Leading the minivan resurgence, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica sees freshened exterior styling and a giant tech update. With seating for between seven or eight passengers plus a massive cargo area, the Pacifica is more spacious than SUVs with a similar footprint. Its well-conceived interior and sliding doors make it a top choice for families, too.
The 2021 Pacifica is available with a choice of gas-only V6 or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrains, the former of which can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 9-speed automatic transmission with a control knob shift lever is standard.
Chrysler offers the Pacifica in Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trim levels, though the hybrid is only available in Touring L and above. These vans are commonly shopped against the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey, though neither offers gasoline-free short-distance commuting like the Pacifica Hybrid.
Every 2021 Pacifica comes with a host of crash-avoidance and driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, and blind-spot monitors. Front bucket seats link by choice of bucket or 3-position bench seats in the middle and a 3-seat rear bench that folds flat into the cargo area.
On the tech front, the new 10.1-inch touchscreen display runs the latest version of Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a host of USB ports scattered throughout the cabin, and over-the-air updates.
An S Appearance package available on every Pacifica trim except the range-topping Pinnacle includes black-finish wheels and exterior trim paired with black upholstery.
All-wheel drive is available with a gas-only engine. It’s optional on Touring and Touring L models and standard on Limited and Pinnacle.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring (Original starting price when new: $37,740)
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The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring starts at $37,740.
The base Pacifica Touring has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting with automatic high-beam headlights, and power-sliding side doors and liftgate.
Inside, its seats wear cloth upholstery. You can fold the second and third rows into the floor to create a mostly flat surface capable of hauling 4′ x 8′ sheets of plywood.
Only a handful of options are available, including a dual-pane panoramic moonroof with a glass panel over the third row, a package containing heated seats and steering wheel, a trailer hitch, and a choice of either single- or dual-screen rear-seat entertainment systems.
A winter weather-friendly all-wheel-drive system is optional for $2,570.
Who is this trim for? Thanks to its generous array of standard features, the Pacifica Touring is more than just an essentials-level minivan.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring includes:
SafetyTec Plus — Chrysler markets its crash-avoidance tech under the SafetyTec Plus name. The included equipment can steer or brake the Pacifica to help avoid a collision, and it can keep the van a safe distance from other traffic at highway speeds.
Stow ‘n Go Seating — You can tumble the second-row and third-row seats into the floor to create a relatively flat surface for maximum cargo hauling.
10.1-inch touchscreen — This screen is one of the largest and brightest fitted to a minivan, and for 2021 it includes new software with over-the-air updates when connected to Wi-Fi.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L (Original starting price when new: $41,040)
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The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L starts at $41,040.
The L in Touring L might as well stand for leather since Chrysler drapes perforated hides over all three rows of seats. Additional equipment includes heated front-row seats and steering wheel, a larger center console between the front seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Pacifica Touring L also opens the floodgates to more optional features grouped in the Premium and Safety Sphere Group. This package adds a surround-view camera, parking sensors, additional sound insulation, a power-adjustable passenger’s seat, a built-in navigation system, 13 Alpine-branded speakers, and third-row USB charging.
The Uconnect Theater Family Group adds dual second-row screens plus hands-free opening for the side doors and tailgate, heated second-row seats, wireless headphones, an integrated vacuum cleaner, and a system called “FamCam” projects a live view of the second and third rows to the dash-mounted infotainment screen.
A power panoramic sunroof, a trailer hitch, and an 8-passenger configuration are also optional.
The Pacifica Touring L Hybrid is nearly identical to the gas-only version in terms of standard and optional features, though the battery pack that gives it an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-rated 32 miles of all-electric range on a full charge means the second-row seats don’t fold into the floor.
Who is this trim for? The leather seats alone might be a worthwhile upgrade to some consumers since not only do they feel more luxurious, but they are also easier to clean off than cloth. The most significant appeal here is likely the slew of optional features, though.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring L includes:
Available hands-free side doors and liftgate — Wave a foot under the sliding side doors or the liftgate, and they will open automatically.
Available surround-view camera — A series of cameras stitch together a view around the van for easier parking and low-speed maneuvering.
Available FamCam — A camera mounted in the headliner provides a birdseye view of rear-seat occupants. The driver can zoom in on a single passenger, like a baby in an infant carrier.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited (Original starting price when new: $50,735)
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The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited starts at $50,735.
It may seem like a big jump to the Pacifica Limited, but this model includes standard all-wheel drive (for the non-hybrid version) and panoramic moonroof, two features that alone account for around $4,000 of that price hike.
Otherwise, the Limited trim level adds Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, an even larger center console with a wireless charging pad, hands-free sliding doors and liftgate, navigation, a 13-speaker Alpine audio system, power adjustment for the passenger’s seat, and a vacuum.
The Premium and Safety Sphere Group on the Limited trim adds a surround-view camera, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, parking sensors, and an automatic parking system.
The Uconnect Theater Family Group includes dual rear screens, the FamCam interior camera, and wireless headphones.
One note: Pacifica Limited is not available in an 8-passenger configuration.
Who is this trim for? Shoppers looking to load up a Pacifica Touring L can step up to the Limited for not much more money, and its softer Nappa leather seats add a luxurious feel inside.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited includes:
All-wheel drive — In gas-only form, the Pacifica Limited comes only with all-wheel drive. That may be a boon to drivers in wintry climates or a turn-off for those in the Sun Belt.
Nappa leather upholstery — A high-quality, softer leather, though one that may require more cleaning and conditioning to maintain its feel over time.
Available automatic parking system — Tap a dash-mounted button with this optional system, and the Pacifica will begin looking for perpendicular or parallel parking spots. Once it finds one, it can maneuver itself into the space.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle (Original starting price when new: $56,015)
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The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle starts at $56,015.
The range-topping Pinnacle is a new trim level for 2021. While it adds 20-inch alloy wheels, its most significant changes come inside. Quilted caramel-colored leather upholstery adorns all three rows of seats, and the second-row captain’s chairs feature additional padding and removable lumbar pillows. However, they do not fold into the floors, so you must remove them to maximize cargo space.
Additional equipment includes features otherwise optional on the Limited, including automatic parking, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio, the FamCam interior camera, and dual rear-seat screens.
A trailer hitch is the only major option available on the Pacifica Pinnacle.
Who is this trim for? The Pinnacle is slightly less costly than a Limited with equivalent options. Still, its non-stowing second-row seats make it the less practical choice for drivers looking to maximize cargo utility.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle includes:
Extra-padded second-row captain’s chairs — While the second-row seats have more padding for long-distance comfort, plus a convenient matching lumbar pillow, they do not stow in the floorboards.
20-inch alloy wheels — These big wheels are standard on the Pinnacle for a dressier look, though their smaller sidewalls mean a slightly firmer ride.
19-speaker Harman Kardon audio — This high-end audio system includes a subwoofer and a 760-watt amplifier to fill the cabin with premium sound.
