There was a time when Minivans were big. Really big. Anyone who had kids, hauled around sports teams or even had to carry around a ton of camera gear fell in love with them. Then, well you know, SUVs and Crossovers stole much of their thunder.
So, now thereʻs only a handful of these master multi-taskers left. But Chrysler hasnʻt given up on them – in fact, with our plug-in hybrid Pacifica, theyʻre showing that you can have a sliding door on each side and still be at the leading edge of tech.
Does the Pacifica have the gravitas to take on a world gone SUV crazy? Letʻs find out!
Stylish People Mover
Where the original minivans were about as boxy as you could get, the latest Pacifica is a tasteful blend of aero, function and upscale – especially in our testerʻs Pinnacle trim level. The Pacifica got a huge refresh in 2021 and for those who havenʻt seen one lately, hereʻs a quick rundown.
Up front, the purposeful aero look features a 3D diamond-style grille with the elegant Chrysler wing badge sitting tastefully front and center. LED headlights with a horseshoe-shaped signature light are swept-back, while LED fog lights sit low in the fascia and add a sporty touch.
The profile sets it apart most from the boxes of old, and sits somewhere between traditional minivans and sporty models like the Kia Carnival, which really wants you to think itʻs an SUV.
The givens are there, including dual sliding rear side doors for easy access, but you also get stylish touches like a swoosh line that parallels the window line, and a deeply cut-in lower door panel that adds a bit of athleticism. We also liked the angled-back D-pillar that finishes off the sweeping design.
Finishing off the side view are handsome 18-inch aloy wheels with gray painted inserts. We know most van buyers probably wouldnʻt be thinking about it, but you have plenty of room to throw in some 20-inch wheels and make a badass Pacifica. Weʻre just sayinʻ.
The rear echoes the frontʻs tasteful design, with a full LED taillamp that runs the width of the vehicle, with the Chrysler badge sitting directly below the rear window. The rear door features a concave design that adds to the modern look, with a nice full-width handle at a reasonable height to open the large rear door.
Tasteful Pacifica and Hybrid badges flank the sides – interesting that Chrysler doesnʻt make more visual noise about it being a plug-in hybrid. In fact, if you didnʻt see the charge port on the front left fender or the rear badge, youʻd never know. What you do know, this is one handsome vehicle, and dressed in our testerʻs Fathom Blue Pearl, it exudes elegance.
Welcome to Our First Class Passengers
Open the door of the Pinnacle and youʻre greeted by what Chrysler calls the most luxurious interior in its class – and we believe it.
It starts with quilted Caramel Nappa leather seats that wouldnʻt look out of place in a Mercedes or Audi. The heated and ventilated front seats are plush and comfortable, and the second row captains chairs with suede pillow backs are equally lux – maybe even more so, thanks to a set of removable lumbar pillows that would shame most limousines.
The Pinnacle continues to impress with appointments including a Piano Black push-push storage bin, Mid-Century Timber hydro bezels, a suede headliner, high-end Berber construction floor mats, and Satin Chrome interior trim.
Because our tester was a Hybrid and has to have room for a battery pack, you lose the Stow n Go 2nd row seats that other models have, but the seats are stil removable if you need the space. The third row seats do easily flip and fold to create a flat storage floor. Chrysler notes that the Pinnacle offers best in class storage of 227.6-liters – enough to store 60 gallons of milk. Guess that makes a new meaning for a “milk run”!
And if youʻve never experienced the easy joy of loading and unloading a vehicle with sliding rear doors on both sides, once you do, you understand why those with kids in child seats love these vans.
Those up front will also enjoy the two-level center console which includes a deep pass-through storage area underneath the console that cn accommodate a large purse or laptop.
The interior is modern and fresh, and the materials have a high-quaity feel. The driverʻs guages are crisp and easy to read, with a digital center display and analog guages on the sides that are bathed in a cool blue light at night.
The info-tament is a technical tour-de-force, starting with a generously sized 10.1-inch touchscreen (largest standard screen in its class!), that can connect to two phones simultaneiously, and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360 XL Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora, and TomTom Navigation. Thereʻs also an amazing sounding 20-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Audio system. We also loved our testerʻs flip up monitors built into the backs of the front seats, sure to keep the kids happy.
Keeping an eye on those kids is easy, with the FamCAM interior camera that includes a view of rear-facing child-seat occupants, a split-view display and unique “zoom-to-seat” feature. Adding even more tech, the Pacifica is the first minivan ever to offer USB Type-C ports, allowing devices to be charged up to four times faster than standard USB outlets. Still running USB? No problem, the Pacifica offers up to 12 USB ports, depending on trim.
Plug-in Hybrid Performance
If all that goodness wasnʻt enough, the Pacifica has one of the most advanced powertrains youʻll find in a van. You have two choices here, a 287-horsepower V6 available in front or all-wheel drive, or like our tester, a plug-in hybrid – the only one in itʻs class.
Providing 260 horsepower, you have a 3.6-liter V6 and two electric motors. While that may seem like less power, the EV powertrain gives you instant oomph at low speeds, making the Pacifica response and fun to drive…yes in a minivan!
Even better, the Pacific can go 32 miles EV-only on a full charge, and once thatʻs all gone, you still get impressive hybrid efficiency of a combined EPA 30 mpg. Road trip? The Pacifica Hybrid can go over 500 miles on a full charge/tank. Itʻs also whisper quiet when in EV mode, and that just adds to the luxurious impression.
You also feel the luxury angle in the ride and handling, the Chrysler is smooth and comfortable, but itʻs not going to replace a sport sedan if thatʻs what you want. We will say that with its around view parking monitor and good turning radius it is surprisingly easy to park, even in tight spaces – thatʻs the kind of handling most van buyers will be more interested in.
A Big Charge for a Plug-in?
That depends on how much luxury you want to go with your practicality. You can get in to a Pacifica Touring starting at $38,020. Nicely equipped, with stow and go 2nd row seating, a full suite of safety features, and advanced tech, itʻs a smart buy for larger families, or those who need lots of space.
Stepping up to a Hybrid model starts at $51,095. Our Pinnacle model was the last word in luxury, and started at $59,995. Adding Fathom Blue Pearl paint at $495, and $1,595 for Destination, we rang the bell at $62,085. While that is higher than most of the competition, you can get up to $7500 in rebates depending on where you live. And when you do that, plus add in the fuel savings, the Pacifica Hybrid is an extremely attractive value!
If you want a plug-in hybrid minivan, you can stop your shopping here. Itʻs the only one! If you donʻt mind less efficient luxury, notable competitors would include the Toyota Sienna at $56,445, The Kia Carnival is a stylish choice and impressive value at $49,160. And the Honda Odyssey at $52,309. FYI– we have to add that a non-hybrid Pinnacle would come in around $56,675. But with the price of gas, the Hybrid seems like a no brainer.
Stylish, luxurious, smart value plus the efficiency and performance of the segmentʻs only plug-in hybrid, the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle is the smartest buy in a minivan.
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.