Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles says the Windsor-built Pacifica will be an influence for years to come.
The popular minivan has a prominent place at the Chrysler exhibit at the 2018 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit. The 2018 Pacifica and its hybrid sibling are featured side-by-side, ready for the viewing eyes of the car-buying public.
The 2018 models come out after a solid sales year for the Pacifica. According to the 2017 sales figures from Chrysler Canada, less than 6,200 were sold, more than double the number of vehicles from 2016. In addition, the Pacifica enjoyed record December sales with 638 sold in Canada.
In the US, over 118,000 Pacificas were sold in 2017.
The strong sales of the minivan are contrary to reviews provided by Consumer Reports. The consumer-advocate group calls the Pacifica Chrysler's "most efficient" model while criticizing the automaker's overall reliability. Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said he went with instinct on the Pacifica and it paid off.
"We have a horrible track record with Consumer Reports," said Marchionne during a press conference at the auto show earlier this week. "I think that must have been one of the gutsiest calls I've made. I'm pleased, but I wish I could take all of the credit for this thing. I think some of it was luck."
The Pacifica is touted as an influential model for future versions of FCA's minivans. Marchionne expressed the need for the automaker to stop making its long-running Dodge Grand Caravan and that the Pacifica will be a base for subsequent models.
"I think it's fair to suggest that what we did with the Pacifica from an architectural standpoint is that I think it's light-years ahead of where the Caravan and the Chrysler version were," said Marchionne.
Marchionne said it's a given that the model eventually replacing the Grand Caravan will be based on a derivation of the Pacifica.
