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At P 2.850 million, the Pacifica Touring is handsomely appointed with almost everything as standard equipment. Airbags (7 of them), anti-lock brakes, parking sensors, wood grain paneling and leather seats are given at this price range but the Pacifica ups the ante with powered front seats and tailgate; adjustable pedals; tire pressure sensors; stability control; auto on/off headlamps, a Bluetooth hands-free system and even a high-fidelity stereo/6-disc/DVD/MP3 Infinity sound system with 8 speakers. Interior is nicely built and well finished as well.

With such an impressive list of standard features as well as vast interior space, it can make you feel as if the Pacifica was designed more as a home rather than an automobile, but it’s assuring that Chrysler has equally invested in making an impressive driving experience. At its foundation is a uni-body platform with independent suspension on all corners. Certainly no sports car, the Pacifica still feels planted and surefooted enough through sweeping bends, with only the numb steering working against it. And when the weather gets worse, the Pacifica has the added security of all-wheel drive.

There’s nothing lacking with the Pacifica’s pace thanks to a 4.0-liter V6 producing a healthy 253 horsepower. The engine’s highly refined and quiet except when the throttle’s nailed where a muscle car note bellows through the cabin thanks to twin exhaust pipes. Despite the Pacifica’s hefty 2,068 kilogram curb weight, the engine does its job well. Mated to the engine is a 6-speed automatic that’s every gear as smooth, refined and quick responding as the engine it’s attached to. Overall economy is equally commendable with 5.0 km/L in the city and around 9.0 km/L in the highway. Unfortunately, overtaking in the Pacifica is still difficult not because of the lack of pace, rather because of the poor visibility especially the blind areas at the third quarter, and this despite of the extra large side mirrors.

Although the Pacifica has some blind spots, at least it can be said that the company behind it doesn’t suffer from it. Aside from the silly seating arrangement, the Pacifica actually does most things quiet well. From a line-up perspective, if you really need a people mover, there’s the Town & Country. If you want a large luxury sedan, there’s the 300C. The Pacifica? It’s somewhere in between offering equal doses of style, utility and performance. Though some people maybe confused on what the Chrysler Pacifica truly is, it’s a trendsetter in more ways than one.