2006 Chrysler Pacifica Sport Utility Vehicle Reviews & Ratings

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.

The Chrysler Pacifica handles more like a car than a sport utility. We were impressed with its handling in Northern California, where the paving is excellent, the roads are twisty and interesting, and the traffic is relatively light. Pacifica also impressed us as a daily driver, hauling friends around and out on the town, and making routine trips to the grocery store.

The 3.5-liter V6 that comes on all 2006 Pacifica models is powerful and has lots of torque. The four-speed automatic is smooth and quiet in operation, though we wish it was a five-speed. We enjoyed using the AutoStick feature for manual shifting: Pull it back to select the manual mode, then left to downshift, right to upshift.

The all-wheel drive, on models so equipped, works transparently and helps the Pacifica sail through corners like a sports sedan, rain or shine. Under normal conditions, the all-wheel-drive system sends all of the power to the front wheels. But it can transfer up to 90 percent of the power to the rear wheels whenever the front wheels lose grip, under hard acceleration or in slippery conditions, for example. The AWD models use a viscous coupling in the center differential and an open differential at the rear. We found the all-wheel drive worked well in the dry weather of California's wine country and northern Central Valley, and our experience with all-wheel drive in other Chrysler products leaves us confident it'll not disappoint in a blinding rainstorm or in 12 inches of snow.

While the Pacifica's steering is not racecar communicative or direct, it's better than many, and the steering wheel feels good in the hands. We found the suspension a willing partner in the vehicle's performance: smooth and supple while controlling lean and wallow. The isolated front and rear subframes, the long wheelbase and wide stance really help to deliver a quality ride. As a bonus, the interior is very quiet at cruising speeds.

Four-wheel-disc brakes and Michelin Pilot all-weather tires easily overcame the substantial weight of the Pacifica, providing safe and sure stops. The brakes got a workout from us, and they responded every time without fade or smell or any sign of distress. ABS comes standard, allowing the driver to maintain steering control under panic braking.

The 2006 Chrysler Pacifica lineup includes four trim levels: base, Touring, Touring Signature, and Limited. Limited is built only with all-wheel drive (AWD); the other models are offered with front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD. All models are powered by the same 3.5-liter overhead-cam V6 rated at 250 horsepower. All come with a four-speed automatic transmission with an AutoStick manual mode.

The base Pacifica ($25,165) and Pacifica AWD ($27,825) come standard with two rows of seating, dual-zone air conditioning, 200-watt Infinity audio, all the usual power assists, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, eight-way power driver seat and four-way power front passenger seat, 17-inch steel wheels, four 12-volt outlets around the cabin, and a lot of other family friendly amenities. Options for the base Pacifica include a cargo convenience package, the fancy six-CD changer with multiple CD capabilities, leather seating, and 17-inch aluminum wheels.

The Touring model ($28,365) upgrades to three rows seating, a 10-way power driver's seat, automatic climate control and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Touring AWD ($31,165) comes with all that, plus leather upholstery.

Touring Signature FWD ($34,055) and AWD ($36,585) upgrade with two-tone leather upholstery with unique embossed wings, an in-dash GPS navigation system, Sirius Satellite Radio (with a free first-year subscription), heated seats, a two-tone instrument panel and unique door trim panels and interior accents. Satin silver accents highlight the leather shift lever. On the outside, Signature models are distinguished by W. P. Chrysler signature badges, a limited selection of colors, and chromed 17-inch wheels.

Limited AWD ($36,685) features a monochrome exterior. First and second-row seats are leather covered, but in also in a single color, and wood inserts warm the interior. Front seats are heated. Also standard are side curtain airbags, a power sunroof, automatic-tilting mirrors, ParkSense rear park assist, power adjustable pedals with memory, a tire pressure monitor, power liftgate, and a six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3, DVD audio, DVD video, DVD-R and DVD-RW capability. Chromed 19-inch wheels complete the package. However, some items that are standard on Signature are optional on Limited, for example, the GPS navigation system and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Options include a 385-watt Infinity Intermezzo sound system with eight speakers ($700); Chrysler's Uconnect wireless hands-free communication system with Bluetooth technology ($275); navigation/global positioning system ($1,695); DVD video rear-seat entertainment system ($990); six-disc CD/DVD changer ($555); Sirius Satellite Radio ($195), which includes the first 12 months of service; and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps ($550).

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.