2022 Chrysler Pacifica

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

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

The FWD gas Pacifica reaches 60 mph in a mid-pack 7.3 seconds and feels sufficiently lively in normal driving.

The naturally aspirated V6 delivers predictable, lag-free response and adequate acceleration, though it is not especially forceful or polished enough to lead the class.

The nine-speed behaves properly in most driving but can select an unsuitable gear on steep grades, requiring more driver attention than the best rival transmissions.

Properly equipped gas models can tow 3,600 pounds, slightly above the usual 3,500-pound ceiling among rival minivans; Chrysler does not recommend towing with the hybrid.

AWD is broadly available on gas trims, including the volume Touring L, but unavailable with the PHEV and offers no low range or terrain modes.

The Pacifica is pavement-oriented, with only 5.1 inches of FWD ground clearance (5.4 AWD), modest approach angles, and no skid plates, lockers, or off-road trim.

The range includes two meaningfully distinct choices: a gas V6 with FWD or AWD and a front-drive plug-in hybrid, giving buyers unusual powertrain variety for a minivan.

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

The FWD gas Pacifica returns 19 MPG city, while the added weight and driveline losses of AWD reduce that figure to 17 MPG.

The nine-speed helps the FWD Pacifica reach a competitive 28 MPG highway, though AWD reduces it to 25 MPG.

The official 19-gallon tank and EPA 22-MPG combined rating yield about 418 miles for the FWD volume configuration; AWD works out to about 380 miles.

Under the EPA's model-year-2022 assumptions, the FWD gas Pacifica costs an estimated $2,300 per 15,000-mile year; AWD adds $250.

The 3.6-liter gas engine uses regular unleaded, avoiding any premium-fuel surcharge or unusual fueling requirement.

The gas 2022 Pacifica earns NHTSA's maximum five-star overall rating, with five stars in the frontal and side categories and four stars for rollover.

The 2022 Pacifica is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and earned Good results in all six crashworthiness evaluations used for that year's award. This score reflects the 2022-era tests rather than carrying back the more demanding updated moderate-overlap result first reported for 2023.

Every gas trim, including the volume Touring L, includes all five core systems: forward AEB with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Touring L also normally included the Safety Sphere parking aids, although chip shortages caused deletes on some builds.

IIHS rated the standard vehicle-to-vehicle system Superior and the daytime pedestrian system Advanced. It avoided both vehicle tests and most pedestrian conflicts, though it only reduced speed by 4 mph in the 25-mph crossing-child test; IIHS did not publish a nighttime pedestrian rating for this model year.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection are standard, strong availability for a 2022 minivan. They are alert-only systems without active blind-zone intervention, safe-exit warning, or trailer-aware coverage.

Standard LaneSense detects unintended drift and applies corrective steering, but the Pacifica has no continuous lane-centering function. It is a useful departure-prevention backstop rather than a polished combined highway assistant.

Full-speed adaptive cruise with stop-and-go is standard and works in traffic, an unusually complete feature for the model year. The lack of continuous lane centering prevents it from functioning as an integrated highway-assist system.

No hands-free highway-driving system was offered on the 2022 Pacifica. Its adaptive cruise and LaneSense functions remain separate, hands-on assists.

All trims use the same Acceptable-rated LED projector low beams and include high-beam assist. Low-beam reach was inadequate on the gradual left curve, and the lamps are not curve-adaptive, keeping them below the Good tier.

The Pacifica's tall, glassy minivan body provides very good natural sightlines. The volume Touring L adds a standard 360-degree surround-view camera in the official 2022 specification, substantially compensating for close-in blind zones, though some chip-shortage builds received a Safety Sphere delete.

Wide sliding doors and three complete LATCH positions make multiple-seat installation practical, and the lower anchors are shallow and easy to maneuver around. IIHS rates usability Acceptable because the tether anchors are hard to find, some can be confused with other hardware, and an additional third-row position must borrow an anchor.

The volume Touring L uses second-row Stow 'n Go captain's chairs and seats seven; an available bench raises capacity to eight on eligible FWD configurations.

The volume Touring L without the optional sunroof retains the full published front headroom.

Front legroom is adequate but near the low end of CarScore's minivan normalization range.

The tall cabin without the optional panoramic roof supplies excellent second-row headroom.

Second-row legroom is generous, though the fold-flat buckets trade some cushion depth for Stow 'n Go packaging.

A 36.5-inch legroom figure, low step-in and sliding-door access make the third row genuinely adult-usable, if less ideal for tall adults on very long trips.

Stowing the third row creates a large flat load bay while preserving second-row seating.

