2017 Chrysler Pacifica Review Video

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2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica Review: Kids, Carseats & Safety

The new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is the only minivan to receive an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2017.  It also received a 5-star overall rating from Safercar.gov and the NHTSA gave it 5-stars in each crash test as well.  That’s why we gave it a Runner-Up award for our Safest Family Minivans and SUVs with 3rd Row Seats.  We do have a few minor concerns, however.  To earn the top award from the IIHS, you have to purchase one of the pricier trim levels and an options package totaling almost $42,000 MSRP with family-friendly 8-passenger seating.  As for carseats, while it’s a nice improvement from the Town & Country minivan, it’s still not quite as kid or carseat-friendly as the 2017 Honda Odyssey.  Is it the best choice for your family?  SafeDad discusses some of the pros and cons in our video review:

Likes:

  • IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (Limited & Touring L Plus w/Advanced SafetyTec group)
  • NHTSA 5-Star Rating
  • 5 sets of LATCH in 8-passenger trim
  • Improved from the Town & Country
  • Interior and Exterior styling
  • Stow ‘n Go is great
  • Easy 3rd row access
  • Cargo space and flexibility
  • Very good performance for a minivan
  • Decent fuel economy; Hybrid available

Dislikes:

  • Very pricey to equip important Advanced SafetyTec features
  • 3rd Row has various issues with child safety seats
  • 2nd row buckle stalks & head restraints can be problematic for certain carseats
  • Narrow 2nd row center seat is difficult for carseats, doesn’t stow in floor
  • Firm front seats, rear seat comfort lags other minivans

Car Seats and Child Seating:

While not as family-friendly as the 2017 Honda Odyssey or even the 2017 Kia Sedona, the Pacifica does accommodate larger families with multiple carseats.  The Car Seat Lady has an exhaustive write-up that fully addresses the second and third row seats in regards to kids and carseats.

Conclusion:

Despite the cost above $40,000, I recommend the Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L Plus trim with the Advance SafetyTec Group and 8-passenger seating options.  This is arguably the safest family hauler you can buy today!  The 2017-2018 Pacifica does have some minor concerns and is still not the ideal minivan for being friendly to carseats, but with Stow ‘n Go seating it is flexible enough for most families.

 

Thank you to Chrysler for providing the 2017 Pacifica used for this review.

SafeDad writes about automobiles, carseats and traffic safety issues at CarseatBlog

6 Comments

  1. Erin January 5, 2020
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