, DVD-R
DVD-R
DVD-R is a DVD recordable format. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB. Pioneer has also developed an 8.5 GB dual layer version, DVD-R DL, which appeared on the market in 2005....
and DVD-RW
DVD-RW
A DVD-RW disc is a rewritable optical disc with equal storage capacity to a DVD-R, typically 4.7 GB. The format was developed by Pioneer in November 1999 and has been approved by the DVD Forum. The smaller Mini DVD-RW holds 1.46 GB, with a diameter of 8 cm.The primary advantage of DVD-RW over...
discs, and an eight-speaker audio system. Standard models included dual-zone manual temperature control while the Limited and Touring offered automatic temperature control
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
system. Limited and Touring models offered an available navigation system
Automotive navigation system
An automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses a GPS navigation device to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations...
, along with an optional rear-view camera. A hands-free communication system was also available.
Professional and consumer reception
Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
magazine rates the Chrysler Pacifica as "much worse than average" in terms of reliability. Consumer Reports also rated the Chrysler Pacifica with an extremely low consumer satisfaction of 48/100, one of the lowest ratings in the magazine's database for the consumer satisfaction survey.
Total U.S. sales
| Calendar Year | Sales |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 78,243 |
| 2007 | 53,947 |
Trim levels
All editions were available in front-wheel driveFront-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
or all-wheel drive models.
- Pacifica • 2004 •
- Base • 2005-2007 •
- Touring • 2005-2008 • Pacifica with more seating and interior features.
- Limited • 2005-2008 • Pacifica with extra features, including DVD, GPS and sunroof.
- Signature Series • 2005-2006 • 2008