With SUV look, tech touches, Chrysler aims to revive minivan

As a revamped version of the Town & Country-with an entirely new name-the Pacifica offers a fresh style and performance to re-energize Chrysler’s status in the minivan segment. The automaker has confirmed that the Grand Caravan will be phased out as part of Dodge’s transformation into a performance brand.

The dash and doors look lifted from the 200 and are in keeping with the modern, attractive, upscale look of new Chryslers.

And Chrysler is changing the minivan’s hallmark feature: the sliding doors.

“This is a fairly monumental leap”.

But this all-new Pacifica isn’t a crossover, it’s indeed a minivan – one that Chrysler claims has 115 innovations for the segment. Standard is a 3.6-liter V-6 engine good for 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid version will be available in the second half of 2016. Chrysler only offers the hybrid variant of the minivan in Touring and Limited Platinum trim levels. Velisek said Chrysler has done “tons of research” into why people buy minivans.

The minivan was sold on the fulfillment of mundane daily needs. “We can’t afford them to think about the van that maybe they rode in growing up”.

The trick will be ensuring it remains affordable.

Pricing is to be announced, and the hopes by families will likely be they don’t need the disposable funds to afford the seven-figure castle used in the photo gallery in order to also afford the Pacifica PHEV. Chrysler executives fear potential buyers might be put off by the perceived complexity of a plug-in vehicle. Most of the company’s fleet would be using that technology by 2023, he said. There’s a button at base of the minivan’s B-pillar that electronically slides the front seats forward so that second-row seats can more easily collapse and store under the floor.

When the battery is depleted the van becomes a part-time electric vehicle, like a conventional hybrid. The minivan can drive up to 30 miles on battery power when fully charged.

More Minivans and Crossover SUVs…

Was Fiat Chrysler thinking about calling the new minivan a Town & Country instead?

In fact, there is very little different about the Chrysler Pacifica. At the time, the Pacifica was viewed as an innovative cross between a minivan, SUV and sedan.

But Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing, said FCA will have to overcome quality issues plaguing its lineup. But it was poorly received and the company retired the vehicle just before the Great Recession in 2007.

Still, Williams thinks the Pacifica is a minivan the owner can be proud to drive. “This is a beginning step for them, and, in putting hybrid technology on the minivan, they’ll have a bigger impact on fuel efficiency compared to a smaller auto right away”.

Look for the new Pacifica to hit dealerships in the spring of 2016, with the Hybrid to follow later in the year.

Fiat Chrysler, Honda Motor Co.

The Pacifica includes two 10-inch Uconnect screens for rear seat entertainment.

Watch more of our discussion in the video player above. Frankly, the Town & Country was expensive, lackluster and dated. When going further than 30 miles, the EPA says drivers can expect fuel economy to be 80 MPGe.

Pacifica’s convenience features included Keyless Enter ‘n Go, remote start, and heated and ventilated seats. E-shift rotary dial shifter located on the integrated center console that electronically actuates shift selection.