It turns out the Chrysler Pacifica has solidified its place near the top of the minivan market. In recent years, it has held its own against competitors like the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Sedona. And this year, it’s better than ever.
The 2021 Pacifica has basically everything you would want in a family vehicle. It’s comfortable and spacious, it provides a smooth (and quite peppy) ride, and it boasts an overall extraordinary design that includes all-new exterior and interior styling. Oh, and it also offers best-in-class fuel economy. And that’s just the start.
If you’re in the market for a new minivan, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica must be on your list of vehicles to test drive. Below, we’ll explore the details of what makes the Pacifica such a great minivan, see how it stacks up against the competition, and even discuss a few fall family trip ideas!
NEW FOR 2021
The Pacifica has received a makeover for the 2021 model year. The first thing that stands out is the exterior styling upgrades. It’s sleeker than ever and even resembles an SUV in certain ways. Among the styling updates are new lighting components (i.e., headlights, taillights, fog lights), rear liftgate, grille, and wheels, along with a Fathom Blue paint option. The 2021 Pacifica still features what is now its trademark soft edges and character lines, and the overall exterior design is unmistakably distinct.
Also new for the 2021 model year are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an updated Uconnect 5 infotainment system with Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an optional FamCAM interior camera to go along with an impressive suite of standard safety features. Moreover, the Touring L has been discontinued, and the all-new Pinnacle has assumed the role as the Pacifica’s top trim. The hybrid powertrain is available on more Pacifica trims than in previous years as well.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Now that we’ve covered some of the main additions and updates to the 2021 Pacifica, let’s discuss what potential buyers can expect inside the cabin:
Seating
Depending on whether you go with the bench seat or captain chairs in the second row, the Pacifica will comfortably accommodate seven or eight passengers. The driver’s and front passenger seats are particularly comfortable and spacious, and no matter if your model has the bench or captain chairs, passengers in the second row will have plenty of head- and legroom to spread out. The third row offers ample space as well, and the Stow ‘n Go seats in the second and third rows easily fold down into the floor, eliminating the need to remove and store the seats externally.
The 2021 Pacifica comes standard with cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and the second- and third-row Stow ‘n Go seats. But there are many optional upgrades in this category. For instance, buyers can choose quilted-leather upholstery (with matching lumbar pillows in the second-row captain chairs), a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a power-folding third-row bench seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and/or power-sliding rear doors.
Cargo Space
The Pacifica also offers a lot of cargo space. There are 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row. With the seats folded down in both rows, the minivan provides 140.5 total cubic feet. And remember—the convenient Stow ‘n Go seats are a valuable feature when it comes to hauling items, and they are only available on the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, and Voyager.
Tech and Other Features
It doesn’t get any more up-to-date for a minivan than the 2021 Pacifica. When getting into the vehicle, one of the first things you might notice is that a traditional gear stick has been replaced by a round dial with Park, Drive, Reverse, and so on, and the parking brake is operated by a button. The Pacifica gets Chrysler’s most recent infotainment system, Uconnect 5, which is projected and operated through a 10.1-inch touchscreen display.
Among many other features, the infotainment system comes with a reconfigurable home screen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration. You can get as many as 12 USB ports throughout the cabin, and USB-C ports are also available, which helps to charge devices faster. While a six-speaker audio system comes standard, you can upgrade to a 13-speaker Alpine or 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system and overhead DVD player are also on the options list.
Parents who want to keep tabs on children in the back seat might find the new FamCAM invaluable. This feature shows the rear seats on the infotainment screen, which is a much easier and safer method than using traditional mirrors.
HOW’S THE DRIVE?
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This is matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission that is both responsive and smooth. Drivers can expect about 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, which are among the best in the minivan class.
As far as acceleration goes, the Pacifica offers plenty of pep for a minivan, but its overall smoothness steals the show. With minimal body roll, it feels secure around bends, and its handling is every bit as responsive as you would want in a vehicle. Also, all-wheel-drive is an option.
HOW SAFE IS IT?
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has crash-tested the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. But if the 2020 model year is anything to go by, consumers can expect the 2021 Pacifica to be as safe as it gets for a minivan. In 2020, the NHTSA gave the Pacifica five stars, and the IIHS designated it as a Top Safety Pick.
Along with what can be expected to be stellar crash test ratings comes a slew of standard and optional safety features for 2021. For example, forward-collision mitigation with emergency braking and pedestrian detection comes on all Pacifica trims, as does adaptive cruise control. Also standard is blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert, which is likely to come in particularly handy given the all-around size of the minivan and the number of passengers who could prove to be distracting.
