Chrysler Reinvents The Minivan Again, With New 2021 Chrysler Pacifica:
Chrysler Forgets Minivan Market, Takes Aim At Crossover With New Minivan Offering...
The Chrysler brand confirmed everything that MoparInsiders has been reporting about its Chrysler Pacifica minivan over the past year. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is the most advanced minivan ever, from the company that created the minivan segment. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica and setting a new standard in the class by delivering available all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability combined with class-exclusive Stow ‘n Go seating and more standard safety features than any other vehicle in the industry, all wrapped in a refreshed exterior and interior design.
For the first-time ever on Pacifica and the first-time since 2004 on a Chrysler minivan, AWD will be offered on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. After hearing the demand from customers for AWD and to compete against the growing segment of crossovers and SUV, the new AWD system helps Pacifica owners haul people and things through all types of weather, whether it be rain or snow.
As America’s only minivan to offer AWD along with Stow ‘n Go seating, the available system for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica delivers enhanced traction in a wide range of driving and road conditions – from dry pavement to snow-covered roads to non-paved surfaces – and engages seamlessly at any speed without the need of driver activation. AWD mechanical changes resulting in improved driving dynamics include the addition of a rear sway bar and revised tuning for the front and rear suspension. Ride height is increased by 0.78 inches (20 millimeters).
Pacifica’s seamless, fully automatic AWD system is the only one in the segment capable of transferring all available engine torque to the rear wheels, or whichever wheels have more available traction. The Pacifica AWD system, the most capable AWD in the class, is also able to sense and stop the driveshaft from spinning when AWD is not required, a class-exclusive feature in the segment that improves efficiency and reduces emissions.
The AWD system also employs a brake-lock differential system to help enhance traction, with fully automatic torque distribution between each wheel. If one wheel on an axle loses traction, the system applies the brake to the low-traction wheel, redirecting torque through the differential to the wheel with more traction. The 18-inch brake package for AWD features larger vented front and solid rear rotors and calipers with more capacity.
When the Chrysler Pacifica’s drivetrain detects that AWD is not needed, it disconnects the power transfer unit and the rear-drive module automatically to stop the driveshaft from spinning, reducing driveline drag and improving efficiency. The Pacifica AWD will feature new, standard self-sealing 235/60-R18 Michelin Premier All-season tires for 18-inch wheel applications, with 20-inch wheels offered with optional Pirelli self-sealing tires (late availability) or non-self-sealing Falken tires.
The AWD system will be available across all four gas-powered Chrysler Pacifica models with the Touring, Touring L, Limited and the all-new top-of-the-line Pinnacle trim.
The current Chrysler Pacifica’s styling was a love it or hate it design. The polarizing look that Pacifica has when it launched in 2016 as a 2017 model, was to attract people who wouldn’t think about getting themselves in a minivan. Instead of going again with the polarizing look, Chrysler design added a bit of design flair from some Dodge design language, to create an even more sporty and aggressive look.
The Pacifica features a bold, deeply sculpted face and sophisticated styling that does more with less to celebrate the entire width of the rear, resulting in an unmistakable visual jump from the current model. The utility-vehicle-inspired presence begins to take shape right up front with a more “heroic” 3D diamond-style grille, which is accented with painted Gloss Black upper grille textures and a new Bright Chrome grille surround. The iconic Chrysler wing badge is Liquid Chrome and embellished with a new High Gloss Black insert.
The modern face is sculpted to create a more dominant upper grille. The slimmer lower grille mirrors the 3D diamond-style and Gloss Black appearance of the upper grille. New headlamps are crafted with a more aggressive, linear design. Standard new LED headlamps deliver increased light projection and standout boldly thanks to a daytime running lamp (DRL) appearance.
Larger and more deeply sculpted LED fog lamp bezels add visual energy and complement the sportiness of the overall design. Fog lamp bezels are also touched with the painted black texture of the grille and also outlined with L-shaped chrome details.
