Chrysler Pacifica (minivan)

The Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan produced by the Chrysler division of Stellantis since the 2017 model year. Replacing the Chrysler Town & Country, the Pacifica is the sixth generation of Chrysler minivans, taking its name from the 2004–2008 product line. Along with serving as the first minivan with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the Pacifica has also served as a platform for autonomous vehicle development.

For the 2020 model year, Chrysler repackaged the lower-trim versions of the Pacifica as a revived Chrysler Voyager, largely to expand fleet sales of the model line; following the retirement of the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Chrysler Voyager was introduced in Canada for 2021 as the Chrysler Grand Caravan (moving the nameplate from Dodge to Chrysler after 36 years). Following the retirement of the Chrysler 300 sedan, the Pacifica/Voyager/Grand Caravan is currently the only vehicle marketed by Chrysler.

Chrysler has assembled the Pacifica minivan (and the Voyager/Grand Caravan) in its Windsor Assembly facility in Ontario (home to Chrysler minivan assembly since 1983).

History

Development

In June 2013, it was reported that Chrysler was preparing to produce a new generation of its Town & Country minivan at the Windsor Assembly Plant, with production set to begin in 2015 and a release for the 2017 model year. An industry analyst reported that the new version would possibly be a crossover utility vehicle in the vein of the Pacifica.

In 2015, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that it would invest $2 billion in developing a new minivan, and overhauling the Windsor Assembly Plant to facilitate its production. A company issued plan of future vehicles revealed that a new Town & Country would begin production in February 2016 for the 2017 model year, and that the final-generation Dodge Grand Caravan would be maintained in parallel with the new Town & Country as a lower-cost option during the 2017 model year, after which it will be discontinued. Marchionne has been against "duplicate investments" in product development—a strategy reflected by his reduction of badge-engineering between FCA US's domestic marques.

On November 3, 2015, FCA filed to have its trademark registration on the Pacifica brand renewed; FCA's Head of Passenger Car Brands Timothy Kuniskis denied that this was related to any new products and that it was standard industry practice to continue renewing its trademarks because "you don't want to lose names. Establishing new names is expensive."

Model years

Chrysler debuted the new vehicle on January 11, 2016, at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. Rather than being named the Town & Country, the new vehicle was branded as the Pacifica. The decision to drop the Town & Country brand was made primarily to distinguish the new vehicle from previous iterations; Director of Chrysler brand product marketing Bruce Velisek explained that the Pacifica was meant to "change the entire paradigm of what people know about minivans in the segment". Among its differences from the previous Town & Country is a new platform, and a design carrying a sportier appearance inspired by crossovers—a market segment that had cannibalized minivan sales—to disassociate the vehicle from other minivans with a boxier build. Chrysler also changed the minivan's sliding doors: they will be aluminum and hands-free, opening automatically when the fob holder waves under them.

The starting price of the 2017 Pacifica was . This was less than the starting price of the 2016 Town & Country. The base model plug-in hybrid, called "Premium", started at and the high-end "Platinum" model started at .

Plug-in hybrid

The production of a plug-in hybrid version was the first of its class in the United States, and according to chief engineer Kevin Mets, meant to create an electric vehicle that could feasibly be a family's "primary vehicle". The Pacifica Hybrid has a 16 kWh battery pack, giving it 33 miles of range under electric power; the vehicle qualifies in the US for the full federal tax credit and also to other incentives at the state and local level.

In June 2017, Chrysler recalled 1,600 Pacificas to fix the electronics.

Autonomous version

On November 7, 2017, Waymo announced that it had begun testing driverless cars without a safety driver at the driver position using the Pacifica plug-in.

AWD version

The AWD option was made available in June 2020 for 2020 Touring-L models equipped with the AWD Launch Edition package. The Pacifica is the only minivan in the North American market to feature a traditional AWD system as the fourth-generation Toyota Sienna has switched to the E-four system with the rear wheels driven electrically.

Chrysler Voyager

Starting with the 2020 model year, the low-end "L" and "LX" models have been separated from the Pacifica nameplate and are now sold under the Voyager nameplate in the United States. This marked the return of the Voyager nameplate to the Chrysler model lineup, in which it was last used in 2016, and the North American market, in which it was last used in 2003 in the U.S. and 2007 in Mexico. In addition to the L and LX trim levels, an "LXi" model is available to fleet customers.

In the 2021 model year, Canadian sales of the model started under the Chrysler Grand Caravan nameplate with trim level designations carried over from the outgoing Dodge Grand Caravan (as opposed to the former base Pacifica) and no equivalent to the LXi model. This marked the return of the "Chrysler Grand Caravan" nameplate which was last used in 2007, primarily in South American markets.

The Voyager was restricted in the United States to fleet buyers for the 2022 model year. It continues the pre-facelift design and includes a long list of features and equipment with only two options: (1) the "SafetyTec Group" (Advanced Brake Assist, Pedestrian Emergency Braking, Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus, Uconnect 5 NAV with 10.1-inch Display, ParkSense Rear Park Assist System with Stop, and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection System) and (2) the "Fleet Security Group" (Two additional key fobs and SiriusXM Guardian trial).
The Voyager made its return to retail sale for the 2025 model year, while still retaining the pre-facelift styling of the Pacifica.

