2020 Chrysler Pacifica Review

　　

2020 Chrysler Pacifica Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　As accomplished as three-row SUVs might be, when it comes to hauling a big family and its stuff, minivans continue to rule supreme. One of our favorites is the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica, helped by strong overall performance, a long list of standard and optional features, newly available all-wheel drive and pleasing style inside and out.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$165/mo  for Pacifica Touring

　　Pacifica Touring

　　Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $34,045 MSRPTouring L 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $37,145 MSRPTouring L 35th Anniversary Edition 4dr Minivan w/Prod. End 01/20 (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $38,735 MSRPHybrid Touring 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $39,995 MSRPAWD Launch Edition 4dr Minivan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $40,240 MSRPTouring L Plus 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $40,245 MSRPTouring L Plus 35th Anniversary Edition 4dr Minivan w/Prod. End 01/20 (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $40,840 MSRPHybrid Touring L 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $42,295 MSRPHybrid Touring L 35th Anniversary Edition 4dr Minivan w/Prod. End 01/20 (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $43,785 MSRPLimited 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $44,795 MSRPLimited 35th Anniversary Edition 4dr Minivan w/Prod. End 01/20 (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $45,240 MSRPHybrid Limited 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $45,845 MSRPHybrid Limited 35th Anniversary Edition 4dr Minivan w/Prod. End 01/20 (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $46,540 MSRPRed S 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $48,990 MSRPHybrid Red S 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $49,140 MSRP

　　vs

　　$202/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Minivan

　　One of the Pacifica's greatest assets is its class-exclusive Stow 'n Go second- and third-row seats that fold flat into the floor with relative ease. That lets you tailor the cabin to your particular needs in an instant. Naturally, there are plenty of advanced safety and entertainment features to keep everyone in the family secure and occupied.

　　Among minivans, the Pacifica is second only to the top-ranked Honda Odyssey, which edges out the Chrysler when it comes to cargo space, clever storage solutions and comfort. It's a close battle between the Honda and the Pacifica Hybrid, which gets a slightly better overall score than this non-hybrid model.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Pacifica drive? By minivan standards, the Pacifica is a strong performer. The 287-horsepower V6 gets it up to 60 mph in a quick 7.7 seconds while the brakes bring it to a stop from that speed in only 119 feet. Handling is also praiseworthy, with well-managed body roll and stability over midcorner bumps. We're no fans of the nine-speed transmission's indecisiveness and slow reactions, though, and the steering feel is also on the vague side, which isn't all that uncommon in the class.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Pacifica? There's a lot of comfort to be had in the Pacifica, but it can depend on passenger size and seat selection. The second-row seats are big enough for adults, but the third row is better suited for smaller passengers. Unfortunately, neither of these rows slides or reclines, and all seats have overly firm padding.

　　The ride is smooth and calm, but we suggest sticking to smaller wheel sizes to keep it that way. Road and wind noise is well silenced, though we did notice a few creaks from the interior.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The controls inside the Pacifica are very intuitive and easy to use, with large buttons within arm's reach of the driver. The sliding rear passenger doors provide a generous opening to get in and out or load child seats, and there's a large gap between the second-row seats to access the third row.

　　From the front seats, the Pacifica feels large, with ample headroom and hip room available. Legroom in the second and third rows, however, is just average. Competitors, including the Honda Odyssey and the Kia Sedona, beat it by a few inches. The massive windows, big mirrors and clear lines of sight mean virtually zero blind spots. A rearview camera comes standard, and a 360-degree surround-view camera is optional.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but even without them, Chrysler's Uconnect is one of the easiest systems to use. The controls are easy to understand with a convenient menu on the lower portion of the screen for main commands, and the device interface operates as it should.

　　Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning/intervention and a 360-degree camera are optional. The adaptive cruise is overly sensitive at times, leaving a large following distance and braking hard when minor slowing occurs in front of you.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Pacifica might not be the biggest vehicle in the class, with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 140.5 cubic feet with the rear rows folded. It only falls behind the leaders such as the Honda Odyssey by a few cubic feet. Stow 'n Go seating is an excellent feature, and when the seats aren't stowed, there's good storage underneath the floor.

