2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

CHRYSLER Reviews:    • PACIFICA    • CROSSFIRE    • PT CRUISER    • CONCORDE    • 300M    • SEBRING CONVERTIBLE    • SEBRING COUPE    • SEBRING SEDAN    • MINIVANS   Read Feature Story   Read New Car News   Read Brand Reviews   Read Car-Truck Test Reviews   Return to Guide's Homepage

CHRYSLER

The Chrysler brand from DaimlerChrysler plants two new head-turning vehicles in the 2004 lineup with a 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. The concept seems to merge favored attributes of all three vehicles. Consider the new Crossfire a spirited rear-wheel-drive (RWD) premium sports coupe that merges slick American car styling with precision automotive 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 available for Touring and Limited editions, plus new optional gear such as a chrome package or another limited-issue Dream Cruiser. Chrysler's flagship performance sedans -- 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 features and the sedan also brings a new Limited trim. Chrysler's minivans include the Town & Country series in standard-length wheelbase or the stretched version. With 2004 marking 20 years in production for the minivan, a limited-edition Platinum model commemorates the anniversary with chrome touches and two-tone leather lacing the cabin.

Pacifica: The new Chrysler crossover wagon is large -- as long as the biggest sedan and equally wide, with a prominent hood and broad grille consuming the face between corner clusters of projector-style headlamps. It has lots of doors -- a pair of portals on each flank plus a top-hinged liftgate at the rear. Inside there are three rows of seats with individual buckets for rows one and two and a split bench in back that cradles two comfortably or three in a pinch. Layout of the cabin mimics the plan of an old station wagon, but it's also similar to the cab of a modern minivan or even a three-seat sport-utility vehicle. Chrysler is making two versions of Pacifica, one oriented with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and the other with on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. First to market in the 2004 line is Pacifica AWD with premium equipment plus luxury gear. It has a 3.5-liter V6 tuned to 250 hp and tied to an automatic four-speed transaxle with Chrysler's AutoStick, which brings shift-it-yourself choices like a manual stick only without having to ply a clutch. Pacifica's AWD system enhances tire grip. The center differential viscous coupling combined with an open rear differential splits the engine's torque between front and rear wheels infinitely depending on wheel slip, with anywhere from zero to 90 percent of the power directed to the wheels up front. Then factor in a load-leveling rear suspension mechanism, which adjusts to varying weight for passengers and cargo to optimize the ride quality. Designers aimed to create a first-class experience for passengers in Pacifica's cabin. It contains premium equipment, including first and second row center consoles with seat-mounted armrests, power controls for the 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 and over the rounded roof to a bulbous boat tail rump, the new Crossfire sports coupe seems like a designer's homage to streamlined automobiles from the Thirties in the artistic era of Art Deco. Yet with its exuberant engine and the stiff chassis linked to a taut suspension, the retro-styled Crossfire feels as contemporary as a sporty German two-seater from Chrysler's DaimlerChrysler sibling, Mercedes-Benz. As a matter of fact, part of the floor pan plus mechanical components including engine, gearbox, steering column and suspension control arms come out of cars that wear the tri-star Mercedes badge. And Crossfire is assembled in Germany at Karmann. However, styling for the package, a clever two-seat cockpit design and components for suspension tuning come directly out of Chrysler in North America. It ends up acting like a squatty go-kart, hunkering low on pavement with wheels pushed to corner points for keen stability and all torque from a powerful up-front engine flowing in classic arrangement to rear rubber for predictable and controllable traction. Crossfire's enthused engine factored by the relatively light curb weight of about 3000 pounds propels it into the fast lane. In particular, Crossfire contains 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. Climb into Crossfire's snug cockpit and you will find a central spine and console cap splitting the space in half with a bolstered bucket seat on each side clad in distinctive two-tone leather. Satin silver metallic trim lines the top of the console and crowns the stubby shifter stick as well as a grab bar across each door.

PT CRUISER: Chrysler's wild five-door wagon appears in four trims for 2004 including the new PT Turbo. It totes a turbo-charged 2.4-liter four-in-line engine scored for high output and rated to 215 hp. Also aboard is either a five-speed manual shifter by Getrag or an optional four-speed automatic with Chrysler's AutoStick, which brings shift-it-yourself choices like a manual stick. Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock brake system (ABS) and a traction control system (TCS) are standard on PT Turbo, as is a performance exhaust with big twin exhaust tips dipped in chrome. PT Turbo appears in a monochromatic scheme and stocks sport seats and a gauge package trimmed in silver finish. PT Cruiser also divides into trims called Touring and Limited Edition, plus the standard version. These Cruisers carry a twin-cam 2.4-liter four-pack pegged at 150 hp. Cruiser's form-follows-function concept revolves around a vertical package for maximum interior space and multiple purposes, with the exterior warped as a contemporary tribute to classic car shapes of earlier eras. The interior scores for practicality with 26 defined seat positions and a flat cargo floor. Hot new colors range from Electric Blue Pearl Coat to Onyx Green Pearl Coat. Further, a new package of chrome accents for Touring and Limited dresses the Cruiser with touches of chrome inside and out.