A new rear all-LED taillamp runs the entire width of the Pacifica, communicating a more upscale lit appearance and transforming the visual feel. The new lit taillamp is encapsulated in a High Gloss Black housing, with the Chrysler wing badge positioned prominently on top of the housing. The taillamp is cleanly and precisely integrated with the backup camera and aerodynamic functions in the single, simple housing. The rear is further dressed up with exterior trim features, including a lower tail end Bright Chrome valance molding.
The all-new Uconnect 5 system, offered for the first time and is standard across the Pacifica lineup, includes a largest-in-class 10.1-inch touchscreen (something we will be seeing in vehicles like the upcoming 2021 Dodge Durango and the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee), which is nearly 20 percent larger than the screen it replaces. The system is five times faster than Uconnect 4 and includes Alexa. With the Uconnect skill for Alexa, customers with Alexa-enabled devices at home can easily ask Alexa to start the car, lock/unlock doors and more. Uconnect 5 brings Amazon Alexa directly into the vehicle itself, giving occupants the freedom to interact with Alexa just as they do at home or on a personal device. With Alexa built-in, occupants can ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiobooks; add items to their to-do list; check the news, weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information; and access tens of thousands of Alexa skills.
The new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica also gives parents a bird’s-eye view of their most precious cargo thanks to the new FamCAM interior camera that delivers a best-in-class high-definition image and allows the driver a view of rear-facing child seat occupants in the second row and even allows them to zoom in on passengers. Another first for the segment, new USB Type C ports allows devices to charge up to four times faster than standard USB outlets.
New for 2021 is the FamCAM interior camera, which projects a best-in-class, high-definition image and allows the driver to keep close tabs on the action happening in the back with segment-exclusive features, including a clear view of rear-facing child seat occupants, a split-view display and a unique “zoom-to-seat” feature.
The FamCAM is cleanly positioned above the cabin between the front and second-row panoramic sunroof and the third-row fixed glass. FamCAM views are accessible through the 10.1-inch touchscreen and allow drivers to quickly click and zoom in. Memory setting functions keep the camera in the most recent position used to aid in ease of use and limit driver distraction.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will also offer 97 standard safety features, which is the most standard safety features in the industry. New LED lights and Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) are both offered for the first time in the class as standard equipment and join Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Rear Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop, electronic stability control (ESC), Forward Collision Warning with Full Stop, Lane Departure Warning, eight airbags and more as standard safety features. All told, the Pacifica features 116 standard and available safety and security features.
The popular S Appearance package, introduced in 2017 and now chosen by one of every three Pacifica buyers, will continue in 2021 with new exterior Anodized Ink finishes on the grille surrounds and badging, and a new “Foreshadow” finish on the wheels. The Pacifica Red S Edition, introduced in 2019 for the 2020 model year with class-exclusive Rodèo Red premium Nappa leather seats, will also continue as an option for owners looking to customize their Pacifica Limited S from the factory.
The interior refresh of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica broadens its appeal with utility-vehicle style cues while setting a new standard in the class through the use of premium materials, more striking color combinations and enhanced technology.
Leading the way is a new top-of-the-line model, the Pacifica Pinnacle. The Pinnacle model features a luxurious and sophisticated interior, targeting customers who desire a vehicle loaded with premium appointments and features.
The Pinnacle offers the most luxurious interior in its class, with one of Pacifica’s two new available integrated consoles designed to seamlessly flow into the instrument panel. The Pinnacle integrated Ultra center console, the most functional in its class, seamlessly blends into the instrument panel with the transition assisted by two soft wings bordered with accent stitch. The larger console area allows for the armrest to be relocated from the seats to the console and provides dual-leveled storage, featuring a storage tray on top and a deeper storage area underneath. A large pass-through underneath the console offers an abundant amount of covered storage, providing ample space for personal bags or other large items, such as a laptop.
The Pinnacle Ultra console offers 13.65 liters of overall storage, an increase of 4.55 liters, one-third more than the current model. Covered storage is 12.1 liters, also a one-third increase over the current model. Pinnacle also includes second-row storage bins located in the floor. Total storage on the Pinnacle model is a best-in-class 227.6 liters, which is enough room to haul 60 gallons of milk.
