2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The volume Touring L gas model uses the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 rated at 287 hp. The separately available PHEV produces 260 hp combined.

The gas Pacifica's Pentastar V6 produces 262 lb-ft, a typical output for a naturally aspirated minivan engine.

The FWD gas configuration representative of the volume trim reaches 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. The heavier AWD Pinnacle required 7.9 seconds in a separate instrumented test.

The naturally aspirated V6 supplies smooth, linear, lag-free power and ample response from a stop or at highway speeds. It becomes mildly vocal at full throttle but is well isolated in ordinary use.

The nine-speed is unobtrusive most of the time and substantially improved for 2021, but occasional abrupt low-speed downshifts and delayed kickdowns prevent a higher score.

Properly equipped gas models can tow 3,600 pounds, slightly exceeding the common 3,500-pound rating among minivan competitors.

New for the 2021 refresh, automatic AWD is optional on every gas trim and retains Stow 'n Go seating. It is unavailable with the PHEV and has no low range or driver-selectable terrain modes.

Despite useful all-weather traction from optional AWD, the Pacifica is pavement-oriented, with very low clearance, modest approach angles, and no skid plates, lockers, or off-road trim.

The lineup offers two meaningfully different choices: a gas V6 with FWD or AWD and a front-drive plug-in hybrid. That is unusually broad for a mainstream minivan, though there is no second gas engine or full EV.

The volume Touring L FWD earns 22 MPG combined; choosing the newly available AWD system lowers the gas Pacifica to 20 MPG combined.

The FWD volume configuration returns 19 MPG city, while AWD's additional weight and driveline losses reduce the rating to 17 MPG.

The nine-speed helps the FWD gas Pacifica achieve a competitive 28 MPG highway, though AWD reduces that figure by 3 MPG.

Chrysler's year-specific fleet guide reports a projected 418-mile total range for the FWD gas configuration. The same 19-gallon tank at the AWD model's 20 MPG combined rating yields about 380 miles.

At the EPA's current reference fuel price and 15,000-mile annual-driving assumption, the 22-MPG FWD gas Pacifica costs an estimated $2,850 per year.

The 3.6-liter gas engine runs on regular 87-octane unleaded and needs no premium fuel or special fueling infrastructure.

The gas-powered 2021 Pacifica earns NHTSA's maximum five-star overall rating, with five stars for frontal and side protection and four stars for rollover.

The refreshed 2021 Pacifica earned Good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations. The Top Safety Pick+ award applies only to the small number of 2021-model vehicles built after September 2021, so the score stops short of full credit for the model year as a whole.

For the 2021 refresh Chrysler made all five core systems standard across the range, including the volume gas Touring L: forward AEB with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Vehicle-to-vehicle AEB was Superior and avoided both IIHS test collisions, but pedestrian performance depended on build date: Basic before October 2021 and Advanced after September. No nighttime pedestrian result was published, keeping the model-year score below the top band.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on every trim, excellent availability for 2021. They are alert-only and the Pacifica lacks active blind-zone intervention, safe-exit warning, and trailer-aware coverage.

Standard LaneSense can warn and apply corrective steering after drift, but it does not continuously center the Pacifica. This is a useful departure-prevention backstop rather than a smooth combined highway assistant.

Standard adaptive cruise works through stop-and-go traffic and can stop and hold the van, performing on par with rival minivans. The absence of continuous lane centering prevents a higher integrated-highway-assist score.

No factory hands-free highway-driving system was offered on any 2021 Pacifica trim. Its adaptive cruise and LaneSense features remain separate, hands-on driver assists.

All trims have LED lamps and high-beam assist, but IIHS rated early 2021 builds Poor for excessive low-beam glare; vehicles built after March improved to Acceptable. Neither version is curve-adaptive, so the full model year lands below average.

Large windows, a tall roof, and broad door openings give the Pacifica very good natural sightlines with limited blind spots. A 360-degree camera further helps but was optional rather than standard on the volume Touring L.

Wide sliding-door access, abundant cabin room, and three complete LATCH positions support multiple child seats, but installation is not class-leading. IIHS found hard-to-locate tether anchors, and Cars.com found stiff upholstery and limited clearance around the partly exposed lower anchors.

The volume Touring L uses second-row captain's chairs for seven seats; an eight-passenger bench was optional.

The no-sunroof Touring L specification provides generous front headroom.

Front legroom is adequate but toward the lower portion of the minivan normalization band.

Second-row headroom is near the top of the minivan band on the volume configuration.

Second-row room is generous, though the Stow 'n Go chairs have less adjustment than some rivals.

With 38.7 inches of headroom, 36.5 inches of legroom and easy sliding-door access, the third row accommodates adults, though Edmunds calls it best for shorter drives.

Folding the third row into the floor creates a large, flat cargo area without seat removal.

The scored gas Pacifica's second- and third-row Stow 'n Go seats form a fully flat maximum cargo floor.

