The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica that I recently spent a day driving around was yet another reminder of how amazingly practical (and comfy) a well thought out minivan can be.
OK yeah, its about as exciting as a household air-conditioning unit. You will be invisible to members of the opposite sex when sitting behind the wheel. And for the guys specifically: you’ll risk invalidating your man card should you choose to drive one of these things on a daily basis.
However. Not only is it so easy to drive, it’s a glorious feeling knowing that there is practically nothing from your local Costco that you couldn’t haul in this thing.
My full review of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica
The following is a detailed overview of the base model 2026 Chrysler Pacifica that I rented at the Denver International Airport. I had reserved a Mercedes-Benz, but all they had for me upon arrival was this minivan. That’s just how it goes sometimes.
First impressions
The fact that I would’ve rather have been in a Mercedes aside, it’s hard to feel like a man walking up to a base-spec minivan.
The 2023 Pacifica that I drove a few years ago was slightly more optioned than this one. That said, this didn’t look like a totally stripped down economy car. At least on the inside.
Styling and design
The 2026 Pacifica is a very bland looking minivan. It’s essentially a rounded rectangle from every angle, with a few clever design details sprinkled about to help break up all that boxiness.
The windows are large (which is great for outward visibility). And I especially like the fact that the rear windows are so deeply tinted that you can’t see inside.
This is a very tall minivan. You won’t be able to stand up inside, but the high roof line makes it easy to move around inside. It also allows for a very large rear hatch opening (which makes it easy to get bulky cargo in and out with relative ease).
Perhaps the best thing about the Pacifica being so bland looking? You’ll blend in and be oblivious to everyone around you everywhere you go. As an introvert, I love this.
Interior overview
The interior is the best part of the Chrysler Pacifica. It’s huge. Very comfortable. And practical as hell. There are storage bins everywhere. Cupholders galore. My favorite part is the existence of USB charging ports in the back of the seats. There’s nothing that the interior designers didn’t think of!
The front seats are decently comfortable. They don’t offer much lateral support, which means that you will slide around like someone learning to ice skate when going around tight corners at speed.
Rear cargo space is impressive. With the third row seats folded down, you could stuff large boxes, bicycles, big screen TVs, and small furniture in the back with ease. Not all at once of course, but you know what I mean.
The infotainment system in the 2026 Pacifica is rock solid IMHO. It offers wireless Apple CarPlay support, which works flawlessly.
Engine and transmission
The 3.6 L Pentastar V6 produces 287 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. That’s not exactly race car specs, but it’ll do for such a bland looking minivan.
The 9 speed automatic transmission is well matched to this engine, allowing it to accelerate to highway speeds relatively quickly and without drama. It’s not until you get slightly beyond highway speeds where it begins to fall flat on it’s face. It just doesn’t have all that much grunt over 4000 RPM.
What’s worse it that it sounds like you’re killing it as it gasps for air (and rattles like a buzzsaw) above 5000 RPM. This is an engine and transmission combo that prefers to be driven in a more gentlemanly way.
Driving impressions
The best way to enjoy the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica? Get it out onto the open road, set the cruise control (recline the seat if you’re so inclined), and just drive. It’s probably one of the most comfortable highway cruisers I have ever driven.
The ride is smooth without being overly soft and floaty. Road noise is minimal. Wind noise was slightly an issue however. I guess that makes sense considering how tall and boxy this thing is.
Driving around town is just as easy as cruising out on the open highway. Outward visibility is excellent, and it’s fairly easy to maneuver into tight parking spots despite it’s overall size.
Build quality
It’s no surprise that the 2026 Pacifica feels rock solid over nearly any type of road surface. Chrysler has been building minivans longer than anyone else (they actually invented the segment), so it’s no surprise that they’ve got the build process pretty much down pat.
With just over 7000 miles on this particular 2026 model, it was still rattle free and drum tight.
Fuel economy
I put about 250 miles on this Pacifica, averaging 27.2 miles per gallon. It probably would’ve been a lot less had I driven west into the front range of the Rocky Mountains, but still. That’s a surprisingly decent MPG considering how brick shaped this thing is.
Pros and cons
The best way to sum up my experience with this 2026 Pacifica? While cruising out on the open road, I actually didn’t miss the Mercedes that I had been denied earlier in the day. Hate on minivans all you want, but the Pacifica is nowhere near as bad as it may seem.
Pros
- Practicality up the Yin Yang. There is a storage compartment (and a fold down seat) to haul nearly anything.
- Huge windows with excellent outward visibility.
- Extremely comfortable ride for everyone (driver and passengers) on long road trip trips.
Cons
- No matter how cool you actually are, you’re just not gonna look the part to anyone while driving around in this thing.
- Being forced to use the power function to close the rear hatch is infuriating when all you want to do is pull it down manually (which for me, was almost always).
- Very flat front seats. Hang the F on, because you will slide from side to side while going around corners at nearly any speed.