　　Center console storage is adequate for large water bottles and a few snacks. There are a lot of small pockets throughout the cabin. Cupholders, cubbies and magazine slots are all present. Maximum towing capacity is 3,600 pounds, which is marginally better than other minivans' ratings.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA-estimated mileage for the Pacifica is 22 mpg combined (19 city/28 highway), which is average for a minivan. On our 116-mile evaluation loop, the Pacifica got 25 mpg, which is about what we'd expect.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Pacifica a good value? In standard trim, the Pacifica is a decent value with lots of equipment. In higher trims, there are plenty of optional features offered, but you'll pay a premium for a well-equipped Pacific over competent rivals such as the Odyssey and the Sedona. At first glance, the Pacifica presents an upscale vibe with nice soft-touch surfaces for your elbows. Upon closer inspection, things are less than perfect, with crooked stitching on the steering wheel and door panels.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　There's nothing particularly dynamic or outwardly impressive about the Pacifica, but it's still a good vehicle to drive. It feels solid around corners, has good manners on the highway and, for a minivan, it looks pretty sleek.

　　The interior and exterior styling is attractive with available perforated leather and lots of good-looking surfaces — a departure from the old, boxy Town and Country, for sure. If your family is looking for a stylish way to travel, this certainly fits the bill.

　　

Which Pacifica does zzdcar recommend?

The Touring L trim gets our recommendation for budget-minded shoppers. You'll get roof rails, heated front seats, leather upholstery and window shades for second- and third-row passengers. It's also the only trim available with the new all-wheel-drive system should you need additional traction during winter months. We also suggest adding the Advanced SafetyTec package to get all of the latest safety and driver assistance technologies.

　　

2020 Chrysler Pacifica models

The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica comes in four main trim levels: Touring, Touring L, Touring L Plus and Limited. The naming can be a little confusing but, as expected, the more expensive the trim level, the more standard features you get. There's also a plug-in Pacifica Hybrid, which is reviewed separately.

　　Every Pacifica gets the same engine: a 3.6-liter V6 (287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque) paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Most models come with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is optional on the Touring L via the AWD Launch Edition package. Seven-passenger seating is standard across the board, and eight-passenger seating is optional on all Pacificas.

　　Standard feature highlights for the Touring trim include 17-inch wheels, fog lights, rear parking sensors, heated mirrors, a power liftgate and sliding doors, keyless entry/ignition, remote engine start, tri-zone automatic climate control, second-row in-floor storage bins, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a conversation mirror, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split third-row Stow 'n Go seats, active noise cancellation, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite radio and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　The Touring L trim adds roof rails, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, driver-seat memory functions, and window shades for second and third rows. In addition to all-wheel drive, the new AWD Launch edition package for the Touring L adds black-painted exterior accents and 18-inch wheels.

　　Stepping up to the Touring L Plus will get you an upgraded center console, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated second-row seats, a 115-volt household power outlet, rear interior ambient lighting, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, a rear entertainment system with DVD/Blu-Ray player, a premium 13-speaker Alpine audio system, and additional USB ports in the third row.

　　At the top of the range, the Limited trim comes with 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, LED fog lights, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, power-folding mirrors, hands-free power sliding doors and liftgate, premium leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, power-folding third-row seats, and additional USB ports in the second row.

　　Some features are offered as options on supporting trims. The Advanced SafetyTec package bundles automatic high beams, front parking sensors, automatic wipers, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, an automated parking system, a surround-view camera and a larger driver information display.

　　Other add-ons include a tow package and a 20-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. For a little extra spice, the S Appearance, Red S Appearance and 35th Anniversary packages add cosmetic changes inside and out.

　　

2020 Pacifica Highlights

Type: MinivanPlug-in HybridMinivan

　　Trim: TouringTouring LTouring L 35th Anniversary EditionHybrid TouringAWD Launch EditionTouring L PlusTouring L Plus 35th Anniversary EditionHybrid Touring LHybrid Touring L 35th Anniversary EditionLimitedLimited 35th Anniversary EditionHybrid LimitedHybrid Limited 35th Anniversary EditionRed SHybrid Red STouring

　　

Base MSRP	$34,045
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	32.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles