I Drove the 2027 Chrysler Pacifica 500 Miles and Now Want More Minivans

Pacifica Previews The Future

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica recently debuted with a fresh face that supposedly previews “the next generation of Chrysler vehicles.” This is now the only Chrysler model left on sale, since the Voyager has been renamed as the Pacifica LX and the 300 has been discontinued since 2023. Besides the futuristic lights and grille, which I can only describe as controversial based on consumer feedback, most of the other changes for 2027 are pretty light.

There is no more plug-in hybrid powertrain, so a 3.6-liter V6 with 287 horsepower is now your only option with front-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive. Chrysler separated the Family Tech Group ($1,495) and Theatre Group ($1,395) packages, meaning they no longer need to be purchased together. There’s also a new Blue Agave Nappa leather on the Pinnacle trim and the Enhanced Safety Sphere Package now includes a turn signal camera view.

Stow n’Go To Five States

I drove the Pacifica from Chrysler’s drive event in Vermont down to a friend’s house in New Jersey, a distance of around 500 miles that took my through five states. If you haven’t drive through this part of the country, particularly Vermont and Connecticut, I highly recommend it for the scenic green hills and mostly empty highways.

The Pacifica was a lovely companion for this journey, even though I didn’t have an entire family or pile of packages to bring with me. It’s quieter than the Toyota Sienna at highway speeds and slightly more comfortable than Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey despite its age. I didn’t miss the PHEV for a journey like this, since the 30-mile electric range would have been depleted quickly.

Even after its facelift, this doesn’t feel like the freshest van on the market, but it still has some key advantages over its rivals.

• Stow n’Go seating is the easiest way to put away a second-row seat, opening up over 140 cubic feet of storage space
• The available rear entertainment screens have built-in FireTV, making them the best-in-class
• It’s loaded with family-friendly features like a rear interior FamCam and built-in vacuum cleaner

Chrysler’s Next Direction

During the recent Stellantis Investor Day, the company teased what will be next from all of its brands, including Chrysler. We expect to see a new Pacifica (or another minivan) added after 2030, which will be joined by three upcoming crossovers.

The first will use the Airflow name, a moniker first given to a concept that Chrysler has been teasing since 2022. That car was initially slated to be all-electric, but it should also get hybrid options. Two covered vehicles were also teased, called the Arrow and Arrow Cross. These will start under $30,000 and likely compete against crossovers like the Toyota RAV4.

More Vans, Please

A few new crossovers will make Chrysler a more interesting brand than it’s been for several years, but I have an idea that’s a little more outside the box. The Pacifica has become integral to Chrysler’s image since its introduction in 2017, and the brand has since become reduced to only offering one minivan. Why not lean into that?

Minivan sales are on the rise, growing by over 20% as a segment last year, despite having only four models available. Nearly 400,000 people bought a minivan last year, and I think even more people would consider one if there were cooler options available. That’s where Chrysler comes in.

My first idea is a smaller van positioned below the Pacifica: the Sport Caravan. Think of this like a Mazda5-sized model (about the same length as a RAV4) but with the space of a van. It could use the platform from the Jeep Cherokee and the same Toyota-sourced hybrid system that nets 37-mpg in that vehicle.

My next idea is an ultra-luxury van to compete with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz VLE, which will have the luxury segment to itself when it arrives next year. Chrysler would finally get its flagship vehicle, reviving either the Aspen or Imperial names. I envision either the Hurricane inline-six or possibly an extended range electric (EREV) powertrain, giving it the smooth passing power worthy of a luxury vehicle.

My idea might be risky, but at least it’s interesting and unique.