2006 Chrysler Pacifica: Road Test
Archived Review
2006 Chrysler Pacifica ▼
Select a Trim ▼
- MSRP: $25,415 -$36,885
- Invoice: $23,439 -$33,648
Features & Specifications
Compare Vehicle
Related to Chrysler Pacifica
Previous Year's Reviews
View Another Vehicle
Our road test for the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica includes a full evaluation of the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica help you decide if a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica is right for you.
Advertisement
ACCELERATION
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
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 engine feels labored uphill and in passing maneuvers. Towing capacity with 3.5 is a minivanlike 3500 lb.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.8 |
Test front-drive Touring models 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 89-octane fuel for Pacifica.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 5.4 |
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 | 4.1 |
More minivanlike than crisp and sporty. 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 | 5.2 |
Engine feels inappropriately ragged under 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 available 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 six-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. Some testers found over-the-shoulder visibility obscured by thick rear pillars. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.3 |
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. Chrysler lists maximum cargo volume of 92.2 cu ft for the five-seat model, 79.5 for the others.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 4 | 5.7 |
Pacifica feels smaller inside than its generous exterior dimensions suggest. And it drives like a heavy minivan--which is better than driving like a heavy SUV. In the end, it successfully mixes traditional vehicle types to create a versatile wagon with some upscale appeal.
Total Score
| 2WD Touring w/leather | AWD Touring | AWD Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 62 | 60 | 56.7 |
Total Score: 61
Scores for all Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
Car Buying Resources
Search
Local Listings
Vehicle
History Report
FREE CARFAX Record Check
Looking at a used car, check for costly hidden problems before
you buy.
