Used Chrysler Pacifica in Gladstone, Oregon - Ron Tonkin Kia

Pacifica has four sedan-like doors on its sides but a liftgate in back similar to what you'd expect on an SUV or minivan.Inside it's roomy and comfortable.Getting in and out is easy.
In its mechanical layout, Pacifica more resembles a minivan than anything else, except that it's been enhanced throughout with Mercedes-Benz engineering, including a complete rear suspension borrowed from the Mercedes E-Class sedan.
On the road, Pacifica is smooth and quiet.The ride is smooth and supple, and the four-wheel antilock (ABS) disc brakes do a good job of bringing Pacifica to a smooth stop.
The Chrysler Pacifica is one of a growing number of what the industry calls crossover vehicles that combine attributes of sport utilities, wagons and minivans.Chrysler calls the Pacifica a sports tourer, suggesting sport-utility DNA, although it doesn't really look like an SUV crossover.However you see it, and whatever you call it, we think the Pacifica is a terrific family vehicle.
Pacifica was introduced as a totally new vehicle for 2004.For 2005, Chrysler expanded the lineup to include an entry-level, five-seat version.For 2006, all models come with the more powerful 3.5-liter overhead-cam V6.(The old pushrod 3.8-liter engine is gone.)
Pacifica excels in safety, with five-star front and side-impact ratings and a four-star rollover rating from the federal government's NHTSA, and 'best pick' from the insurance industry's IIHS.
The Pacifica comes standard with two rows of seating, dual-zone air conditioning, 200-watt Infinity audio, Power windows/locks/mirrors, 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  wheels (this one has upgraded Alloy), four 12-volt outlets around the cabin, and a lot of other family friendly amenities. This Pacifica also has Load Leveling with Height control and performance suspension for an even better ride.
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.
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.
The bucket seats are thick, deep and supportive; and fit even a 6-foot, 4-inch adult like the proverbial glove.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 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.
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.We enjoyed using the AutoStick feature for manual shifting: Pull it back to select the manual mode, then left to downshift, right to upshift.
While the Pacifica's steering is not racecar communicative or direct (and it isn't meant to be), 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.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a versatile vehicle.It accelerates quickly with its powerful 3.5-liter V6 and it corners reasonably well, which makes it enjoyable to drive....Come in to Ron Tonkin Kia in Gladstone to test drive today! DA2201