2005 Chrysler Pacifica: Road Test
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2005 Chrysler Pacifica ▼
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- MSRP: $24,615 -$36,585
- Invoice: $22,672 -$33,381
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Our road test for the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica includes a full evaluation of the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica help you decide if a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.9 |
Touring only model made available for test so far. AWD version furnishes fair movement off the line--Chrysler says 9.6 sec 0-60 mph--but 3.5 V6 feels labored uphill and in passing maneuvers. Towing capacity with 3.5 V6 is a minivanlike 3500 lb.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.9 |
Test front-drive Touring averaged 16.4-16.8 mpg in mostly city driving. Test AWD version averaged 17.1 mpg in a more even city/highway mix. Chrysler recommends fuel of 89 octane or higher for 3.5 V6, regular-grade fuel for 3.8.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.1 |
With standard 17-inch tires, more absorbent over bumps and ruts than most midsize SUVs. But dips and swells induce some minivanlike bounding body motions. No opportunity to test with 19-inch tires.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 3.8 |
More minivanlike than crisp and sporty. 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
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 4.8 |
The 3.5 sounds, feels inappropriately ragged in anything more than modest throttle. Little wind noise. With 17-inch tires, road noise adequately suppressed except for coarse-pavement tire thrum and thump.
CONTROLS
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.3 |
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 and pedals are easily adjusted by miniature likenesses on door panels. Available in-dash 6-disc changer plays CDs and DVDs. Contemporary cabin decor, with materials and details usually found in entry-level luxury vehicles, though some testers say dashboard plastics don't measure up.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 6.7 |
Seats soft yet supportive, though some testers had difficulty finding a comfortable position. Good outward visibility for most drivers, though rear headrests can obscure aft view. Passenger seat not adjustable for height and can feel slightly confining. Fold-down armrests on both seats. Entry/exit basically step-in easy, but doors should open wider.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.2 |
Adequate leg room in base model, whose 2nd-row bench seat is stationary. Touring/Limited 2nd-row buckets slide fore/aft to benefit either 2nd- or 3rd-row leg room. With buckets, long center-floor console extends between 1st and 2nd rows. Great head room, but high windowsills, high front headrests create confined feel for shorter riders. Third row more elevated, but sized for preteens; access a challenge.
CARGO ROOM
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/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 and available power liftgate are useful touches.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 4 | 5.6 |
Pacifica feels smaller inside than its generous exterior dimensions suggest, and it drives like a heavy minivan. Sales have been slower than expected. Chrysler hopes the new base model lures value-conscious shoppers, while the Limited attracts the upscale audience Pacifica aimed for in the first place.
Total Score
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 61 | 59 | 55.1 |
Total Score: 60
Scores for all Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
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