A striking Caramel and Piano Black color theme, exclusive to the Pinnacle model, defines the interior. Caramel Nappa leather seats are embellished with quilted seat side bolsters and perforated seat inserts and seatbacks on all three rows, including second-row captain’s chairs, adding an elite premium touchpoint. In addition, seats are accented by Light Tungsten piping and stitching, which serves as a nice, subtle contrast with the richness of the Caramel seats. The Caramel color feel extends to the door panel armrest and bolsters with added Caramel accent stitching on the door upper.
A unique set of two fully movable lumbar comfort pillows for the second-row captain’s chairs match the quilted style and Caramel color of the leather seats and provide an additional dash of classy comfort and style for passengers. The lumbar pillows feature an embossed Chrysler logo on one side, with a suede pillow backing on the other.
The instrument panel pops thanks to a new mid-century Timber Hydro bezel that delivers distinct wood styling, while a Piano black finish elegantly dresses up the center stack bezel, PRNDL bezel, and push-push storage bin door. Satin Chrome plating accents on the seat controls on the first and second row and on the sliding door handles enhance the overall premium aesthetics and also touch and feel for customers. The Pinnacle exudes luxury literally from top to bottom, the interior includes a vehicle-length black suede headliner and high-end Berber-construction floor mats.
Unique finishes stretch out to touch the exterior of the Pinnacle, including a Satin Carbon Grille and Platinum Chrome on all exterior surrounds, moldings and badging in place of standard Bright Chrome. A new Pinnacle side door nameplate in the Pacifica font is also Platinum Chrome.
The interior of the Limited model is also transformed with its own new integrated Premium console, a more compact iteration of the Pinnacle console. The Limited’s Premium console also flows into the instrument panel and provides dual-level storage with a large pass-through storage area. Center storage is delivered through a tambour door that is a half-inch wider and 1.25 inches longer than the current model. The Limited Premium console delivers 7.60 liters of overall storage, three liters more than the current model, and allows for inclusion of Stow ‘n Go seating.
The Super console from the 2020 Pacifica Limited waterfalls to 2021 Pacifica Touring L models, while the 2021 Pacifica Touring model features a carryover of the Mid console.
Elite interior features become standard equipment more than ever before for the 2021 Pacifica lineup, including a seven-inch digital cluster, a soft-touch instrument panel with accent stitching and second-row sunshades.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will continue to offer a choice of two powerful, efficient and advanced powertrains: the standard award-winning Pentastar V-6 engine and the still class-exclusive hybrid option. The next generation of the award-winning Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine, which is mated to a segment-exclusive TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission, delivers 287 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque.
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid delivers more than 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode, an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. The segment’s first hybrid vehicle features an FCA-designed, innovative dual-motor eFlite electrically variable transmission (EVT) paired with a specially modified version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine. The Pacifica Hybrid is designed to offer a seamless driving experience, with no need for the driver to select between electric and hybrid modes.
The Pacifica Hybrid, ranked among the top five best-selling PHEVs in the industry, is equipped with a regenerative braking system that redirects the kinetic energy used to stop the brakes into energy that is used to charge the vehicle’s battery. The Pacifica Hybrid may be fully recharged via the 6.6-kWh on-board charger in as little as two hours using a 240-volt (Level 2) charger, available from Mopar through dealers.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will offer four models, with content more closely aligned as much as possible to make each model consistent across both gas-powered and hybrid powertrain options. Those models will include Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trim levels. Ten exterior colors will be available in 2021. Those colors include – Billet Silver, Bright White, Brillant Black, Ceramic Grey, Fathom Blue (all-new), Granite Crystal, Luxury White, Maximum Steel, Ocean Blue Metallic, and Velvet Red.
The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica will be built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Orders open in the third quarter of 2020, with the vehicle available in dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2020. AWD also will be available on the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Launch Edition, which opens for dealer orders in the second quarter of 2020 and begins arriving in dealerships in the late second quarter of 2020.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Image Gallery:
