2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WAGON

CHRYSLER Brand Reviews:    • PACIFICA    • CROSSFIRE    • CONCORDE    • 300M    • PT CRUISER    • SEBRING CONVERTIBLE    • SEBRING COUPE    • SEBRING SEDAN    2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WAGON:    Description:    Hybrid sport-tourer wagon    Model options:    Pacifica FWD    Pacifica AWD    Wheelbase:    116.3 inches    Overall length:    198.9 inches    Engine size:    SOHC 3.5-L V6    Transmissions/speeds:    Auto/4 AutoStick    Rear/front drive:     FWD     AWD    Steering:    Power rack and pinion    Braking:    Power 4-disc    FWD: ABS/TCS    Air bags:    2 (front) + 1 (driver's knee) + 6 (side curtain)    EPA mileage est. city/hwy:    17/22 mpg    Price range est.    $ 30,550 to $ 32,300   Read Feature Story   Read New Car News   Read Brand Reviews   Read Car-Truck Test Reviews   Return to Guide's Homepage

CHRYSLER CREATES TWO NEW CARS

Chrysler plants two new head-turning vehicles in the 2004 lineup with a new Pacifica sports tourer wagon and the Crossfire sports coupe. Pacifica is a large vehicle riding on the platform of a full-size sedan and its body resembles either a high-hiked station wagon or a dropped-down SUV but the function combines traits of the wagon, sport-ute and minivan. Consider the new Crossfire a spirited rear-wheel-drive (RWD) premium sports coupe that merges slick American car styling with precision engineering direct from Germany. Another wild design from Chrysler is the popular PT Cruiser, which looks like no other vehicle -- a boxy body tipped forward like a dragster with exaggerated fenders and a chin-out grille plus massive roll of sheetmetal wrapping the top-heavy rump. Cruiser continues in 2004 with more choices like a new turbo-charged engine worth 180 hp for Touring and Limited editions, plus new optional gear such as a chrome package or another limited-issue Dream Cruiser. Chrysler's flagship performance sedan -- 300M and 300M Special -- also return, as does the Concorde sedan in three trims segmented by powertrains. Three different vehicles carry the name of Sebring in Chrysler's 2004 collection. It's a sleek two-door coupe cast in three trims, a four-door sedan divided into four-cylinder and V6 versions, or a slinky convertible in four versions drawing from a pair of V6 engines. Sedan and convertible Sebrings show fresh exterior styling and the sedan also brings a new Limited trim.

PACIFICA: The new Chrysler crossover wagon is large with lots of doors and a big cabin arranged in three rows of seats with individual buckets for rows one and two and a split bench in back for two or three. Pacifica's first issue brings on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction and a 3.5-liter V6 tuned to 250 hp through an automatic four-speed transaxle with Chrysler's AutoStick. Pacifica's cabin contains premium equipment, including first and second row center consoles, power controls for front buckets and a comprehensive memory for the radio and driver's seat plus outside mirrors and adjustable pedals.

CROSSFIRE: Cast low on big wheels with sculptured body lines raked across an exaggerated hood, the new Crossfire sports coupe acts like a squatty go-kart. It stocks a 3.2-liter Mercedes V6 that produces 215 hp through a notchy six-speed manual gearbox or optional five-speed automatic coupled to Chrysler's AutoStick. To enhance the stick-to-the-pavement traction at high speeds, a slick retractable spoiler integrated into the tail deploys above a designated speed of 50 mph to exert more aerodynamic force on the rear tires. Crossfire's snug cockpit has a central spine splitting the space in half with a bolstered bucket seat on each side clad in distinctive two-tone leather.

CONCORDE: Three different engines define three editions of Chrysler's large sedan in the 2004 line. Concorde LX contains a 2.7-liter V6 at 200 hp, and the LXi has a 3.5-liter V6 building more muscle to 232 hp. Concorde Limited gets a high-output version of the V6 good for 250 hp. Butane Blue Pearl Coat and Midnight Blue Pearl Coat show up as new shades on Concorde's color chart.

300M: Chrysler's performance sedans ride on the same chassis as Concorde, although for 300M the platform stretches longer as wheels pin to corners. Two versions, 300M and 300M Special, continue but offer a new navigation system coupled to a 360-watt audio system. 300M Special has a one-inch drop in ride height and employs a 3.5-liter V6 making 255 hp as mated to an automatic four-speed with the AutoStick.

PT CRUISER: A turbo 2.4-liter four-in-line scored for high output at 220 hp debuted last year in PT Turbo, joining the original naturally-aspirated twin-cam 2.4-liter four-pack pegged at 150 hp. Now another turbo -- this one producing 180 hp -- becomes a stand-alone option sandwiched between the other two powertrains and it works with Touring or Limited trim and a four-speed automatic transaxle. Variation are a theme for PT Cruiser, with a Dream Cruiser Series 3 emerging early in the 2004 model-year and a pop-top PT Cruiser Convertible due early next year.

SEBRING CONVERTIBLE: The convertible in Chrysler's Sebring series flashes a new face with revamped front fascia, a new grille and fresh wheel points. Sebring as a convertible supports either an economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or Chrysler's lively 2.7-liter V6 good for 200 hp, although sporty GTC draws only from the V6 with a manual transmission.

SEBRING COUPE: Trim names change for 2004 editions of the two-door coupe variation of Sebring. The former LX edition becomes simply Sebring, while a former deluxe LXi now uses the tag of Limited to conform with nomenclature for other Chrysler cars. Sebring as a coupe looks similar to the convertible Sebring yet rides on a unique platform and brings different powertrain choices. For base Sebring a 2.4-liter in-line-four reaches to 142 hp with a four-speed automatic transaxle or 147 hp with a five-speed manual. Sebring Limited carries a V6 displacing 3.0 liters and developing 200 hp through either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic with AutoStick optional.

SEBRING SEDAN: Chrysler's mid-size sedan under the Sebring name shares some of the front-end styling revisions of Sebring Convertible with new fascia and grille design. Model designations also change to conform to new standards for the line with three trims now called Sebring, Touring and Limited. Sebring stocks a twin-cam 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 150 hp with a four-speed automatic. New 16-inch painted aluminum wheels go to Sebring and Touring, while Limited rolls on chrome-coated wheels.