2004 Chrysler Pacifica: Road Test
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2004 Chrysler Pacifica ▼
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- MSRP: $28,845 -$32,300
- Invoice: $26,527 -$29,602
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Our road test for the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica includes a full evaluation of the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica help you decide if a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.8 |
AWD Pacificas furnish fair movement off the line--Chrysler says they do 9.6 sec 0-60 mph--but feel labored uphill and in passing maneuvers. Front-drive Pacifica has adequate power, as long as you're not towing or regularly running with a full load of people and cargo. Towing capacity is a minivanlike 3500 lb.
FUEL ECONOMY
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.8 |
Test front-drive Pacifica averaged 16.4 mpg, including a stint of slow city driving. Test AWD version averaged 17.1 mpg in a more even city/highway mix. Chrysler recommends fuel of 89 octane or higher.
RIDE QUALITY
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 4.5 |
More absorbent on bumps and ruts than most any midsize SUV. But dips and swells induce some minivanlike bounding body motions.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 3.7 |
More minivanlike than sporty. Not crisp, but naturally progressive and friendly. Decent balance in turns, little noseplow, but noticeable body lean in fast changes of direction. Strong, progressive braking with little nosedive.
QUIETNESS
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 4.4 |
Engine note inappropriately ragged in anything more than modest throttle. Little wind noise. Road noise adequately suppressed except for coarse-pavement tire thrum and bump thump.
CONTROLS
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.2 |
Clear main gauges distinguished by navigation screen dead ahead of driver in speedometer face, with controls to immediate right. System easy to use with familiarization, though screen and controls positioned for driver use only. Power front seats, lumbar, and pedals are easily adjusted by miniature likenesses on door panels. Available in-dash 6-disc changer plays any combination of CDs and DVDs. Contemporary cabin decor, with materials and details usually found in near-luxury imports, though some testers say dashboard plastics don't measure up.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 6.4 |
Seats soft yet supportive. Good outward visibility for driver; view is higher than from a car, lower than from most SUVs. Passenger seat not adjustable for height and can feel slightly confining. Fold-down armrests on both seats. Long center floor console extends between 1st and 2nd rows. Entry/exit basically step-in easy, but doors should open wider.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 5.6 |
Firmer 2nd-row buckets than in front, but still comfortable. Each slides 5 inches fore/aft for excellent leg and foot room. Great head room, but with high window sills and high front headrests, it's a confined feel for shorter riders. Third row more elevated, but sized for preteens; access helped by spring-forward 2nd-row seats, but still a challenge.
CARGO ROOM
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 7.8 |
Grocery bags fit upright behind 3rd row. Third-row seatbacks easily flip flat from back of vehicle, but only long of limb can lift them from there. Folded 2nd-row buckets bridged by panel to create broad but not fully flat load floor. Shallow under-floor bin, available power liftgate are useful.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 5.1 |
Pacifica opts for utility above sportiness, and drives like a minivan in disguise--though without full minivan convenience. Pacifica got off to a slow sales start, and Chrysler has responded with lower-price versions and incentives, so don't buy without a substantial discount.
Total Score
| Base FWD w/leather | Base AWD | Base AWD w/leather, nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 61 | 60 | 52.3 |
Total Score: 60
Scores for all Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
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