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The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica fares well in the minivan class. It offers a pleasant ride and a laundry list of technology and comfort features, but firm rear seats and a below-average predicted reliability rating hold it back.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's #4 ranking is based on its score within the Minivans category. Currently the Chrysler Pacifica has a score of 8.2 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 37 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Yes, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is a good minivan. It has almost everything you could want in a family vehicle, from a gentle ride, a capable engine, and thrifty mpg estimates to a versatile cargo hold. This van also has an extensive features list, with family-friendly options like a rear-seat entertainment system, a built-in vacuum cleaner, and a camera that displays images of the rear seats through the infotainment system. The Pacifica does have some shortcomings, however, including a high starting price, a subpar predicted reliability rating and stiff rear seats.
To make our car rankings and reviews as consumer-oriented as possible, we do not rely on our personal opinions. Instead, we analyze hard data such as cargo space dimensions, horsepower specs, and predicted reliability, as well as the opinions of the automotive press.
This 2021 Pacifica review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2017.
U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. We care about cars, but we care more about providing useful consumer advice. To ensure our impartiality, an independent party handles our advertising, and our editorial team doesn’t accept expensive gifts from automakers.
For a family vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica is definitely worth considering, especially if you need versatile, easy-access cargo space. Since Dodge discontinued the Grand Caravan for 2021, Chrysler is now the only brand to offer Stow ‘n Go seats, which fold into the floor rather than having to be removed to maximize cargo capacity.
Though the Pacifica is appealing, there are other good, more affordable minivans to consider. The Honda Odyssey has more cargo room than the Pacifica, and its handling is more responsive. If you’re looking for something with better mpg ratings, you might consider the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
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Chrysler made some noteworthy updates to the Pacifica for 2021. It gains standard driver assistance features such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, a revamped infotainment system with a larger touch screen (10.1 inches, up from 7 in older models), and refreshed interior and exterior styling.
Compare the 2020 and 2021 Pacifica »
Here are the key changes for the Chrysler Pacifica minivan since it launched as an all-new vehicle for 2017:
If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Pacifica, 2019 Pacifica, and 2020 Pacifica reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has a base MSRP of $35,045, which is well above average for a van. The top-of-the-line Pinnacle trim exceeds $53,000.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Chrysler dealer.
The Kia Sedona is a great minivan. It boasts an easy-to-use infotainment system, a comfortable ride, and balanced handling. It also has a refined cabin full of quality materials. The base Sedona also costs around $4,600 less than the base Pacifica. On the other hand, the Chrysler has more standard features and better mpg ratings than the Sedona. The Pacifica can also be had with all-wheel drive or a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Choosing between these vehicles is a matter of preference.
Compare the Pacifica and Sedona »
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, has a lot in common with its nonhybrid counterpart, but there are some significant differences as well. While the Pacifica Hybrid’s third row folds into the floor, its second row lacks Stow ‘n Go capability, which means you must remove this row to use that space. However, that also means the hybrid has better cushions and, thus, more comfortable second-row seats, as they don't need to be compact enough to fold into the floor. Also, the Pacifica Hybrid has swifter acceleration than the nonhybrid Pacifica, thanks to the instant torque delivered by its electric motors. As you’d expect, the hybrid earns better mpg ratings too. Notably, the hybrid is front-wheel drive only, whereas the gas-only model is available with all-wheel drive. There’s no wrong choice between these minivans.
Compare the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid »
Compare the Pacifica, Sedona, and Pacifica Hybrid »
This vehicle comes with 32.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total of 140.5 cubic feet with both of these rows folded. That's a lot of room, but it's less than what you’ll find in other minivans. However, other vans don't have Chrysler’s convenient Stow ‘n Go seats, which fold into the floor rather than needing to be removed like in many rivals. With the Grand Caravan discontinued for 2021, the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, and Voyager are the sole minivans with this nifty feature (the hybrid model only has Stow ‘n Go seating for the third row).
A power liftgate is standard, and a hands-free liftgate is available.
The Pacifica is a three-row minivan that can seat up to eight people with the second-row bench seat or seven people if you get the second-row bucket seats. Cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and Stow ‘n Go second- and third-row seating come standard.
