The CRD is in the shop getting the window fixed. I have the extended warranty so they pay for a rental which happens to be a Pacifica. My overall impression is this is an interesting concept. The model I'm driving is the Touring package that comes with four bucket seats. If you hate yourself you could try to squeeze into the third row. With the third row seats up there isn't much storage so in reality you've got four bucket seats. If I were to buy one of these I'd much rather have a bench seat in the second row but what do I know.

Fit and finish is pretty good. The doors all shut with a satisfying clunk and the interior materials are easy on the eyes. The drivers seat is comfortable and has a LOT of adjustments to play with. I want this seat in my Liberty.

The ride is soft, too soft. When going over speed bumps the whole car feels like it shudders. It's a strange feeling that's hard to put into words. It feels like the A-arms are bottoming out and bouncing up off of the bump stops and then topping out. I can feel this sensation travel the length of the car. I was going maybe 10 mph over the speed bumps so I don't think it's excessive speed. Did I mention torque steer? This thing has torque steer to spare. Punch it and watch the wheel turn to the right and stay there until you let off or the torque effect reduces.

I like the 4 liter v6. It's not torquey (sp) like the 4 liter straight in my Cherokee, but it moves. Seat of the pants tells me the Cherokee would take the Pacifica off the line and then once the Pacifica gets rolling it's going to eat the Cherokee and never look back.

This model has the shifttronic transmission. It shudders. It's also vague, like driving a CVT. I thought the engine was missing and then realized that it was just shifting gears. From a standing start something in the front end clunks unless you roll on the throttle very easy.

This is a rental with 14,000 and change so who knows how hard it's been
run. I would like to drive another one that has less miles because I think this one has been beat up. It feels way too loose for a new vehicle with only 14,000 miles on it.