2021 facelift

A restyled 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was introduced at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The 2021 model year Pacifica featured new exterior styling and is now available with all-wheel-drive (AWD) for gasoline-powered models. The Pacifica Hybrid versions use front-wheel-drive.

Unlike previous AWD Chrysler minivans, the AWD Pacifica retains the Stow 'n' Go seating. It is the first Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicle to feature the new Android-based Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a standard 10.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, as well as Amazon Alexa capabilities, as well as SiriusXM Satellite Radio and high-speed data connectivity. USB-C high-speed data and charging ports are standard equipment, and TomTom-based GPS navigation is optional. The "FamCam" rear camera system can display an image of rear passengers in place of a conversation mirror.

A new Pinnacle trim level adds "Pinnacle" badging on the front doors, unique leather seat trim, quilted leather pillows for the second-row seats, and unique exterior styling cues.

File:2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L, front 7.11.21.jpg, 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L
File:2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L, rear 7.11.21.jpg, 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L

Production

Production of the vehicle uses an all-new platform at the Windsor Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Powertrains

The Pacifica uses a new revision of the 3.6 L Pentastar V6 engine, and is produced with two powertrains: gasoline-only and plug-in hybrid, the latter marketed as Pacifica Hybrid.

The plug-in hybrid version uses a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, located under the floor under the second row of seats, with an all-electric range of before switching to the gasoline engine. The battery can be fully recharged in two hours using a 240-volt plug-in system. The hybrid is not available with all-wheel drive, eight-passenger seating, Stow'n'Go seating, or vacuum.

The gasoline-only version of the Pacifica minivan went on sale in mid-2016; the plug-in hybrid version, in 2017. Chrysler expected the plug-in hybrid model to achieve a fuel economy of at least 80 miles per gallon equivalent, and on December 1, 2016, the EPA announced the minivan achieved 84 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent.

Fuel economy

The Pacifica Hybrid operating in hybrid mode had the highest fuel economy of any minivan available in the North American market until the introduction of the 2021 standard-hybrid fourth-generation Toyota Sienna.

The following table presents the U.S. EPA fuel economy ratings for all powertrain variants of the Chrysler Pacifica.

Safety

NHTSA

IIHS

= 2017

=
The 2017 Pacifica was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and its top trim received a ''Top Safety Pick+'' award:

:^* rating applies to models built after August 2016

= 2022

=
The 2022 Pacifica was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it received a ''Top Safety Pick+'' award:

= 2023

=
The 2023 Pacifica was tested In the IIHS' updated Moderate Overlap test, which now emphasizes rear occupant safety, and received a Marginal rating.

Awards

As of December 2020, the Pacifica has earned 140 honors and industry accolades. Among them:
* "Best Minivan of 2016" by Cars.com
* 2017 "Best New Large Utility Vehicle" by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC)
* "2017 North American Utility of the Year" by a panel of automotive experts
* 2017 Family Vehicle of the Year by the Midwest Automotive Media Association
* "2017 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Minivan" from ''MotorWeek''
* "2017 Crossover-SUV of the Year" by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press
* "Top Minivan of 2017" by ''New York Daily News'' Autos Team
* Best Minivan by ''Popular Mechanics'' as part of its 2017 Automotive Excellence Awards
* 2020 Pacifica Hybrid: Top Consumer Rated Van/Minivans of 2020 by Kelly Blue Book
* 2020 Best Family Car by ''Parents magazine'' as the "Best Eco Pick"
*2021 ''Consumer'' Guide Best Buy award (for the fifth year in a row)
*2021 Pacifica won the 2020 CarBuzz Family Fun award
*2021 shortlisted for the 2021 Car of the Year by ''Motor Trend''
*2021 Good Housekeeping Best New Family Car: The Pacifica won this award in April
*2022 Parents Best Family Car: The Pacifica has been named a Best Family Car by Parents for three consecutive years
*2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has won the TAWA Auto Roundup's Best Minivan category.
*2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Cars for Families awarded the Pacifica as the top minivan for families due to its roomy interior, numerous safety features, and special Stow 'n Go seating.

Marketing

In April 2016, Chrysler launched a television advertising campaign for the Pacifica entitled "Dad Brand", featuring comedian Jim Gaffigan and his children. In October 2016, Chrysler launched a social media-oriented campaign known as "PacifiKids", featuring videos in which unsuspecting families shopped for the vehicle at a dealership staffed entirely by children. The Pacifica has also been used in cross-promotional campaigns for the films ''The Secret Life of Pets'' and ''Incredibles 2''.

Total sales

US sales include both the Pacifica and Voyager. Canada sales include both the Pacifica and Chrysler Grand Caravan.

Notes

References

External links

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{{Chrysler

All-wheel-drive vehicles
Pacifica 2017
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Minivans
2010s cars
Cars introduced in 2016
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
Cars of Canada