Home » Car Reviews » Chrysler » Pacifica » 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Full-Size Wagon
2004 Chrysler Pacifica Full-Size Wagon
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Rack the console-mounted shifter lever back to AutoStick mode, then push it to the right to move up the gear box one step at a time or tap it to the left to run down the gears.
The suspension, independent at all four wheels with a multi-link arrangement in front and five-link design in back, produces a smooth ride quality.
That long wheelbase and wide track forge a road stance that's impressively stable, even when tortured through a tight set of turns.
Of course, Pacifica's AWD system enhances tire grip.
The center differential viscous coupling combined with an open rear differential splits the engine's torque between front and rear wheels infinitely depending on wheel slip, with anywhere from zero to 90 percent of the power directed to the wheels up front.
Then factor in Pacifica's load-leveling rear suspension mechanism, which adjusts to varying weight for passengers and cargo to optimize the ride quality.
For safety, Pacifica contains multiple air bags, from frontal air bags for the two front seats and a small air bag tucked below the dashboard to shield the driver's knee to vast side curtain-style air bags that extend above the side windows and cover all three rows of seats.
Chrysler's designers aimed to create a first-class experience for passengers riding in Pacifica's cabin.
Good feelings begin when entering the compartment.
Whereas a typical tall SUV requires the passenger to climb aboard and a low sedan demands a step down plus the resultant body flop, Pacifica's chair-height seats seem just the right level so you can slip aboard laterally without needing to climb up or step down.
Each bucket seat feels quite comfortable in spacious quarters that appear outwardly expansive, thanks in part to Pacifica's optional glass skylight that extends the full length of the roof.
The cabin contains first-class equipment, including first and second row center consoles with seat-mounted armrests, power controls for the front buckets and a comprehensive memory for the radio and driver's seat plus outside mirrors and adjustable pedals, dual-zone climate controls and a 150-watt sound system with CD deck.
Options reach to leather seats, heat elements inside the first and second rows of buckets, power controls for the sunroof and liftgate, a navigation system integrated into the instrument panel, Infinity surround-sound 385-watt audio system with six-disc CD changer and a DVD video entertainment system.
