I caught women in Kia Sedonas and Toyota Siennas eyeing the Pacifica during my test drive.  And with good reason, whether they’re aware of it or not.  What you’ve got here is what soccer moms in leather-wrapped minivans have been looking for; a people hauler that does double-duty as a stress relief chamber.

The idea behind the Pacifica isn’t all that complex; it’s taller than a station wagon, but shorter than a minivan.  Chrysler humbly says it’s the Next Big Thing, or NBT.  The Pacifica looks like a minivan with an unusually long nose, but it’s not.  The reconfigurable, removable rear seats that characterize minivans aren’t present in the Pacifica.  It’s built at the same plant as Chrysler’s minivans, but it doesn’t share anything other than a few parts-bin components with them.

At a glance, it’s obvious that the Pacifica is going to catch the eyes of the minivan crowd.  The silhouette has the Giant Box look common to most minivans, but up front is a face that could only have come from Chrysler.  A big chromy eggcrate grille dominates, and is flanked by glass-covered round headlamps.  Expect this look to turn up across the board at Chrysler; the new Crossfire shares a version of it.  Character lines down each side help to lower the big Pacifica visually, as do 17″ wheels.  Make no mistake, this is a large automobile, but it’s about two inches shorter and lower than a Chrysler Town & Country minivan.  It’s also wider than the minivan, which gives it a more compact appearance.  The view from the rear is rakish, thanks to the minivan width and low roofline.

Lower roof or not, the Pacifica still offers a commanding view of the road.  There’s seating for six, in three rows.  Our test vehicle was trimmed in dark leather and was quite a nice place to be, with big, supportive seats and lots of elbow room in all seating positions.  Middle-row passengers get armrests, reclining seats and a big console, and there’s plenty of legroom for them.  Ingress to the rearmost seats is a bit tight, as is the foot space, but it’s not a torture chamber.  Doing the cargo thing?  All of the rear seats fold flat.  Behind the wheel, the cockpit is cozier than that of the average minivan, but larger than that of a typical sedan–big surprise, eh?  Adjustable pedals allow a variety of drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel.  Unless equipped with the optional in-cluster navigation system, there’s a black hole in the middle of the instrument panel that makes it look as if something’s missing.  And the available Infinity Intermezzo digital sound system turns the Pacifica into a concert hall on wheels.  The only gripe we had was poor visibility to the rear, a result of a somewhat short rear window and a flat back end.

On the road, the Pacifica is downright soothing.  The independent-front, five-link rear suspension is perfectly tuned for highways and suburbs, with just enough float to take the shock out of the bumps and enough feedback to avoid feeling like a cloud.  It’s a big vehicle, and rapid transitions bring out a touch of minivan-like waddle in the Pacifica’s handling, but once it catches up it’s solid and predictable.  Around town, the Pacifica is easy to drive (unless you’re backing into a parking space) and it has a way of making the day’s troubles seem less overwhelming.  Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard equipment.

Under the hood is a 3.5 liter, 250 horsepower SOHC V6 that’s shared with Chrysler’s 300M sport-luxury sedan.  As a result, the Pacifica’s never lacking for power.  It doesn’t feel as ponderous as a minivan under acceleration, either.  It’s not completely carlike either, however.  The power gets to the road through a four-speed automatic transmission.  Chrysler includes its AutoStick selectable feature, for a slight dash of upscale sportiness.  This versatile creature will also tow a 3500-pound trailer.

In case you hadn’t noticed yet, the Pacifica is equipped like an upscale luxury sedan, dynamically as well as ergonomically.  Front and side-curtain airbags are standard.  So are a minivan-style dual-zone climate control and a tire pressure monitor.  If you want to go heavy on the options, the Pacifica can do it.  Satellite radio and rear-seat DVD player?  Got it.  Hands-free communication and high-intensity discharge headlamps?  Yup.  The Pacifica is more than just an “NBT;” it’s a luxury sedan with a practical streak a mile wide.  It’s got luxury sedan pricing, too.  The Pacifica starts at $32,980.  Our leather and sound-system equipped test vehicle stickered for $37,510.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica, which we tested.
Length:         198.9 in.
Width:            79.3 in.
Height:            66.5 in.
Wheelbase:        116.3 in.
Curb weight:        4482 lb. (est.)
Towing capacity:    3500 lb.
Base price:        $32,980
Price as tested:        $37,510
Engine:         3.5 liter 24-valve SOHC V6
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:         250 @ 6400
Torque:         250 @ 3950
Fuel capacity:        23 gal.
Est. mileage:        17/22