Chrysler Pacifica review

It’s the Chrysler Pacifica, the single car still offered by the shambling husk of a former member of the “Big Three” American automakers. It’s been long enough now that most might’ve forgotten the big crisis the automotive industry had in 2008, but in short, it was a rough time for all, with Chrysler arguably coming out of it suffering the most significant changes.

While Ford and GM found different ways to survive, Chrysler and its sub-brands were acquired by Fiat, and went by Fiat-Chrysler for a bit before becoming Stellantis. Chrysler, the brand, currently/inexplicably lives on by way of the Pacifica and whatever Chrysler 300 sedans it can’t be rid of.

Neat little history nugget. Can we get back to the vehicle?

Of course! The Pacifica is a three-row minivan that comes in two forms, the standard combustion-powered model and a plug-in hybrid. The standard Pacifica is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that whips up 287hp through a nine-speed gearbox to spin the front or all wheels, depending on trim level and configuration. All gas-powered Pacificas save the base-level trim offer AWD.

The Hybrid houses the same 3.6-liter V6 though it only churns out a total of 260hp when combined with the two electric motors that back it up. This model is front-wheel drive only and sports a CVT transmission plus a 16kWh battery pack to help stretch out the miles.

What kind of tricks does this thing have up its sleeve?

Funny you should ask. The Pacifica’s pretty good at its base role as a big people-moving machine, but it also builds upon its remit in intelligent ways. The designers and engineers know their customers well, so they’ve integrated several methods of handling the kinds of issues that crop up for those in charge of large families.

Gadgets like a “fam cam” helps parents make sure everyone’s looked after from the front, with the function to zero in on specific seats for extra scrutiny in case someone’s looking green around the gills. A built-in Blu-Ray player and connectivity-enabled streaming solutions allow for a wide variety of distractions, and there are a number of inputs, outlets and charging ports for outside devices.

There’s a number of neat analog solutions to life’s problems, too. Famously, the Pacifica offers an integrated vacuum to clean up crumbs on the spot while most seat folding functions pass the one-handed test, letting owners configure the space they need while they hold a child or an armful of stuff. You quickly appreciate a number of small touches like an umbrella gutter by the door or the number of available cubbies to store a multitude of everyday sundries.

The non-hybrid even has stow-and-go compartments in the floor for securing bags and such with ease, preventing them from rolling around in the ample cargo space found in the rear.

How is it on the road?

One of the biggest surprises about the Pacifica is its handling. Though light years away from any sort of sleeper sports machine, it’s inexplicably good given the whole “miserable minivan” stigma. It’s a welcome discovery, both when in a hurry to tackle errands or when there’s a stretch of road to enjoy on the way back after them. You might even surprise your fellow drivers with how you’re keeping pace with some of the sportier cruisers out and about.

That aside, the Pacifica’s modest power is plenty for its duties, and the ride is as neutral as expected throughout normal activities.

The once mighty Chrysler nameplate now lives on the back of the Pacifica, which is an odd testament to the minivan’s quality and resilience. Dunk on the segment all you want, but in the age of utility vehicle dominance, the minivan - the SUV of its time - still has legs and the Pacifica is its paragon.

Specifically, the Pacifica is thoughtfully engineered from tip to tail so that it has a solution to every family-hauling problem you can possibly encounter. It does big things well like handle an abundance of passengers and cargo, but it also has an answer for small things like where to put your umbrella, how to attend to a batch of children or even how to clean up after them on the fly.

In terms of the driving experience, the Pacifica’s car-like handling is something of a pleasant surprise, one that nearly obfuscates its proportions. Nobody’s taking the ole Pacifica out for a pleasure cruise, but it has enough deftness on tap as to not leave hurried errand-runners wanting.

It remains pricey, though, and does overlap with SUVs that have similar use cases and more capability for changes in terrain. Regardless, it’s a working formula Chrysler has been perfecting since its debut, and one that will hopefully continue to be part of whatever future Stellantis has envisioned for the legacy brand.