Plenty of seating upgrades are available. These include leather or Nappa leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a power-folding third-row bench seat. Hands-free power-sliding rear doors are also available.
Up front, the seats are spacious and comfortable, and visibility is excellent in all directions. However, because the rear seats were designed to fold flat into the floor, they’re not well-padded. Anyone sitting back there for longer than a short jaunt may start to feel uncomfortable.
There are four complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats.
The Pacifica has a mostly upscale cabin with quality materials. Higher trims get luxurious touches such as chrome accents, but there are a few cheap plastics in the lower trims.
The Uconnect infotainment system remains one of the most straightforward on the market, with a responsive touch screen that displays clearly organized menus. The included wireless Apple CarPlay is a rarity, even among luxury vehicles.
For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?
Powering this Chrysler is a 3.6-liter V6 engine rated at 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine is potent enough for most driving situations, though you may have to hit the gas pedal with some force to accelerate from a stop with any real vigor. The automatic transmission usually works well, but it can hesitate to shift.
The 2021 Pacifica earns an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Those are good ratings for the minivan class, on par with the Honda Odyssey.
The Pacifica’s ride is as gentle as you could hope for from a minivan. This Chrysler has little body roll, helping it feel planted around turns and engaging to drive. It’s also the only van besides the Toyota Sienna to offer all-wheel drive.
When properly equipped, this vehicle can tow up to 3,600 pounds.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has a below-average predicted reliability rating of 2.5 out of five.
Chrysler covers the Pacifica with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2021 Pacifica the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave this van an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test.
Standard advanced safety features:
Available advanced safety features:
The Pacifica is 17 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 4,521 to 4,883 pounds. Its gross vehicle weight rating is between 6,055 and 6,300 pounds.
Chrysler builds the 2021 Pacifica in Canada.
Chrysler makes the 2021 Pacifica in four trim levels: Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle. All four models have a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard in the first two. All-wheel drive is available in those and standard in the Limited and Pinnacle trims. Chrysler also makes the Pacifica Hybrid and Voyager minivans, which we review separately.
Eight-passenger seating is available for $595 in all but the Pinnacle trim, which can seat up to seven. The well-equipped base Touring trim is a good bet for most shoppers.
Standard equipment in the entry-level Touring (MSRP: $35,045) includes the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which features a 10.1-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and a USB port.
Also standard is a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote start, cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Stow ‘n Go seating, and alloy wheels. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors.
The $495 Cold Weather Group adds heated front seats and a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. The Uconnect Theater Family Group costs $2,395 and features a rear-seat entertainment system with dual 10.1-inch touch screens, third-row USB ports, and a Blu-ray DVD player. The DVD player and a panoramic sunroof are also available as standalone options.
Retailing for $38,145, the Chrysler Pacifica Touring L adds perforated leather seats, rear ambient lighting, third-row retractable sunshades, grocery bag hooks on the third-row seatbacks, and the contents of the Cold Weather Group.
The Theater Family Group remains available. For $2,000, you can get a 13-speaker Alpine stereo, a navigation system, a surround-view parking camera system, a park assist system, and front parking sensors as part of the Premium and Safety Sphere Group.
Limited models start at $48,930. They pick up premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, second-row heated seats, a power-folding third row, a hands-free power liftgate, hands-free power-sliding doors, a tri-pane panoramic sunroof, a vacuum cleaner, and the Touring L’s optional tech features.
The Theater Family and Premium and Safety Sphere groups are available. A 19-speaker premium Harman Kardon stereo is optional too.
The Pinnacle trim has an MSRP of $53,390. It gains chrome exterior trim, second-row captain’s chairs with under-floor storage bins, and the Harman Kardon sound system. Also included are a Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system and the contents of the Premium and Safety Sphere Group.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Chrysler dealer.
See 2021 Chrysler Pacifica specs and trims »
There’s a lot to like about the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. It offers composed handling, a cushioned ride, good fuel economy estimates, intuitive infotainment controls, and a practical means of storing cargo thanks to the Stow 'n Go folding seats. Furthermore, its list of features is one of the longest among any vehicle on the market, including other minivans. As far as family cars go, you could do a lot worse than this Chrysler. Keep in mind its high base price and lackluster predicted reliability though.
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.
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