Dual Stow 'n Go seats and their underfloor bins are the segment's standout storage solution; Touring L also received the larger Super Console, and Stow 'n Vac was optional.

Front seats have firm padding but remain comfortable over long drives; thinner, less-adjustable Stow 'n Go second-row chairs trail rival captain's chairs.

The compliant, generally smooth suspension and strong ride/handling balance make the FWD Pacifica one of the segment's plushest vans; AWD is slightly firmer.

Standard active noise cancellation plus thicker glass and improved seals make the refreshed van notably hushed at speed.

Touring L includes tri-zone automatic climate, heated leather front seats and a heated wheel; Limited adds ventilation and heated second-row seats.

The refreshed gas Pacifica opened with the Touring FWD; the cheaper 2021 Voyager was a separate nameplate and is not used as the Pacifica base trim.

Touring L FWD is used as the representative volume gas configuration because it is the mainstream step-up trim, below the luxury-focused Limited and Pinnacle; the value is its unoptioned MSRP including destination.

Edmunds provides trim-specific five-year projections for the scored 2021 Touring L FWD, though its live used-vehicle TCO model can change over time and assumes 15,000 miles annually.

The model-year comparison estimate indicates below-average retention for the Pacifica; it is model-level rather than a trim-specific residual for Touring L FWD.

Chrysler's basic warranty sits at the bottom of the rubric's 3-to-5-year minivan band.

The gas Pacifica's powertrain coverage is the minimum of the rubric's 5-to-10-year band.

There was no complimentary scheduled-maintenance program, so this remains in the rubric's below-50 band. Five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance is useful but is a basic ownership perk rather than included servicing.

$39,640 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (45.3% retained, or about $17,957) leaves about $21,683 in depreciation. Add the projected $8,769 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $30,452 in total.

The 2021 Pacifica's owner-survey record is mixed: Consumer Reports currently places it around the model-year average, but J.D. Power's quality result is only fair. The scored gas Touring L avoids the PHEV's high-voltage-system risk, yet electronics and general defect reports keep it below the stronger minivan choices.

Chrysler's broader multi-year record was below average rather than mid-pack, with dependability materially worse than the industry norm and later initial-quality evidence also near the bottom. Its thin model lineup makes the brand result less robust, but there is no evidence of consistent top-tier performance.

Eight recalls are a heavy burden for one model year, and the gas model's campaigns include safety-relevant camera, seat, airbag and electrical issues rather than only minor labeling defects. PHEV-only battery and loss-of-motive-power actions are excluded from this gas assessment.

The naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 was mature and widely deployed by 2021, but the ZF-derived 948TE nine-speed has a mixed record for shift quality and durability. This applies to the volume gas Touring L and does not incorporate the PHEV drivetrain's problems.

The refreshed Touring L cabin is attractive and competitive, but soft-touch areas are mixed with obvious hard plastics and it lacks the richer Limited/Pinnacle finishes. It is acceptable for the price, not class-leading.

Multiple professional evaluations identify weak perceived quality, and Edmunds encountered similar electronic faults in more than one test vehicle. That pattern is worse than scattered cosmetic complaints and supports a clearly below-average assembly-quality score.

The shared Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram footprint provides broad nationwide access, but the available satisfaction evidence is merely average. Coverage is useful; the service experience does not justify the top band.

A long-running domestic platform and widely used Pentastar engine support abundant dealer and independent parts supply, while average annual repair cost is favorable. Pacifica-specific electronics and powered-door hardware prevent a top-tier score.

The 2021 refresh made the high-resolution Uconnect 5 screen standard throughout the Pacifica range.

Uconnect 5 is fast, customizable and logically laid out while retaining useful physical audio and climate controls; it was among the class leaders in 2021.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on every 2021 Pacifica trim, exceptional coverage for the model year.

Alexa integration and improved Uconnect voice control are useful, while quick TomTom navigation was available rather than standard on Touring L.

Touring L's six-speaker base system is merely adequate, but buyers could move to 13-speaker Alpine or 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium systems.

A configurable 7-inch digital information display was standard, but analog gauges remained and no full-width digital cluster was offered.

Uconnect 5 supports firmware and map updates over the air, but this is infotainment-level updating rather than whole-vehicle feature delivery.

The Uconnect app provided remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle location and notifications, but required connected-service enrollment and offered no digital key.

USB-A and faster USB-C ports were spread across the cabin, with up to 12 USB ports, plus available wireless charging and a 115V outlet.

Touring L included proximity entry, push-button start, remote start, power sliding doors and liftgate; hands-free doors were available through a package or upper trims.

Rear camera and rear parking sensors were standard; a high-resolution 360-degree camera and new FamCAM were available but not standard on Touring L.

No head-up display was offered on the 2021 Pacifica, including Pinnacle.

