Chrysler Returns To Luxury, With The New Pacifica Pinnacle:

Many people still consider the Chrysler brand as the luxury brand for the “blue-collar worker”. When the late CEO Sergio Marchionne took over the reins of the former Chrysler Group, talk started about making the Chrysler brand into more of a mainstream brand.

The goal was to include a trio of mainstream sedans that included the Chrysler 200 and the beloved Chrysler 300, the now named Chrysler Pacifica, and two new crossovers. People became upset as the Dodge brand was always considered the mainstream brand of the Chrysler Group and from that point on, the Chrysler brand headed down a dismal path. While Chrysler still developed luxury trims for its popular Chrysler 200 (200C) and the Chrysler 300 (300C) sedans, the Pacifica had a well-equipped Limited model that gave people most what luxury buyers wanted but didn’t have the pizzaz as the “C” level trims.

Enter the new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The Chrysler brand has not only updated Pacifica’s looks, technology, and capability to not just go after the minivan segment but to battle against large crossovers. Chrysler has stepped up for 2021 and is offering one of the brand’s most luxurious vehicles yet, with the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle.

The new elite Pinnacle model is the premium people mover that offers a modern living room on wheels loaded with luxury features and content, including quilted Caramel Nappa leather seats in all three rows and unique matching lumbar pillows in the second-row captain’s chairs. The Pinnacle model also delivers a unique new integrated Ultra console, which features the most functionally in its class and is aesthetically redesigned to flow into the instrument panel.

For audiophiles, the Harman Kardon premium audio group adds a 10-inch rear quarter trim subwoofer to the 19-speaker system, with a 20-speaker system offered on the hybrid powertrain model. The 23-liter sealed enclosure delivers more dynamic bass through the dual-voice-coiled subwoofer and is designed to better integrate with the available Stow ‘n Vac system (or storage bin).

Watch as MotorTend’s Jonny Lieberman walks us through the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid. That’s right, the Pinnacle is available on both the gasoline-powered standard model and its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant as well.

The class-exclusive Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system with two 10.1-inch seatback touchscreens adds additional games, such as Concentration, chess, Simon Clone (late availability) and backgammon (late availability), to keep both adult and child passengers entertained. The new offerings join nine existing games, including Are We There Yet and the License Plate Game, to provide the most built-in games in the industry, without the need for Wi-Fi or a subscription. 

Speaking of 10.1-inch touchscreens, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is bringing upgrades front and center with an all-new 10.1-inch touchscreen, part of the new Uconnect 5 system that will be offered for the first time in a North American FCA vehicle. Delivering the largest standard touchscreen in its class, the 10.1-inch touchscreen is nearly 20 percent larger than the screen it replaces and enables processing speeds up to five times faster than the previous generation.

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 Pinnacle offers a choice of two powerful, efficient and advanced powertrains, the standard award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine and the still class-exclusive hybrid option. The next generation of the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 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 V6 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.

Chrysler has yet to release the price of its new luxury-oriented Pacifica Pinnacle models, but we do know that the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is scheduled to start production in early August 2020 at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario. 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid models are expected to start production a month later, in September 2020. You can expect the Pinnacle models to arrive in dealerships in the third quarter of 2020.