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Walk Around

The Chrysler Pacifica was one of the first of the so-called crossover vehicles, and we consider it both well conceived and well executed. In function, measured by ease of use, layout and features, the Pacifica is essentially a minivan. Yet it has a more rugged, appealing (and less socially branding) appearance than most minivans. In overall styling, it lines up more on the sport-utility vehicle side.

Pacifica is loaded with parts and technologies from Mercedes-Benz, including a complete rear suspension system borrowed from the Mercedes E-Class sedan. It's a well-engineered vehicle.

The Pacifica doesn't look like anything else on the road. Its design is less radical than crossovers such as the Nissan Murano or Mazda CX-9, and its glass-to-steel proportions are unique. Though revised for 2007, the styling has been with us for a few years and it doesn't look as fresh when compared with the latest vehicles, such as the new GMC Acadia.

The Pacifica looks distinctive, however, and unmistakably like a Chrysler, with a grille and other design cues unique to the brand. In front, it sports a prominent three-bar grille, flanked by wing-like, twin-beam headlights in the theme of the Chrysler 300 sedan. The Pacifica also features hood strakes introduced on the Chrysler Crossfire sports car. These creases are evenly spaced across the hood, running rearward from the grille toward the base of the windshield; some of us like the strakes on the Pacifica, some of us are still deciding.

While Pacifica doesn't look so big from the outside, it's as much as 18 inches longer and six inches wider than some of its crossover competitors. At the same time, the Pacifica is almost three inches lower to the ground than a typical minivan. It's more like a sedan in this regard, and easier to climb in and out of. That should also make it a good dog car.

In side view, the Pacifica is marked by a distinctive character line that begins at the front wheel and ramps upward as it moves toward the rear. The line helps create something of a wedge look, even in a vehicle so large. The expanse of sheet metal aft of the rear side doors and a big, broad rear gate add visual mass that looks a bit ungainly from some angles, but this isn't reflected in Pacifica's handling or driving characteristics.

The Pacifica Limited model is the best looking model, thanks to its prominent fog lights, monochromatic paint scheme and big 19-inch chrome wheels.

Interior

2008 Chrysler Pacifica

Anyone considering the Chrysler Pacifica will have to choose between a 2/3, five-seat interior package or a 2/2/2 six-seat configuration. It's not as simple as adding an extra seat, however, because the six-seat package drops maximum cargo capacity nearly 14 cubic feet, which roughly equals the amount of space in the trunk of a good-sized sedan. And while the five-seat arrangement is available only on the base model, option choices allow the base Pacifica to be equipped with nearly all the goodies offered on the higher-trim models.

The seat positioning is one of Pacifica's most appealing assets. Climbing in and out is easy because Pacifica sits relatively low to the ground, more like a sedan, and its door sills are low. Yet the seats are positioned high, seemingly at conventional table-chair height, so the driver sits much higher than he or she would in the typical sedan. This presumably offers the sense of security many seek in a sport-utility vehicle. It certainly improves forward visibility, in that fewer vehicles on the road ahead will obscure the Pacifica driver's view.

From the driver's seat, the first impression is one of spaciousness. There's plenty of headroom, despite the high seat bottoms, and the window sills rise almost to shoulder height. The high-waist design means the sills are too high for comfortable arm resting, but it will likely enhance the secure feeling for many.

The cloth upholstery in the five-passenger base model looks more expensive than we expected. The Yes Essentials fabric is stain and odor resistant, and treated to control static. Appointments become more luxurious with each step to the Touring and Limited models. Wood, brushed aluminum and plastic mixed with quality soft-touch materials create generally attractive accommodations.

The front bucket seats are thick, deep and supportive, and fit even a lean, 6-foot, 4-inch adult like the proverbial glove. On the other hand, we'd guess the side bolsters might be a little too narrowly spaced for really wide frames. The center console between the seats is spacious and trimmed in a soft-touch material. There's a pair of cup holders conveniently located immediately aft of the gear selector, and they work well. All four doors feature molded-in bins and cup holders at the bottom.

The chunky steering wheel has a relatively small diameter. It gives the impression that you're directing the movement of something substantial. Redundant controls for the sound system are conveniently integrated into the steering-wheel spokes.

The instrument panel is shaped as one continuous enclosure that swoops from the back of the left front door across the center and around to the back of the right front door. Under that sweeping hood there's an improved set of instruments. The speedometer and tach graphics are easy to read.

We like the heating and air conditioning controls, and especially the automatic system, which includes Auto Hi and Auto Lo options. Either allows the climate controls to work automatically, but Auto Lo keeps the maximum fan speed low. That's perfect when you don't want the fan blasting away at full speed, but don't want to shut it off completely. Yet it's also easy for the driver to set the temperature, select the desired vents, and control the fan speed manually.

The analog clock is handsome, and great for quickly reading the time. All power windows can be lowered at once by pressing one button, a nice feature on hot days. The Pacifica owner can program convenience functions such as auto-locking, auto-headlights, lock notification (horn, lights, nothing), door lighting and so on to tailor the car to particular tastes. It's about as easy as it gets circa 2008. Some vehicles require a trip to the dealer to reprogram these settings, and some don't allow reprogramming at all, so we love this feature.

The second-row bucket seats in Touring and Limited models are as handsome

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