CONCORDE: The large sedan from Chrysler looks elegant with an egg-crate oval grille dominating the abbreviated prow and slinky body lines off a bulging low hood followed by massive expanse of canted glass. Three different engines define three Concorde editions. 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. Four-wheel ABS and TCS rank as standard safety features, and side-impact air bags go to the list of options. Brilliant Black Crystal and Deep Lave Red become new shades on Concorde's color chart.

300M: The performance sedan from Chrysler rides on the same chassis as Concorde, although for 300M the platform stretches longer as wheels pin to corners. The result: A stiff and balanced structure that produces crisp handling traits. New editions include the 300M Special, a souped-up version with one-inch drop in ride height, 18-inch chromed aluminum wheels and low-profile Michelin Pilot tires. The Special packs a 3.5-liter V6 with single cam configuration. Special tuning pushes output to 255 hp. It delivers dynamic power yet still operates on regular gas and earns respectable fuel economy figures. The plant teams with an electronically-controlled automatic four-speed tied to the AutoStick. Other special hardware includes beefy disc brakes with computerized connections to anti-lock and low-speed traction controls, and, to cast clear light on a dark road, high intensity discharge (HID) xenon quad headlamps. Regular 300M uses a 3.5-liter V6 worth 250 hp with an automatic. 300M is the first Chrysler to offer subscription-based satellite radio service through the Sirius network.

SEBRING CONVERTIBLE: Sebring happens to be the best-selling convertible in America. It follows in a long line of convertible classics from Chrysler: Town & Country, Imperial, New Yorker, LeBaron and, most recently, the previous design for Sebring that also scored as most popular ragtop in America. The second generational design for Sebring emerged late in 2001 charged with power and equipped with fun-to-drive mechanical components. Cool styling matches Sebring's quick performance. It supports either an economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or Chrysler's lively 2.7-liter V6 with 200 hp, yet the sporty GTC edition draws exclusively from the V6. What makes GTC special is that it provides the first manual transmission for the convertible and comes with tight sport tuning for the suspension. GTC also wears a spoiler on the tail, body-colored moldings for flanks and special 16-inch painted aluminum wheels. In the five-place cockpit, GTC adds white-faced gauges in the instrument cluster including a tachometer, and there's a stereo AM/FM sound kit with CD player. Cloth fabric covers seats in Sebring LX. Sebring LXi earns leather seat upholstery and the Limited has supple premium leather, while GTC gets a two-tone leather treatment.

SEBRING COUPE: New sheetmetal styling applies to 2004 editions of the two-door coupe variation of Sebring. A shapely new fascia etched with foglamps underscores the face with restyled grille and new corner headlamp clusters, followed by a sleek hood and side sill moldings. Sebring as a coupe looks similar to the convertible Sebring yet rides on a unique platform and brings different powertrain choices. For Sebring LX, a 2.4-liter in-line-four reaches 142 hp with a four-speed automatic transaxle. Sebring's deluxe LXi carries a single-cam V6 that displaces 3.0 liters and develops 200 hp. On the LXi console, a shifter lever connects to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic with the AutoStick. Both trims have a new instrument panel containing black-faced gauges ringed in chrome. New 16-inch wheel covers go to LX, and fresh paint colors also work, such as Deep Red Pearl Coat and Light Blue Pearl Coat.

SEBRING SEDAN: Chrysler's mid-size sedan under the Sebring name borrows design traits from Chrysler's larger Concorde sedan, as designers develop a family of vehicles that share visual cues. Two trim designations draw from different powertrains. Sebring LX has a twin-cam 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 150 hp with a four-speed automatic transaxle. Luxurious Sebring LXi adds appointments including leather seats and a 2.7-liter V6 engine for 200 hp plus the AutoStick automatic. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) and side curtain-style air bags are options for Sebring the sedan, which supports a five-place cabin with stylish appointments in chrome, leather and glossy simulated wood.

MINIVANS: Chrysler's minivans divide into two different versions, Town & Country and Voyager. The Town & Country series consists of an extended-length wheelbase with either front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. Trim variations include LX, LXi and Limited labels for both FWD and AWD. Top-of-the-line Limited caps the line and transforms the all-too-common minivan into a fancy people-hauler where the amenities and ride quality feel better than what you'd find in a stretched limousine. Voyager models ride on the regular-length wheelbase and split into two trims, Voyager and Voyager LX. A power-operated sunroof is the latest in optional gear for Town & Country, but a DVD-based video entertainment system is also available with two sets of wireless headphones and a big LCD display screen mounted in the ceiling behind front seats. Passive safety equipment includes a strong safety-cage structure, larger and smarter disc brakes, bright and powerful headlamps, multi-stage frontal air bags and optional side-impact air bags (they're standard on Limited), plus seatbelt pretensioners and load-limiters for the two front seats. In addition, sliding side doors and tailgate open and close through optional power controls, with pinch sensors on alert during door movements.