Chrysler was the pioneer of the first American minivan in the 1980s, and the family vehicle became the must-have utility piece for on-the-go broods. But competition has eaten a big chunk of Chrysler's minivan market share over the years.
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(car engine starting) Chrysler was one of the pioneers of the modern minivan, and it's pulling one of its biggest moves yet, replacing the Town and Country and it's Dodge Grand Caravan sibling with just one van. Witness the all new Chrysler Pacifica.
Inside up front, the Pacifica combines a lot of car-like quality here with minivan sensibilities. Things like a very upright dashboard with lots of storage areas, both underneath the center console and even at the bottom of the dash itself. Now Chrysler's stow-and-go seating has been a big selling point for the minivans. You can put the seats in the floor without having to leave them in your garage. That's still here, much easier process than before. You used to have to move the front seats forward separately, and then coming around and tumbling the seats in. Now it's a one-step pretty easy process, even with one-touch buttons that move the front seat forward automatically and bring them back to where they were. There are also walk-in features on both sides of the seats to access the third row. They even work if there's a forward-facing car seat in the second row seat, pretty cool there. The disadvantage, the seats don't move forward or backward anymore. They're also still pretty low to the floor. Third row space, you're kind of stuck with that. You can't negotiate any more of it out of second row passengers, but it's okay for adults. The Pacifica will come in regular and plug-in hybrid versions. The latter would obviously be the first minivan of its kind. Now, pricing, EPA information and more, expect that closer to the Pacifica's on-sale date in spring 2016. (car trunk closing)
