First, I have to say, that our family loves this car. I call it a car, because it really doesn't feel like an SUV to me. It's not really a minivan either. I really want to call it a "power wagon", but it's really more that that.

We decided to buy the 2005 Pacifica in November 2004 after months of researching all the SUVs. Minivans were not an option, because my husband just does not like the look of them. We were moving up from our loyal and dependable 1994 Isuzu Rodeo as we now needed space for our growing family.

Our choices came down to the GMC Yukon Denali and the Pacifica. I liked the Yukon because of its sheer size, but the price was on the upper side of our price range. It also had Onstar, which I REALLY wanted. At first, I was not too sure about the Pacifica, because it was sort of funny looking to me. It really reminded me of a beefed up station wagon and who wants a station wagon these days? My husband had already test drove it and was impressed. Neither of us had tested the Yukon.

To make a long story short, it really came down to gas mileage. The Yukon got 13/17 mpg and the Pacifica got 17/23 mpg. What tipped the scales even further was that the Chrysler dealer had a Pacifica with the touring package for $10,000 off because it was the last one on the lot and they had to make room (or something to that effect.) Okay we were pretty much sold. The Chrysler dealership was great, not the painful, drawn out process that buying a car usually is.

The first time I drove the Pacifica was when the sales rep gave us the keys. I was immediately in love. First, after years of stepping UP into our Rodeo, I could actually just sit right into it. (I'm 5'5") It felt solid and cozy. The leather seats were soft and luxurious, and I liked the captain's chairs in the 2nd row. The dashboard with the navigation system was really nice. (I loved the analog clock!) And I like the fact that those riding in the back could adjust their climate. The 6 DVD changer system and sound system were impressive (we did not have them install the flip down screen for the back - we would do that later) In fact, all the amenities were very nice and impressive. Driving it felt safe and solid - actually it felt "bigger" inside than it looked inside.

As far as family convenience, the fold down seats are great, and there is decent cargo room, although I think I had maybe a tad more room in the Rodeo. The third row is tight, I must say. Definetly not for taller or bigger folks - more like extra seats for kids or teens. It is nice having the extra two seats, though. The automatic rear hatch is AWESOME! Especially when you have 2 kids and groceries and it's raining, etc. Plenty of nooks and crannys for gear and stuff. One plus for mothers only: If you are out and your baby needs to nurse RIGHT NOW, the tinted windows are marvelous. My husband was standing right next to the the window and could not see me and the baby. I think that Chrysler intended the tint for the entertainment system, but maybe they should advertise those black-out windows in mommy magazines...

All in all, we are very pleased with our Pacifica. It had some minor glitches in the buttons used for personalized driver seat settings, but the dealer took care of that fairly quickly. Mileage isn't fantastic, but it is not a hybrid and we knew that when we bought it. I highly recommend this vehicle - I think it is a great alternative to SUVs and minivans. (BTW - I don't think it's funny looking anymore. It's kind of sleek and sexy :)
Amount Paid (US$): 28,500.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Touring, 4WD, 6cyl, automatic