The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica was a mid-size crossover vehicle manufactured by the American automobile manufacturer Chrysler. The Chrysler Pacifica initially debuted in 1999 as a concept minivan before evolving into a concept crossover in 2002. With a production model that debuted at the New York International Auto Show in 2002, the 2004 Pacifica began production in early 2003.
The concept crossover of the Pacifica eventually became the production version in 2004, where Chrysler produced it from 2003 to 2007 for the 2004 to 2008 model years. The name “Pacifica” was then revived in 2016 when Chrysler introduced the Chrysler Pacifica minivan for the 2017 model year.
Despite Chrysler initially proclaiming it as one of the best crossovers, the Pacifica was not well-received. In fact, it was far worse than what Chrysler had expected, both in terms of its sales and its drivetrain. However, many recognized and awarded it for its safety features.
Here’s everything you should know about buying a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica.
A 3.5 L EGJ V6 Engine Powers The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
The EGJ V6 engine, with a displacement of 3,518 ccs, powers the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica. The engine featured a single overhead camshaft valvetrain (SOHC), with four valves per cylinder. It also had a power of 186 kW at 6,400 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 3,950 rpm. The engine has a compression ratio of 10.0:1
The Pacifica features a 4-speed Ultradrive 41AE transmission with Chrysler’s manually controlled automatic transmission, the “Autostick” transaxles. While most had a front-engine, all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain layout, the front-wheel-drive (FWD) was also made available. The front and rear suspensions came with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. However, the front suspension had struts, and the rear had a multilink.
However, it had a 7.2 km/L fuel consumption in the city and 9.4 km/L on the highway. This was less fuel-efficient as compared to other crossover vehicles of its time. It also had a 104.6-liter fuel capacity. The Pacifica also had a 0 km/h to 100 km/h acceleration time of 9.6 seconds.
With a wheelbase of 2,954 mm, the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica had a curb weight of ,4,700 lbs. It also had a length of 5,042 mm, a width of 2,014 mm, and a height of 1,689 mm. The Pacifica has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Was Not Initially Well-Received
When we talk about the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica, the first thing that comes to mind is its engine. However, reviewers criticized it, claiming that its engine could barely cope with the Pacifica’s extreme weight, particularly the AWD models. On top of that, the Pacifica did not have a good fuel consumption rating.
The Pacifica came with a luxurious interior, which incurred additional costs. These included an infotainment system with a DVD player and navigation.
While Chrysler estimated sales to hit 100,000 units annually, the actual statistics fell short of that by a large margin. This is partially due to competition with other luxury crossovers from Lexus and BMW. It was also too expensive, and people were reluctant to pay the price since they did not think of Chrysler to be on par with companies such as BMW or Mercedes. Chrysler also lost money for every unit of the Pacifica sold. All in all, Chrysler sold 393,471 units of the Chrysler Pacifica.
The model also gave the name Pacifica a lousy impression. This was because of its engine’s and transmission’s less-than-expected mechanical reliability. Unfortunately, there were flaws in its liner and interior, and Chrysler did not immediately rectify these issues.
Despite that, the Chrysler Pacifica won awards - the “best pick frontal” in 2006 and a five-star rating for a front and side crash test in 2007. This was due to its all-row side curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Programme, four-wheel disk brakes with an anti-lock braking system, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. This helps to soak up bumps well and allow for crisp, linear steering, which many praised the Pacifica for.
The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Costs About $38,500
With a base price of $31,230 for the FWD and $32,300 for the AWD version, the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica costs about $38,500 today. So now for the question - should you buy the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica? While it has an excellent safety record, many crossover models offer more for the same price that you are paying for.
However, this does not mean that you should not buy the Chrysler Pacifica - Chrysler improved the later models to counter the issues mentioned earlier.