Chrysler may not have invented the mini-van, but it sure made its version ubiquitous during the 1980s. Seemingly everybody I knew owned a Caravan or Voyager back then. And when Chrysler looked to the future to reinvent the luxury car, it did so with a stretch mini-van, glitzed in woodgrain and leather, then named it Town & Country. Several generations and a heap of technology later, the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle is as much boutique hotel as family fun bus.
Unlike the boxy vans of my youth, the Pacifica is sleek and beautiful, showing not a wrinkle from its nearly decade of existence. The front was revised a few years ago, but the neatly creased bodysides, rear canted chrome windowline, and wrap-around taillamps are timeless. Upsized 20-inch wheels seem proper under what’s still the best-looking mini-van rolling.
Hands-free sliders and liftgate gain access to the lobby.
Soft brown leather with diamond stitching and turquoise piping upholster the lounge that includes pillows for second row captain’s chairs. Caress the sueded headliner and marvel through a panoramic sunroof. Front seats are heated and ventilated, rear captain’s enjoy heat, and the third-row power deploys into a deep well to enlarge cargo capacity. A flybridge console adds convenient storage beneath. Even with rear seats up, their well provides deep luggage capacity so families can actually travel with six and all their stuff – something not possible in most three-row crossovers.
As in any fresh hotel, flatscreens are everywhere – in the instrument cluster, on the dashboard, and even mounted to the backs of front seats. There’s a Blue Ray player in the console; rear screens connect to Amazon Fire TV. Phones connect through wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and charging pad. It’s a barrage of technology, but Chrysler infotainment is baby simple with redundant physical controls for audio and climate below the intuitive touchscreen. If neither swiping nor pressing delight you, command by voice.
Like an attentive housekeeper, our Pacifica has a built-in vacuum to clean up all of your minions’ messes wherever you voyage.
Unlike the old vans that struggled to get up to speed with just 150 horsepower, the Pacifica employs a 3.6-liter V6 dispensing 287 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque through a 9-speed automatic transmission. Even with all-wheel-drive and nearly double the horsepower, its 17/25-MPG city/highway is 3 MPG better on the highway than its ancestor. It’ll tow up to 3,600 lbs. of boat or RV too.
I’ll always take more power, but this van is about soaking up a continent serenely. Its low center of gravity and wide track provides surprisingly spirited handling whether crossing miles between cornfields or Mulholland Drive above L.A.. I just wish Chrysler would finally upgrade its trailing arm rear suspension to an independent arrangement. If I had a choice to drive the Pacifica or a similarly sized crossover cross-country, this dad is reaching for the Pinnacle.
Not every family vehicle must have 8 inches of ground clearance and look like it can tackle Arabian desert. When you take measure of all the Pacifica Pinnacle offers, and get over the unfair mommy-van image, you realize it’s a very sensible choice in which one can haul a journeyman’s cargo or indulge a limousine’s luxury. Of course, all of this luxury comes at a price. Base Pacificas start at $42,450, but came to a more boutique $59,720 as tested. Competitors include the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Carnival.
Storm Forward!
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