2027 Chrysler Pacifica Review: New Style, Same Tricks

What's New

The front and rear ends have been revamped, heralding a new direction for Chrysler design, including piano key lighting signatures and projector headlights inset in the lower bumper. It’s worth noting that this is still the only model in Chrysler’s portfolio, but it helps that it’s a good one.

The interior has changed less, but it remains a functional space with lots of storage in the doors and centre console, including dedicated cubbies for umbrellas in the front. The range-topping Pinnacle gets a new luxurious Blue Agave interior option with copper piping and accents. There’s also a new turn-signal-activated blind spot view option that gets displayed on the centre screen and a height-adjustable power tailgate standard across all trims.

Exterior Style

It’s basically the same Pacifica, which means a cleanly styled and good-looking van. The new front end adds a contemporary style, with designers going for a sportier appearance using the larger open-mouth lower grille, which gets brushed aluminum-like accents on the Pinnacle trim. The rear light bar has been refined, framing the new wing badge, and there’s a blacked-out version available as an option.

While a minivan lacks the rugged high floor look of an SUV, and is perhaps less visually exciting, the Pacifica has a clean and classy appearance that seems to get better with age. The styling doesn’t try to hide that it’s a van, rather embracing its practical shape, which affords nearly 140 cu.ft of cargo capacity with the second and third rows collapsed.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy

Power comes courtesy of Chrysler’s ubiquitous 3.6L Pentastar V6 that produces 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty to push this kinder-schlepper up to highway speed with relative ease. Ditto for passing slower traffic. The Pacifica has best-in-class towing figures, too, rated at a maximum of 3600 lbs. It also sounds good, but not quite as sonorous as the Honda Odyssey’s V6.

Fuel economy isn’t the greatest, but it isn’t terrible either considering the Pacifica is a large three-row vehicle. It’s rated it at 22 mpg (10.6L/100km) combined; 19 mpg (12.4L/100km) city; 28 mpg (8.4L/100km) highway for the FWD version and 20 mpg (12.0L/100km) combined; 17 mpg (14.1L/100km) city; 25 mpg (9.4L/100km) highway.

Chrysler dropped the fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid from its lineup due to a low take rate.

Handling and Drivability

One of the best parts about driving a minivan is the comfort and ease of manoeuvrability versus a three-row SUV of equivalent size. When it debuted in 1983, the Plymouth Voyager, considered to be the world’s first minivan, touted its van-like space and car-like drivability, and that’s still the case here.

The Pacifica is easy to drive and easy to park, and will even corner reasonably well if you keep things within reason. Available all-wheel drive will provide year-round traction, with only a minor hit to your fuel bill.

Ride Quality and Comfort

Minivans are some of the most comfortable vehicles on the road with none of the wallow or ride harshness you get from a large SUV capable of carrying 7 or more passengers. And even adults will be able to get comfortable in the third row with more than enough leg and headroom for my 6-foot frame. Few, if any, three-row SUVs can match this.

It’s also bears to keep in mind that a minivan is designed to carry kids, so a plush ride with a suspension that soaks up most road imperfections is a given.

Acoustic glass and front side windows also do a great job of reducing wind and road noise, and every Pacifica comes standard with active noise cancellation that uses the audio system to cancel out unwanted noise frequencies.

Interior Style and Quality

This interior has been around for 10 years now, and it’s not a bad thing because that means plenty of physical buttons and knobs, and getting familiar with everything only takes a few minutes.

The base Pacifica lacks the same soft-touch dash surface the rest of the lineup gets and some trim pieces didn’t seem to fit as perfectly together as it does in some of its competitors. All trims get comfortable leatherette seating, but the Pinnacle’s seats are upholstered with soft Nappa leather. This top trim is also the only Pacifica that doesn’t get Chrysler’s patented Stow and Go second row, giving it up instead for a thicker and plusher set of captain’s chairs that can slide forward and back and a unique centre console.

Technology

A “Safety Sphere” option package available on the Select and Limited trims and standard on the Pinnacle adds 360-degree cameras with a new turn signal-activated blind-spot view display and front and rear park assist.

A theatre option outfits two Fire-enabled displays on the seatbacks for second row passengers to enjoy streaming or gaming with dedicated HDMI and USB inputs. Also available is the interior camera that allows you to view second or third row passengers and even see a child in a rear-facing child seat.

Value, Dollars and Sense

The value leader here is the $41,495 US (MSRP) Pacifica LX, which includes the most worthwhile options, including the collapsible second row seats, the excellent Uconnect 10.1-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the height-adjustable power tailgate. Unless you absolutely need all-wheel drive, this is probably the way to go. A fully loaded Pinnacle with AWD tops out at $58,255

The Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna are both priced lower to start, while the Honda Odyssey is more expensive. None of them offer the convenience of a second row that collapses into the floor.

In Canada, the base trim, which is called the Grand Caravan, starts at $49,995 CDN including destination and fees; the Pinnacle AWD is $72,995.

Verdict

The Pacifica arguably invented this segment over 40 years ago, selling nearly 16.6 million vans around the world, nearly all of them built at the Windsor assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. It’s one of Chrysler's biggest success stories, and it continues to be an excellent choice in this segment that’s seeing a bit of a resurgence.

The Toyota Sienna has the biggest advantage with its hybrid powertrain that will cut the fuel bill in nearly half compared to the Pacifica but falls short when it comes to passenger volume and seating flexibility.