Low step-in, power sliding doors, three-row access, LATCH anchors, enormous cargo space and floor-folding seats make daily family logistics exceptionally easy; FamCAM was newly available.

Affordable trims received a broad standard suite including adaptive cruise, AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring and lane keeping. Its award applies only to 2021 vehicles built after September 2021, preventing a higher score for the whole model year.

A quiet, compliant ride, tri-zone climate, adult-usable third row, 32.3 cubic feet behind it and available dual-screen entertainment/FamCAM make this an excellent road-trip van; thin Stow 'n Go row-two cushions are the main compromise.

Good visibility, easy ingress, a compliant ride, linear V6 power and standard adaptive cruise with stop-and-go reduce fatigue, though the nine-speed can execute unnecessary downshifts.

The scored FWD 3.6-liter gas model returns only 22 mpg combined, expensive beside the 2021 Sienna hybrid despite using regular fuel.

The 204.3-inch body and 39.7-foot turning circle demand care, but excellent glass area, sliding doors, standard rear sensors and an optional 360-degree camera substantially help.

A 3,600-pound maximum tow rating and 140.5-cubic-foot flat cargo bay handle meaningful light-duty hauling, but payload and chassis remain passenger-van grade.

The mature Pentastar V6 is widely used, but leather trim, complex power doors/seats and family-focused materials are not abuse-oriented, and the Pacifica lacks a strong commercial-fleet durability reputation.

The instant flat floor, roof rails, hitch availability and optional 115V outlet help light work, but there is no partition, washable interior, onboard high-output power or factory upfit ecosystem.

A hushed and compliant cabin, comfortable front seats, standard adaptive cruise and roughly 418 miles of combined-rated tank range make it an excellent highway vehicle.

Newly available AWD, roof rails and 3,600-pound towing support snow travel and outdoor toys, but 5.1 inches of clearance and no underbody protection keep it to pavement and maintained gravel.

Both rear rows fold into the floor without removal, yielding 140.5 cubic feet and useful hidden bins; available rails and towing extend capacity further. This is the segment benchmark.

The FWD Pacifica has controlled, car-like responses and a good ride/handling balance for a minivan, though body lean appears on winding roads.

Steering is accurate, light and easy in daily use but communicates little and does not turn the van into an enthusiast choice.

The conventional gas-model pedal builds braking force linearly without grab, though instrumented stopping distances are average rather than exceptional.

The 287-hp naturally aspirated V6 delivers useful, linear power, but the nine-speed's eager upshifts and reluctant or multi-gear downshifts undermine polish.

Active noise cancellation keeps normal operation refined, and the gas V6 is not objectionable, but hard acceleration can arrive unexpectedly and MotorTrend found the engine coarse under load.

The scored volume Touring L FWD uses the 39.7-foot curb-to-curb figure; optional AWD is slightly wider.

Low sills, broad seat and wheel adjustment, large windows, limited blind spots and well-placed physical audio/climate controls make the cockpit unusually easy to live with.

Strong V6 power and composed handling keep it pleasant, but numb steering, body lean and an indecisive transmission make it a capable family tool rather than a vehicle chosen for joy.

The 2021 refresh made a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 screen, wireless smartphone integration and 14 newly standard safety features part of an already practical Stow 'n Go package. That was unusually rich standard content for a mainstream 2021 minivan.

Touring L combined strong family equipment, a 287-hp V6, fold-flat second- and third-row seating and newly standard active safety at under $40,000 delivered. It was not the cheapest van, but its mix of capability and technology was a standout.

Four well-spaced trims, gas and plug-in-hybrid powertrains, and FWD or newly available AWD gave the Pacifica the broadest configuration palette in the 2021 minivan class. AWD was offered on Touring and Touring L and standard on gas Limited and Pinnacle, while hybrid versions remained FWD.

Pacifica was a major, well-accepted contender rather than the 2021 segment leader: through Q3 it held roughly a quarter of US minivan sales, behind Sienna and Odyssey. Supply-era quarterly volatility tempers the score, but acceptance was clearly strong.

Chrysler lacked the broad reliability and resale halo of Toyota or Honda, but the Pacifica itself was the brand's technology and design flagship and carried more esteem than the badge's overall standing suggests. Weak resale keeps this only slightly above neutral.

Chrysler commonly supported the Pacifica with meaningful rebates and promotional financing, creating substantial buyer benefit. The deals were stronger than those usually available on Toyota and Honda rivals, though eligibility and region varied.

Although the generation began for 2017, 2021 was a major refresh rather than a carry-over: styling, cabin technology, safety equipment, AWD availability and the trim structure all changed. Buyers therefore received a freshly modernized version without near-term replacement risk.

The refreshed Pacifica was both a contemporary class-ranking winner and a repeat award recipient. Car and Driver ranked it first and gave it Editors' Choice, while Consumer Guide awarded its fifth consecutive Minivan Best Buy.