Chrysler Pacifica - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the best vehicles for families are not three-row crossovers, but minivans.

The Chrysler Pacifica and Kia Carnival are two of the best. Graced with more SUV-like styling cues to better align with market demands, these two people haulers offer unparalleled space for people (big and small) and their stuff. But only one can really, truly win. Managing editor Mike Schlee and I spent a week with them to find out who rules the sandbox.

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Minivans have come a long way from their lowly beginnings. Initially conceived as basic transportation for multiple people, the minivan has grown in size, content, and price. Although there are only a handful of choices left on the market, many of the remaining minivans are good ones, none of which may be better than the Chrysler Pacifica, especially the plug-in hybrid.

As the inventor of the modern-day minivan, it’s impressive that Chrysler has remained at the forefront of the segment after all these years. The brand’s latest offering can rival some luxury marques in terms of features and refinement.

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If you’re willing to squint at the lines dividing automotive genres, one might consider the first Chrysler minivan the original crossover.

Think about it. Don’t think about it too hard, because yours truly could also make an argument for AMC’s lovely “wood”-sided Eagle wagon. But Chrysler took an incredibly popular family sedan and gave it more utility by changing some dimensions, creating the modern minivan segment in 1984. Later generations came with more space, more luxury, more power, and more utility—for a while, all-wheel drive was a popular option for family haulers in snowy lands.

What we call the modern crossover marginalized the minivan market, much as the minivan decimated the old family station wagon. Thus the option for AWD disappeared from the Chrysler van, as all-weather traction could be found in more popular, more profitable family haulers. There’s no question that I’m a van fanatic. I’m a current owner of a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, and have owned two other vans prior to this one. The utility combo of sliding doors and plenty of covered cargo space in the rear are godsends to harried parents like myself. But there are few options, especially should I want to confidently visit the family in Northern Wisconsin next winter.

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Welcome to the latest show here at AutoGuide: Family Hauler Feud.

It’s been a busy time here in 2021, the Year of the Minivan. Toyota debuted a wholly new generation of the Sienna, ditching the V6 and boldly going hybrid-only for its people mover. And speaking of bold, check out the bullet train-inspired looks. Meanwhile, Chrysler refreshed its segment-leading Pacifica, reintroducing AWD to its sliding-door model after over a decade. The all-paw drivetrain comes underneath a tweaked, SUV-inspired exterior design.

Then there’s the new kid on the block, the 2022 Kia Carnival. This travelling party on wheels leans into the crossover craze in a big way, so much so that Kia won’t even call it a minivan; it’s a Grand or Life Utility Vehicle, depending on which side of the 49th parallel you’re on. We liked it well enough in our earlier Kia Carnival review, but how does the latest competitor measure up to the establishment? Get the orange slices ready, this is going to be a tough game.

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