And then there’s the Safety Sphere Group, which is a suite of safety features that comes standard in the Pinnacle trim and optional in the Touring L and Limited trims. This package includes a 360-degree camera system to go with parallel and perpendicular parking assistance.
2021 PACIFICA VS. THE COMPETITION
Now that we’ve seen some of what the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has to offer, let’s look at it in relation to its competitors:
Honda Odyssey
By all accounts, the 2021 Honda Odyssey is a good minivan, particularly when it comes to reliability and fuel economy. However, while the Odyssey provides a little more cargo space, that’s pretty much the only area in which it has an upper hand on the Pacifica; and even so, the Odyssey doesn’t come with the convenient Stow ‘n Go seats that fold into the floorboard. The 360 Surround View camera, Stow ‘n Vac system, FamCAM, Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and other modernities also set the Pacifica apart.
Toyota Sienna
Like the Odyssey, The Toyota Sienna has a reputation for being a good minivan. There are, however, a few key differences to consider between the newest Pacifica and Sienna models. Compared to the 2021 Sienna, the overall exterior appearance of the Pacifica resembles more of an SUV and less of a conventional minivan—a quality that is established even more with the 2021 styling upgrades. Also, the 2021 Toyota Sienna is only available as a hybrid; with the Pacifica, you can choose between a gas-only and a hybrid powertrain.
Moreover, though the newest Sienna comes with Toyota’s renowned package of safety systems (Safety Sense), the 2021 Pacifica offers many more standard safety features—97, to be exact. And then there are the little things, such as the Pacifica’s standard 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen compared to the Sienna’s nine-inch screen.
Kia Sedona
Of the minivans mentioned so far, the Kia Sedona is consistently ranked last. That doesn’t mean it is without its merits. The 2021 Sedona has more seating and a little more leg- and headroom in the third row than the 2021 Pacifica. But the Pacifica takes the upper hand in almost every other category. Along with besting the Sedona in safety and tech features, the Pacifica offers more horsepower and higher torque, better fuel economy, a smoother driving experience, available all-wheel-drive, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
2021 PACIFICA HYBRID MODELS
Unlike in previous years, Chrysler is offering a hybrid version in four of the Pacifica trims: Hybrid Touring, Hybrid Touring L, Hybrid Limited, and Hybrid Pinnacle. As can be expected, the hybrid models provide the best fuel economy you can find in a minivan—traveling up to 33 miles on electric power and producing 84 MPGe combined.
Besides the fuel economy, there are a few factors worth considering when choosing between a hybrid and non-hybrid Pacifica. For example, because of the battery pack, the second-row Stow ‘n Go seats are not available on the hybrid models. This means less convenience (you have to remove these seats for extra cargo space) but more comfort (the seats have more cushion). Also, the instant torque produced by the electric motors of the Pacifica Hybrid models makes for faster acceleration. Moreover, the hybrid versions are only available in front-wheel drive, while the non-hybrids can be had with all-wheel-drive.
FALL TRIPS TO CONSIDER
Once you drive off the lot in your new Chrysler Pacifica, why not go on a family trip to enjoy the best autumn has to offer? Below are some North Carolina destinations that are definitely worth researching!
Grandfather Mountain. This is the highest peak of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, and it provides visitors with everything from incredible scenery to challenging hiking trails. Plus, the swinging mile-high bridge alone is worth the trip!
The Blowing Rock. North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction, the Blowing Rock offers amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the village of Blowing Rock is as good as it gets when you’re looking for a quaint mountain getaway.
The Pisgah National Forest. This rainforest will offer your family a little warmth on your fall trip. Plan to visit a lot of breathtaking waterfalls, and consider staying in the beautiful town of Brevard.
The Outer Banks. North Carolina is known for its abundance of mountain destinations, but fall can also be the perfect time to hit the beach—especially when it’s the Outer Banks. Novels and movies have been inspired by the towns and beaches of the Outer Banks, as visitors can escape overrun vacation spots and crowded cities for a relaxing, magnificent getaway.
Conclusion
For parents looking for the perfect vehicle to tote the family around, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is hard to beat. It’s the most attractive minivan on the market, it offers a superior driving and riding experience, it includes the most standard safety features, and it provides enough technology to keep the whole family happy—whether you’re commuting across town or taking a road trip to one of the stunning destinations mentioned above. Call Mount Airy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today to schedule a test drive!
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