That’s Trippy: Chrysler debuts 2023 Pacifica Road Tripper

Article content

Article content

It’s difficult to think of a vehicle better suited to road trips than a minivan. Despite some customers turning up their nose at these boxes-on-wheels in favour of the rugged image projected by an SUV, modern minivans are inherently the best design for clocking off the miles to Canada’s Wonderland. For 2023, Chrysler is amping its game even further with a “Road Tripper” package for its Pacifica minivan.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

That’s Trippy: Chrysler debuts 2023 Pacifica Road Tripper Back to video

Offered in either gasoline-powered or hybrid variants of the Touring L trim, the Pacifica Road Tripper starts by adding a Mopar roof rack to its lid, an apparatus onto which carriers for bikes and cargo may be affixed. Chrysler dealers will surely be more than glad to draw from the Mopar catalog for those items and roll them into the van’s monthly payment.

Road Tripper models powered by the gasoline engine will come standard with a Trailer Towing Group, permitting the van to haul up to 3,600 pounds of boats, bikes, or whatever gnarly items yer lifestyle demands.

Article content

“Chrysler has been helping families get together and get away for decades, and the Chrysler Pacifica Road Tripper celebrates our minivan’s role as the perfect vehicle for creating unforgettable family moments on the road,” said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand Chief Executive Officer at Stellantis.

“Making the Road Tripper even more special is the fact that it was created with our loyal followers on social media, demonstrating the Chrysler brand’s commitment to customer collaboration moving forward.”

Speaking to the latter point, it seems that brands have learned a lesson from the ‘Boaty McBoatface’ debacle in the U.K. several years ago. Most of us realize that many internet users will take the opportunity to troll a large corporation when given the opportunity, which explains why the days of wide-open naming campaigns are largely in the past.

Article content

These days, companies are far more likely to offer up a list of options on which users can vote — which was the tack taken here, resulting in the ‘Road Tripper’ name collecting the most votes on Chrysler’s official Twitter and Instagram channels.

In addition to the practical additions, Road Trippers will have their badges dipped in a pot of Luster Grey paint and outlined with Brilliant Orange detail. Semi-gloss Granite Crystal accents will pop up on exterior trim like the door handles and mirror caps. It’ll be offered in three paint colours: Bright White, Brilliant Black, and Ceramic Gray.

The Road Tripper package is available for $3,195 on the Pacifica Touring L; $2,795 on the Touring L AWD; and $1,995 on the Pacifica Touring L Hybrid. Order books will open in the first quarter of 2023 and should arrive in dealerships just in time to, well, take a summer road trip.