2025 Chrysler Pacifica Review

With a focus on comfort and utility, the 2025 Pacifica remains an appealing people mover.

Beverly Braga | 

Aug 29, 2025 | 7 min read

Beverly Braga

Chrysler invented the minivan segment as we know it today. Although the family hauler is now ubiquitous on United States roadways, in the early 1980s, the idea of such a vehicle defied the status quo. Full-size vans and station wagons were the go-to choices for families and people who needed a spacious, versatile vehicle. But something that would slot in between the two — a roomy, affordable automobile that could also fit in the garage? It simply wasn't a real option.

At that time, the Chrysler Corporation — now part of multinational automotive company Stellantis — was teetering on bankruptcy and using every bit of a billion-dollar federal bailout to survive. Chrysler needed to step up and deliver a hit. And with an untested swing, the "magic wagon" connected. In fact, what became known later as the "minivan" was a home run. Together, Chrysler's original Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager sold 210,000 units in their debut year, marking a financial turnaround point for the automaker.

Fast-forward 40 years, and Chrysler's minivan remains the segment's bestseller — but for how long? All new in 2017 and last significantly updated in 2021, the Chrysler Pacifica receives only minor changes for 2025 when what it really needs is an overhaul. As such, my time with the Pacifica was, for better and worse, characterized by nostalgia.

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About the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Review Vehicle

Chrysler markets its minivan as three different vehicles: a basic single-trim Voyager, a V6-powered Pacifica, and a plug-in hybrid Pacifica Hybrid. For this review, I'll focus on the gas-only Pacifica variant.

For the 2025 model year, Chrysler slims the Pacifica lineup to three trim levels. The entry-level Pacifica Select replaces last year's Touring and Touring L, while the Limited and Pinnacle carry over. The base prices range from the mid-$40,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge for delivering the minivan to a dealership from its assembly plant in Canada's Windsor, Ontario.

For this Pacifica review, I test-drove a Pacifica Limited during a media event in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Options included all-wheel drive (AWD), Fathom Blue Pearl paint, the Safety Sphere package, and the Uconnect Theater Family Group package, which increased the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $59,360, including the $1,695 destination charge. Chrysler provided the test vehicle for this review, but I covered the cost of my travel and most meals.

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What's Inside the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica

Visually, the Chrysler Pacifica isn't exactly bursting with personality. For example, the character lines on the body are as straight as uncooked spaghetti. Considering the minivan is already a punchline for many folks, why not offer consumers something more eye-catching? I think an errant sheetmetal kink, wonky headlights, or creatively shaped windows would be most welcome here. And the Limited model's now-standard S Appearance package, with its blacked-out trim, looks more snooze-y than sporty.

The Limited's interior is a quiet realm of comfort. My test vehicle had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, wrapped in soft nappa leather upholstery. A heated steering wheel and heated second-row captain's chairs ensured my Pacifica AWD was ready for winter weather.

No-fuss digital displays include a 7.0-inch instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. The dash layout is efficient and straightforward, and features intuitive and ergonomically placed buttons. Since the basic controls are easily accessible, it's a great choice for commuting with a full house. Also, given the steady rise of touchscreen-based controls, it's nice that everything doesn't have to be controlled by a screen tap or voice activation (though the Pacifica offers that too).

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One of the Pacifica's most attractive features is its standard Stow 'n Go seating, which represents engineering craftiness. Tucking the second- and third-row seats away into the floor to maximize cargo space is relatively simple, but at some point, those seats will have to be unstowed, and I found them heavy to pull up. So, not a task for the kiddos or those with mobility issues.

Cargo space behind the third row measures 32.3 cubic-feet, on the smaller side compared with other minivans. With the third row folded down, however, capacity increases to 87.5 cu-ft, besting the Honda Odyssey (86.6 cu-ft) and Toyota Sienna (75.2 cu-ft). At 86.9 cu-ft, the Kia Carnival also falls short of the Pacifica, but at 145.1 cu-ft, it tops the segment in overall cargo volume. The Pacifica offers 140.5 cubes, just a smidge behind the Odyssey (140.7) but a vast improvement over the Sienna's 101.

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The Pacifica Has Plenty of Tech

The Pacifica might not have the splashy dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays available in the Kia Carnival, but the Chrysler's 10.1-inch touchscreen is larger than the Odyssey's 9.0-inch screen and offers plenty of functionality. The graphics are underwhelming, but the icons are easy to discern, the touchscreen is responsive, and the menus don't require a college-level tutorial.

Uconnect 5 is standard, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, dual phone connectivity, and over-the-air update capability.

Additionally, Chrysler offers a Uconnect Theater package that packs quite a punch. It adds dual 10.0-inch high-definition video screens, and with Amazon Fire TV Built-in, passengers can binge-watch shows or play games individually or together. The theater package also includes HDMI inputs, a Blu-ray/DVD player, and a video USB port in the center stack that can be used to play videos on the second-row screens. Interestingly, the package also includes an integrated Stow 'n Vac vacuum. Perhaps to clean up all the TV-watching snack crumbs.

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Minivan technology isn't just for fun: The Pacifica offers the highest number of standard safety technologies in its class. The usual advanced driver-assistance systems are all there, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Plus, the backup camera includes parking sensors and reverse automatic braking.

A surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, and semi-autonomous parking assistance are available options.

Unfortunately, the Pacifica's advanced age shows in its crash-test ratings. While it earns impressive scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows room for improvement. Notably, however, none of its rivals rate significantly better in IIHS tests. So the Pacifica remains competitive in terms of crash protection.

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Minivan Looks, Minivan Driving Manners

A 3.5-liter V6 producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque is standard, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for all versions of the minivan, but it is pricey at $2,995. When properly equipped, the Pacifica's maximum towing capacity is 3,600 pounds, sufficient to trailer small boats and campers.

Because it's a minivan, the Pacifica isn't likely to be mistaken for a canyon carver — and rightly so, given the heavy and somewhat numb steering feel. That said, acceleration is a bright spot, with enough V6 pep to get moving, and the handling proved decent. I'll credit the AWD for that, particularly given the wet weather and blind turns I encountered. Not once did the minivan feel unsteady, but the suspension is too soft to offer any real driving fun. Appropriately, the Pacifica's plushness caters to the comfort-over-cornering crowd.

Unfortunately, the testing environment did not allow me to report a reliable fuel-economy reading. Pacificas boast EPA fuel-efficiency ratings of 20 mpg to 22 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That's competitive with the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival V6, but well below the Kia Carnival Hybrid (33 mpg) and the Toyota Sienna (35 mpg). But, if gas mileage is your top priority, there's always the Pacifica Hybrid and its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which gets 32 miles of electric-only range.

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Is the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica a Good Minivan?

Cavernous, comfortable, tech laden, and utilitarian, the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica does all the minivan things. It even has competitive safety ratings. However, its lack of personality, outdated feel, and higher price compared with the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna put the Pacifica in a tough spot.

Ultimately, however, comfort is king — and the Pacifica is certainly comfortable. Chrysler's long-lived minivan may be unexciting, but it's not unpleasant. I'd be happy enough behind the wheel for long drives.

Beverly Braga

Beverly Braga is a freelance writer and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a storyteller and communications professional. Her work has appeared in numerous print and digital outlets covering the automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, as well as food and beverage industries.