TRANS PACIFICA; Chrysler's cross-dress, er, crossover makes a splash.(Auto File)

We don't have the time nor the space to tell you once more what kind of vehicle we think the Pacifica is (that was a lie: It's a station wagon; big, yeah, but a station wagon nonetheless). Chrysler insists on calling it a segment buster, crossover, sports tourer, transgendered automotive transportation (okay, maybe not that last one). Whatever you call it, we know one thing: You like it.

From the looks of it, it is difficult not to like. The Pacifica strikes an elegant pose, using a tasteful sprinkling of chrome accents and body contours that feel purposeful rather than superfluous, to give it a distinctive look. The same holds for the vehicle's interior, where Chrysler proves a simplicity of design doesn't have to be boring. A minimal amount of wood trim, a nicely arcing line that integrates the center stack with the instrument panel, quality materials and excellent fit-and-finish give the Pacifica a high-quality feel. One editor was even compelled to comment, "This is probably the best-built Chrysler I've driven since the 1957 300D.'' (He's been around for a while.)

Owners who responded to our AutoFile survey agree. "I fell in love with the design when it was a concept car at the Detroit show,'' said one owner. "I looked closely at the production car and still liked what I saw. I think the exterior lines and details are absolutely the most beautiful on the road-and the interior is no slouch. The fit-and-finish is not quite up to par with my Audi, but it's by far the best I've seen in a Chrysler.''

But what the Pacifica has going for it in style, it wants for in motivation. The 250-hp, 250-lb-ft 3.5-liter V6 does just fine under the hood of the 300M. In this application, however, with 800 more pounds of heft to haul around, the engine simply suffers. From a stop, the Pacifica hardly jumps off the line, as substantiated at the track with a mediocre 9.86-second 0-to-60-mph time. But in highway passing situations, its poor power-to-weight ratio really makes itself known, with the Pacifica requiring almost eight seconds to travel from 60 to 80 mph. A five-speed would certainly begin to help ...