2021 Chrysler Pacifica AWD Road Test and Review

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Front ・ Photo by Nicole Wakelin

There’s nothing quite so versatile as a minivan for family life. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is refreshed this year with a new look, new features, and the addition of all-wheel drive, giving families more reason to make it the minivan of choice. Since its introduction in 2017, the Pacifica has been impressing families and gaining new fans. Minivans might not be seen as the car cool kids drive, but it is the car smart parents choose to buy for carrying kids.

High on the list of reasons to check out the Pacifica is an optional all-wheel-drive system that makes short work of winter weather. There’s also a new infotainment system, a new premium Pinnacle trim, and additional standard safety features to keep your loved ones safe. Let’s take a closer look at the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica to see if it’s the right minivan for you and your crew.

Four trims include the luxurious new Pinnacle.

The Chrysler Pacifica is available in a range of four trim levels with seating for up to eight people. The base Touring is priced from $35,045 with standard three-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Touring L at $38,145 adds a heated steering wheel and front seats, leather seats, and retractable shades for the third row.

Priced from $48,390, the Limited makes all-wheel drive standard rather than optional. It also adds a heated second row, Nappa leather, a power-folding third row, ventilated front seats, and an integrated vacuum cleaner for taking care of all the messes kids leave behind. Sitting at the top of the Pacifica lineup is the Pinnacle luxury trim with a price of $53,390. It has standard quilted Caramel Nappa leather seats with second-row lumbar pillows, a Harman Kardon 20-speaker audio system, and a rear entertainment system.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Responsive Powertrain

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. There is also the front-wheel-drive-only Pacifica Hybrid, which has 260 total system horsepower from its 3.6-liter V6 and two electric motors paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. We spent our drive time with the gas powertrain in an all-wheel-drive Pinnacle.

You’re buying a minivan for its versatility at carrying people and cargo, not for setting new lap times at the track, but the Pacifica still delivers surprisingly responsive performance. It smoothly and quickly accelerates up to highway speeds and still has the power needed to pass slower vehicles. Minivans are large vehicles, but the Pacifica defies its size with strong performance that helps make sure you won’t be the last one in line picking up the kids at carpool.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Good Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is especially important in a family vehicle that’s likely to be making plenty of road trips during the summer months and over the holidays. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. Those numbers dip to 17 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined when equipped with all-wheel drive. If you’re looking for the best fuel economy possible, then consider the Pacifica Hybrid. It gets an EPA-estimated 82MPGe, making it a true fuel miser.

The Pacifica gets fuel economy that makes it easy on your budget. The gas powertrain gets its best numbers with front-wheel drive, but the slight dip with all-wheel drive is worth it for the improved performance in bad weather conditions.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Seats up to Eight Passengers

The main reason for buying a minivan is carrying people, which makes passenger comfort a priority. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has seating for up to eight with an open and airy interior. The driver and front passenger not only get comfortable, supportive seating, but they also get a newly redesigned center console with more storage. There’s a place for everything from drinks to phones to wallets. The second row features either a bench seat or captain’s chairs. Adults will find it comfortable and roomy, even on longer trips.

The third row is a bench seat with seating for three. Three kids can fit back there without any trouble, but for adults it’s better for two, as is usually the case in three-row vehicles. Still, it’s a comfortable space that’s easy to access, even for adults.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Smooth, Quiet Ride

Chrysler focused on making the Pacifica quiet. Let’s face it, kids make enough noise. You don’t need to ride in a car that’s not engineered to be quiet. The Pacifica has minimal road and wind noise, making it easy to carry on a conversation, even with those in the third row. This makes road trips far less wearying. It’s also a smooth ride, so bumpy roads won’t bother adults or they wake up that child who just finally fell asleep.

Handling is good, and this year gets an upgrade thanks to all-wheel drive. The lack of this feature can be a dealbreaker for those who live where it snows, so Chrysler solved that problem. We drove the Pacifica during torrential rains that left the roads covered in water and it handled beautifully. When the weather is bad, the Pacifica is a confidence-inspiring ride.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Room for All Your Cargo

A minivan needs to double duty by handling cargo, not just people. The Chrysler Pacifica has 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 140.5 cubic feet behind the front seats. Whatever your cargo needs of the moment, the Pacifica is up to the task. It can also tow up to 3,600 pounds when properly equipped if whatever you have is simply too big, or for those times when you have lots to carry but also have a full load of passengers.

Additional cargo versatility comes from the Stow ’n Go second row, which folds down into the floor. When not stowed, that floor space becomes storage bins. There’s also a Stow ’n Go third row with available power-folding. The expansive first-row center console takes care of storage for smaller items, so there’s no shortage of ways to organize your things.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

All-New Infotainment

Infotainment in the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica features the all-new Uconnect 5 system. This includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen across the lineup, so you don’t have to get the top trim to get this larger screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and dual phone connectivity are all standard, with the option for navigation on all but the base trim.

While some infotainment systems are frustrating to use and even more frustrating to learn, Uconnect is the opposite. Menus are intuitively organized so you won’t waste time searching for the right screen. Even a passenger unfamiliar with the system will find it easy to use in no time. There’s also an available Uconnect Theater rear entertainment system for the kids. This includes dual 10.1-inch seatback touchscreens with 13 games, wireless headphones, and remote control, as well as third-row USB ports.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Wide Range of Safety Features

There is no shortage of safety features in the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. It has 97 standard safety features with a total of 116 standard and available features. Key standard safety in the Pacifica includes a forward collision warning, a lane-departure warning, lane keep assist, and advanced brake assist. There’s also blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, pedestrian emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. 

Available safety features include front parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and parallel/perpendicular park assist. New this year is an interior camera called FamCAM. This is standard on the Pinnacle and available as part of a package on all but the base trim. It gives you a full view of the second and third rows. No more wondering if the kids are all still safely buckled or if anyone is getting into trouble you’d otherwise not be able to see.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

Minivans once ruled as the car of choice for families but have since fallen out of favor as SUVs and crossovers take over roads. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica gives families plenty of reasons to live the minivan life. There really isn’t any other style of vehicle that so easily accommodates kids and cargo. The sliding doors are a key part of what makes them so easy to live with because kids can hop right in and parents can easily secure them in car seats.

The Pacifica takes all that’s right about a minivan and adds features that make it a car you’ll like to drive. There’s all-wheel drive, a hybrid option, luxurious trims, safety features galore, and a rear entertainment system. Thoughtful storage options for smaller items and seating that’s easy to rearrange round out the package, making the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica a winner.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin