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For 2023, the big news for the Chrysler Pacifica is the introduction of the Pacifica Road Tripper package, designed specifically with road-tripping families in mind. It adds unique exterior graphics and accents, a roof rack ready for bikes or cargo, and Mopar all-weather floor mats for real-life messes. Gas models also include the Trailer Tow Group, giving you up to 3,600 pounds of towing, while the Hybrid version offers the same Road Tripper look and vibe with better efficiency.
- Stow ’n Go seating flexibility: Seats fold right into the floor, so you can flip from kid-hauler to cargo-hauler fast (and it’s genuinely easy to do). This is only available on the gas mdoel.
- Car seat–friendly tilt for third-row access: You can tilt the second-row seat forward with a car seat installed (when using lower anchors) to get to the third row without uninstalling everything.
- Bench seat option + great anchor setup: The 8-passenger bench gives you max seating, plus strong car seat flexibility with lower anchors and tethers across the second row.
- Power tailgate on a lower trim: Love seeing this on a more budget-friendly trim because it’s an everyday convenience that usually gets locked behind higher packages.
- Safety + tech that shows up early: Even the base feels well-equipped with driver-assist features (blind spot, forward collision, etc.), and for 2021 the press kit highlights big safety emphasis plus available upgrades like AWD (gas models) and FamCAM/updated Uconnect on higher trims.
- AWD and Hybrid availability: AWD is available on gas models and a hybrid option is offered as well, giving families more ways to prioritize efficiency or weather capability depending on what matters most to them.
The Exterior
It’s a Minivan. It Looks Like a Minivan.
Let’s be real. The Pacifica is not my favorite-looking minivan. I think the newer Sienna and the Kia Carnival look better.
That said, the Pacifica has a little something. The front end gives a subtle “cat eye” vibe. Like, she’s wearing winged liner. She’s trying.
From the side, it’s classic minivan proportions, but I do like how they hide the sliding door track up in the window line. It cleans it up visually and makes the side profile feel a little less busy. The windows are also huge, which is great for visibility and makes the cabin feel brighter.
In the back, you’ve got the taillight bar running across. Again, it’s very minivan, but it’s fine. We’re not buying a minivan for its glow-up moment. We’re buying it because it has to work.
If I were building one, I’d go with the Touring L because leather just makes sense for mom life. I’d stick with front-wheel drive unless I truly needed AWD, choose the 8-passenger bench for flexibility, and go with black leather because kids. I love that Chrysler gives families so many ways to configure this van based on what actually matters to them.
First Row
Sitting in the driver’s seat, I’m having fun already, and here’s why.
Screen + Buttons: Good Ratio
The display is actually a pleasant surprise. It looks more expensive than you’d expect. It’s full color, easy to navigate, and you’ve got quick buttons for the things you actually use like home, media, phone, vehicle, and climate.
I also appreciate the practical buttons. You can quickly mute the screen if your kids are trying to tell you something and you’re overstimulated. I get it.
Storage Up Front: Cubby City
This van is basically one big series of places to set things down.
You’ve got open compartments, little drop zones, and lots of easy-to-reach storage. My only real critique is that there’s not a lot of covered storage. There’s one main covered compartment, but otherwise it’s mostly open bins.
Cupholders, though. We’re thriving.
- Two cupholders up front
- Two more right behind them
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I love four cupholders in reach. Today’s coffee. Yesterday’s coffee. Today’s water. Yesterday’s water. That’s the system.
Second Row
In this tour, we’re in the second-row bench, which makes this an 8-passenger Pacifica. I was genuinely excited to find a bench seat because it gives you maximum seating and it can be really practical depending on your kids and your car seat needs.
The bench is wide and the middle seat is a decent size.
For passenger comfort:
- Ceiling vents in the second row and third row (yes please)
- Climate controls back there
- In higher trims, you can add rear entertainment either on the seatbacks or mounted overhead depending on how you configure it
Also, there are so many ways to open and close the sliding doors that I lost count. Driver controls, passenger button, key fob. It’s easy.
Let's Talk About Car Seat Setup.
The second row has non-removable headrests that angle forward, which can make getting a really clean car seat install a little tricky depending on the seat. It’s doable, but it may take some extra effort to get everything sitting just right!
Second Row Bench: Anchors for Days
In the bench seat, you have:
- Lower anchors in every single seat
- Tether anchors in every single seat
That is what we love to see. That gives you a ton of flexibility for rear-facing and forward-facing installs across the row.
I installed an infant seat (Mesa) rear-facing and it fit great with room. You can install on either side, and the middle seat is workable too, depending on your setup.
Stow ’n Go Seating: The Pacifica Party Trick
If you’ve never seen Stow ’n Go, buckle up.
Chrysler is famous for this and for 2021, the press kit calls out something important: Pacifica is the only minivan offering available AWD while still offering Stow ’n Go seating. That’s a unique combo in the segment.
Functionally, Stow ’n Go is incredibly easy. The seats fold right into the floor. The labels walk you through it step-by-step, and once you do it one time, you’ll feel like you just unlocked a cheat code.
You can also remove the middle seat on the bench configuration, which adds even more flexibility.
This setup matters because it changes how you solve real family logistics.
- Big convertible car seats
- Kids climbing to the third row
- Who is buckling whom
- How do you access a rear-facing seat without doing a full-body workout in the parking lot
Pacifica gives you options.
My Favorite Feature: Car Seat Friendly Tilt for Third Row Access
This is one of my favorite family features on any car.
If you have a car seat installed with lower anchors, you can tilt the seat forward to access the third row without uninstalling the car seat. It does not mess with the integrity of the install, and it makes third-row access so much easier for real life.
Especially if you’re doing a bench seat and you need kids to climb back, this is a huge usability win.
Third Row
Third row comfort is solid, and I had plenty of knee clearance even with a rear-facing seat in front of me. Ceiling vents back here too, which is great.
The third row is more challenging overall. The headrests and anchor placement make it harder to get a great install back there, and it’s not my first choice for car seat placement if you have other options available.
Car seat anchors in the third row are a little more “two seats or bust,” though.
- There are two sets of lower anchors, but the positioning and tether setup makes three-across with car seats pretty unrealistic.
- If you’re doing car seats back there, plan on two car seats, not three.
For regular passengers without car seats, you could fit three people back there in a pinch, but that middle spot is narrow.
Trunk
Okay, Chrysler. I see you.
On this lower trim, we’ve got a power tailgate, and that is not a given in this class. A lot of vehicles make you climb up multiple trim levels before you get it.
And once you’re back there, you can:
- Fold the third row down easily
- Stow seats into the floor
- Remove the middle seat
- Create a huge cargo area that honestly feels like a minivan version of a truck bed
It’s giving transformer energy, and I’m into it.
Safety
The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and even on lower trims, it shows up strong when it comes to safety. Pacifica is known for loading up driver-assist features across the lineup, not hiding them behind top trims.
Standard and available safety features include:
- Blind spot monitoring
- Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control with full stop (availability depends on trim and package)
- Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
- LED headlights, DRLs, fog lamps, and taillights across all trims
For 2023, Pacifica continues to offer one of the most comprehensive safety suites in the minivan segment, with more than 115 standard and available safety and security features. Higher trims add family-friendly extras like a 360-degree surround-view camera and advanced park assist, and the Road Tripper package doesn’t sacrifice any safety features to get its adventure-ready upgrades.
One important note: seat belt pretensioners are front-row only.
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