Both gas-model rear rows fold into the floor, producing a huge flat cargo area without removing seats.

Dual-row Stow 'n Go is segment-defining: its wells serve as hidden bins with seats raised, and both rear rows disappear into a flat floor for cargo.

Front seats suit long drives, but the thin second-row Stow 'n Go chairs are less plush than removable rival captain's chairs.

The compliant suspension and controlled body motions deliver one of the segment's better combinations of comfort and composure.

Active noise cancellation, laminated glass and extensive sealing keep cruising noise subdued, though the V6 is audible under hard acceleration.

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

The entry gas Pacifica was the Touring FWD; lower L/LX retail models had already moved to the Voyager nameplate, which became fleet-only for 2022.

Touring L FWD is the representative volume gas configuration because it was the widely recommended step-up trim, adding the leather, heated-seat and convenience content family buyers commonly selected.

Edmunds provides a configuration-specific five-year projection for the 2022 Touring L FWD at 15,000 miles per year. The total sits near the expensive end of the minivan normalization band.

The Pacifica's five-year retention trails the minivan category average, increasing depreciation cost. CarEdge's model-year table also shows a 2022 Pacifica currently worth 48.8% of its original price, corroborating the estimate.

Chrysler's basic warranty matched Honda and Toyota but sat at the floor of the scoring band and trailed Kia.

The gas Pacifica's powertrain coverage was conventional for a mainstream minivan but at the bottom of this scoring band.

There was no complimentary scheduled-maintenance plan, putting the Pacifica in the low band. Its longer roadside-assistance coverage was a modest ownership perk, but not enough to offset the lack of included service.

$42,720 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48.8% retained, or about $20,847) leaves about $21,873 in depreciation. Add the projected $9,063 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $30,936 in total.

Owner-survey evidence for the 2022 model is below average overall, although J.D. Power's result is less negative. The scored gas Touring L avoids the PHEV's battery and electrified-transmission failures, but its electronics and other trouble spots still keep it below the segment midpoint.

Chrysler's broader dependability record was bottom-third rather than mid-pack around this model year. A respectable overall brand report-card result does not outweigh its substantially worse-than-average dependability and initial-quality measures.

The model-year recall burden is heavy and includes seats, wipers, loss of the rear-camera image and side-curtain airbags. The gas Touring L is not exposed to the PHEV-only battery-fire and transmission-wiring campaigns, but the remaining safety campaigns are still materially worse than a typical history.

The naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 was already a mature, widely used engine, but rocker-arm/cam wear concerns and the 948TE nine-speed's mixed shifting and durability history prevent an above-average rating. This score applies only to the volume gas Touring L, not the PHEV.

The volume Touring L has a pleasant, feature-rich cabin and leather seating, but visible lower-grade plastics and the compromises required by Stow 'n Go keep it short of class-leading. The richer Limited and Pinnacle interiors are not used to inflate the volume-trim score.

Reviewers found the basic assembly presentable, but initial-quality and owner evidence points to inconsistent execution rather than merely isolated flaws. Reports involving sagging doors, loose trim, rattles, sliding-door trouble and infotainment failures justify a below-average score.

The shared Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram franchise footprint provides adequate nationwide service access, but owner satisfaction is only average. Coverage is a strength; execution is not strong enough for the upper band.

The long-running domestic platform and widely used Pentastar engine provide broad dealer and independent-parts support, and routine ownership costs are favorable. Pacifica-specific electronics, powered-door hardware and major assemblies can still be costly, so it stops short of the top band.

Every 2022 Pacifica uses the 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 central touchscreen.

Uconnect 5 has a configurable home screen, sensible menus and retained physical climate controls, making it one of the easier systems of its period.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim through Uconnect 5.

Voice activation and Alexa integration are useful, but TomTom native navigation is optional rather than standard on Touring L and phone projection remains preferable.

The six-speaker base audio is ordinary, but a 13-speaker Alpine upgrade and 19-speaker Harman Kardon system provide strong premium choices.

A configurable 7-inch information display is useful but remains between analog gauges rather than forming a full-digital cluster.

Uconnect 5 supports over-the-air firmware and map updates, but not broad whole-vehicle feature-adding updates.

SiriusXM Guardian/Uconnect supplies remote start, locking and vehicle location, but service is subscription-based after trial and lacks phone-as-key.

USB-A and USB-C ports are generously distributed, with up to 12 USB ports; the Family Group adds third-row charging and a 115V outlet.

Proximity entry, push-button and remote start, power sliding doors and a power liftgate cover the essentials; hands-free operation is packaged and phone-as-key absent.

