Safety features that come on all Pacificas include dual multi-stage frontal airbags; driver-side inflatable knee bolster; three-point seatbelts at all seating positions; front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters; and child safety seat anchors. Side curtain airbags are optional ($595). Traction control is available only on the Touring FWD and Touring Signature FWD only ($175). A tire pressure monitoring system is optional ($70) on Touring.

Walkaround

The Chrysler Pacifica doesn't look like anything else on the road, and we think it's a home run. Its design is less radical than that of the Nissan Murano and Infiniti FX45 crossovers, and its glass-to-steel proportions are new and different. Yet the Pacifica looks unmistakably like a Chrysler, a result of its grille and other design cues traceable to the Town & Country minivan.

Pacifica doesn't look that big from the outside, yet it's as much as 18 inches longer and 6 inches wider than some of its crossover competitors. At the same time, the Pacifica is almost 3 inches lower to the ground than a typical minivan, and that makes it easier to climb inside. The expanse of sheet metal aft of the rear side doors adds visual mass that looks ungainly, but this isn't reflected in the handling.

Pacifica is loaded with Mercedes-Benz parts and technologies, including a complete rear suspension system borrowed from the Mercedes E-Class sedan. Indeed, the vice-president on the Pacifica program worked for almost three years in Stuttgart and Berlin on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class before being reassigned to the United States.

Interior Features

Climbing into the Pacifica is easy because it sits relatively low to the ground. Once ensconced, our first impression was one of spaciousness. The cloth upholstery in the five-passenger base model is nice and looks more expensive than we expected. Appointments become more luxurious at each level, as you step up to the Touring and Limited models. Wood, brushed aluminum and quality soft-touch materials create an attractive ambiance.

The bucket seats are thick, deep and supportive; and fit even a 6-foot, 4-inch adult like the proverbial glove. On the other hand, the enormous side bolsters may not be comfortable for wider frames. Between the seats is a center console trimmed in a soft-touch material that gives it a quality feel. There's a pair of cup holders conveniently located immediately aft of the shifter, and they work well. All four doors feature map pockets and cup holders. The high-waist design means the window sills are too high for comfortable arm resting, but enhance the secure feeling.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick and chunky and has a relatively small diameter. It gives the impression that you're directing the movement of something substantial. Redundant controls for the cruise control and 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 interesting-looking set of instruments and controls.

When the optional navigation system is ordered, the display is positioned right in the center of the speedometer, exactly where it should be for safest use. The GPS navigation system is programmed and run by a circular switch panel to the right of the steering wheel.

Heating and air conditioning controls seemed fussy at first, but we loved having the Auto Hi and Auto Lo switches for those times when we didn't want the climate control fan blasting away at full speed but didn't want to shut it off completely. There's a nice analog clock on all but the base model for quickly telling time. All power windows can be lowered at once by pressing one button. And you can program convenience functions such as auto locking, lock notification (horn, lights, nothing), lighting when doors are opened and so on to tailor the car to the exact way you want it to operate. Some vehicles require a trip to the dealer to reprogram these settings and some don't allow reprogramming at all.

The second-row seats in Touring and Limited models are as handsome as the front seats. They're not quite as cushy, but we found them roomy and comfortable. Between them is a center console, similarly elegant to the one in front, and equipped with practical cup holders. Controls for the fan and vents, a power plug, and a tray for a purse or day pack are provided for back-seat passengers. Each seat can be folded flat individually, to handle lengthy cargo and a third occupant at the same time.

The five-passenger model uses a bench seat in the second row that seats two or three. It's split 65/35. The seatbacks can be folded down, then the seats can be tumbled forward for cargo space. We found this easy to do the first time we tried; the release levers are numbered in sequence. The only downside of the design is that it does not provide an absolutely flat load floor. The second-row bucket seats that come on six-passenger models operate similarly, but the bucket seats leave a gap in the middle. The five-seat model offers more cargo space than the six-seater, with 92.7 cubic feet of space versus the six-passenger's 79.5 cubic feet. The third-row seats in Touring and Limited fold down 50/50 and disappear to create a flat floor for large cargoes. That's the best configuration because the third row is not a comfortable place to sit, particularly for adults. Access to the third-row seats, while not requiring extreme contortions, was best attempted only by the small and flexible.