2021 Chrysler Pacifica

Chrysler When it comes to transporting people and goods, minivans are better than SUVs — a fact we hope more consumers will accept — and the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is our current favorite. Thoughtfully designed, the Pacifica is a comfortable family truck, and its eager driving dynamics are the cake. Both a regular V-6 and a hybrid powertrain are offered , and in our tests, both proved to be reasonably fuel efficient. The second and third rows fold completely flat to convert the Pacifica into a spacious cargo truck, perfect for towing bulky items. Pacifica entry-level models have been renamed Voyager for 2020, so we’re reviewing these deal models separately.

Chrysler

Chrysler gave its Pacifica family pickup truck a makeover for 2021, starting with a new exterior design that offers a slightly more SUV-like appearance than the outgoing model. The grille, exterior lighting elements, tailgate and wheel designs have been modified. All -wheel drive joins the options sheet — although some 2020 models will also be available with this feature — and a hybrid powertrain will be offered in more Pacifica trims. Speaking of trims, the Touring L Plus model has been discontinued, skipping the new Pinnacle trim to stretch to become the top-spec model in the Pacifica.

Inside, the Pacifica gains a new 10.1-inch infotainment screen with the latest Uconnect 5 interface, which offers Amazon Alexa integration, a customizable home screen, wireless connectivity available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an onboard camera system to help keep kids tabs on rear seats, and up to 12 different USB ports for charging devices. Driver assistance features have been added as standard, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control, among others.

The mid-range Touring L offers the best combination of features and value because it adds a host of additional features over the base Touring model. These standard features include a heated steering wheel, perforated leather upholstery, heated front seats, and 18-inch wheels. We’re fine with front-wheel drive, but we’ll let you make that call if you want all-wheel drive. We’d suggest sticking with the standard 3.5-liter V-6, though, as we’ve had a few reliability hiccups with the long-running Pacifica hybrid.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance Chrysler

It’s not the fastest minibus we’ve tested , but the front-wheel-drive Pacifica is far from sluggish (it hits 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, about mid-pack in terms of performance) and feels a lot more lively around town. In non-hybrid look, it is fitted with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 287 horsepower and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Pacifica Hybrid produces less horsepower (only 260 hp) than the 3.6-liter V-6 and two electric motors powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery. In our testing, its 0-60 mph time was 0.5 seconds behind the gas-powered model. We’ll be doing a ready test on the Pacifica all-wheel drive system soon and update this review with the results.

Chrysler’s fuel economy

In addition to being space-saving, minivans should be fuel-efficient. The Pacifica Limited we tested delivered an impressive 31 mpg on the highway’s fuel economy, which is the tops of a minivan. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pacifica Hybrid can travel up to 33 miles on electric power and is rated at 84 miles per gallon. Across town, we were easily able to match the EPA’s estimate of 33 miles. On the highway, the Pacifica Hybrid managed 23.4 miles of electric-only driving before the gasoline engine turned on. We haven’t had the opportunity to test the new all-wheel drive model, but we expect to update this review with test results soon.

Interior, comfort and cargo

Airy, spacious and full of compact sizes, cup holders, slide-out boxes and connectivity, the Pacifica is big on features that minivan buyers love. Fit, finish, and materials are several steps above the Dodge Grand Caravan, but there are a few plastic trim inside the cabin. The Upscale Limited and Pinnacle models come with a taller center console that blends in more seamlessly with the dashboard, giving those trims an SUV-like feel from behind the wheel.

The luxurious Pinnacle model comes with quilted leather upholstery and even offers matching lumbar cushions for the second-row captain’s chairs – a feature not seen since the last time the luxury Mercedes-Maybach S-Class visited our office. Pacifica’s Standard Stow ‘n Go seats offer less padding than its competitors because they need to be folded compactly enough to fit in floor boxes. As compensation for ditching the second-row Stow ‘n Go on hybrid models (the battery pack takes up all the underfloor storage), Chrysler engineers added extra cushioning to the standard captain’s chairs. When it comes to transporting goods, Pacifica does not disappoint. We were able to fit 53 of our carry-on bags inside with all the seats stowed. A compact vacuum cleaner is available as an option, but it takes up space that can be assigned to an optional small spare tire.

Information, entertainment and contact Chrysler

Chrysler’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system is displayed on a 10.1-inch glossy touchscreen with vented climate control on the truck’s dashboard. Uconnect 5 is new and offers a reconfigurable home screen and Amazon Alexa integration. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which can be connected wirelessly, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. There are up to 12 USB ports in the Pacifica’s cabin, including some of the new USB-C that provides faster charging for smart devices.

Safety and driver assistance features

The 2021 Pacifica received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but was not named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Its crash-testing ability will suffice, but the Pacifica is adding to its safest position by offering almost every conceivable driver assistance feature available today. Key safety features include:

Standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Standard Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Standard adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Chrysler offers a warranty package to match the segment. Kia Sedona offers longer terms, but the Pacifica allows longer use of the roadside assistance plan. The Pacifica Hybrid has a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid components.

The limited warranty covers 3 years or 36000 miles

Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles

Hybrid components are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles

No free scheduled maintenance

Specifications

2021 Chrysler Pacifica 4WD

Vehicle Type

Front-wheel drive, 4WD, 7-passenger van, 4-doors

Engine type

DOHC 24 valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

displacement

220 in 3, 3605 cm 3