Touring L stands out with standard 360-degree surround view, front/rear sensors with stop, and automated parallel/perpendicular parking.

A color head-up display is offered, but it is confined to the expensive Limited/Pinnacle end of the range rather than Touring L.

Low sills, huge power sliding doors, three complete rear LATCH positions, a deep luggage well and fold-into-floor seats make family logistics exceptionally easy.

The 2022 earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and five NHTSA stars overall, while affordable trims include AEB, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping and stop-and-go adaptive cruise.

Three usable rows, tri-zone climate, 32.3 cu ft behind the occupied third row and optional dual-screen entertainment/FamCAM suit long family trips; the thin Stow 'n Go second row is the chief compromise.

A compliant ride, good visibility, standard stop-and-go adaptive cruise and clear controls reduce fatigue, though the nine-speed can select an awkward gear on steep grades.

The volume gas FWD van's 22-mpg combined EPA rating is poor beside hybrid minivans, though it uses regular gasoline.

Its 204.3-inch length and 39.7-foot turning circle require care, but excellent glass area, sliding doors and Touring L's standard surround camera and park assist compensate.

A flat 140.5-cu-ft enclosed cargo bay and 3,600-pound maximum towing capacity handle light trade or delivery work, but this is not a heavy-duty platform.

The established Pentastar V6 is widely supported, but the leather family cabin and Pacifica's mixed reliability record are poor matches for sustained hard commercial use.

Stow 'n Go and hidden bins help with tools, but there is no work-van package, washable cargo treatment, high-output onboard power or meaningful upfit ecosystem.

A quiet compliant ride, adult-usable third row, standard adaptive cruise and roughly 418 miles of combined-EPA range make the gas FWD Pacifica an excellent tourer.

Available AWD, roof rails, 3,600-pound towing and a flat sleeping/cargo floor enable four-season trips, but roughly five inches of clearance precludes serious trails.

Both rear rows vanish into the gas model's floor without removal, switching quickly among seven seats, hidden storage and a huge 140.5-cu-ft flat gear bay.

The Pacifica feels secure and carlike with respectable body control, but its mass and modest grip keep it below the Odyssey dynamically.

Steering is accurate and appropriately light for daily use but offers limited feedback or enthusiasm.

The conventional gas-model brakes are predictable, but the 183-foot instrumented stop from 70 mph is merely average rather than outstanding.

The naturally aspirated 287-hp V6 responds linearly and feels peppy around town, but the nine-speed sometimes hunts or chooses the wrong gear on grades.

Active noise cancellation and acoustic glass keep the V6 subdued at cruise; it remains audible but not coarse under acceleration.

The volume FWD configuration has a relatively broad turning circle, with AWD slightly wider.

An upright driving position, broad adjustment, large windows and well-placed physical climate controls make the van easy to see out of and operate.

Strong V6 output and composed road manners make it pleasant, but muted steering, substantial size and transmission indecision limit driver engagement.

Even Touring included power sliding doors and liftgate, tri-zone climate, Stow 'n Go seating, a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 screen, wireless phone integration, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Its base price was higher than rivals, but the standard content was unusually complete.

Touring L delivered leather, heated seats, family-friendly storage and advanced parking aids, while gas buyers could add AWD and retain fold-flat Stow 'n Go seating. The roughly $42,720 sticker and below-class resale prevent a standout score despite excellent utility.

Four gas trims (Touring, Touring L, Limited and Pinnacle), FWD or AWD availability, and a parallel three-trim plug-in-hybrid range gave buyers unmatched drivetrain and price-ladder choice. The gas-only scoring remains strong because AWD was offered across its trim structure.

The Pacifica was the clear U.S. minivan sales leader in 2022, demonstrating exceptional acceptance even as the overall new-vehicle market contracted.

The Pacifica was Chrysler's polished flagship and had strong family-vehicle recognition, but weak resale materially reduced its brand halo. It lacked the reliability and retained-value pull enjoyed by Toyota and Honda.

Buyer incentives existed, but pandemic-era inventory constraints limited the routine deep discounting later associated with the Pacifica. The result was modest buyer benefit rather than either no-deal scarcity or fire-sale pricing.

Although the generation began for 2017, the 2022 model arrived only one year after a substantial 2021 refresh that brought new styling, AWD and Uconnect 5. The 2022 itself was a light carry-over with Amazon Fire TV availability and enhanced air filtration, so it still felt current without being all-new.

The 2022 Pacifica combined an Editors' Choice recommendation with IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition and consistently strong reviews for refinement and unmatched seating flexibility. It was an award-winning class benchmark, though not an uncontested comparison winner on efficiency or reliability.