Tested: 2027 Chrysler Pacifica is Still CompellingMichael Simari - Car and DriverMichael Simari - Car and DriverIf we haven't reminded you lately, minivans make the best family haulers. Those who need to actually use the third row for humans along with carrying even a weekend's worth of stuff will be let down by most three-row SUVs, which often can't handle that task without some kind of auxiliary storage system on the roof or hanging off a trailer hitch.As a reminder of the vehicle that started it all, Chrysler invited us to load up our family for a summer road trip in the latest example in the minivan lineage, the updated 2027 Pacifica. There hasn't been much new since its last facelift for the 2021 model year, which followed the launch of the van for 2017.Dave VanderWerp - Car and DriverFor 2027, the Pacifica gets another mild overhaul, with the most noticeable element a new Chrysler badge and front-end lighting. In place of the winged emblem is a logo that looks more like a couple of lines from a designer's sketch, the same marking that's appeared on recent Chrysler concept cars. In front, this new branding is illuminated and comes with new headlights that have substantially improved reach and a wider beam pattern. That is, unless you opt for the new base LX trim, which starts at $43,490, keeps the old nose, and replaces the previous Chrysler Voyager model. The 2027 Pacifica also gets new wheel designs and a couple of new features, including a camera feed of the blind-spot area. Activated with the turn signal, the feature is part of the $395 Safety Sphere package on Limited models such as our test van. (The package costs more on the lower Select trim.) Our van didn't have the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment option, which is now available only on the top Pinnacle trim.Road Trip AwayWe loaded my family of five into a bright-red Limited model, second only to the Pinnacle, and rendezvoused in Stowe, Vermont. Our vehicle had the $2995 all-wheel-drive option—a feature added for 2021, and something that's still not ubiquitous among minivans—and just about every other option too, bringing the price to $56,365. The Pinnacle gets a new blue-leather interior, but the Limited soldiers on with the same all-black carryover interior that consists of just-okay materials and no two-tone option to dress things up.Michael Simari - Car and DriverAs we explored the lush Vermont countryside—traveling through charming towns and across covered bridges, sampling maple syrup, and stopping at the Ben & Jerry's creamery and the von Trapp Family Lodge—my kids praised the second-row heated seats but complained that there are cupholders and a USB port only on the passenger's side of the third row. Under the other side is a built-in vacuum, available on Limited trims and standard on Pinnacle. It's a handy feature in a great location for quick access to tidy up the rear seating area. The canister where the detritus piles up is behind a panel in the cargo area, where the optional spare tire used to live (it got nixed with the 2022 models). However, self-sealing tires are somewhat of a salve for fears of being stranded.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Stow 'n Go second-row seats that fold into the floor are still a standout feature found only on the Pacifica. If you regularly haul large items, they're a must-have, and when the seats are up, those large underfloor bins are great additional stash space. However, there are a couple of trade-offs: The second-row buckets have firmer cushions, a lower seating height, and less lateral support than in other minivans. And there's no fore-and-aft adjustability either. But my teenage daughters had no beef with seat comfort.Michael Simari - Car and DriverThe Pacifica's infotainment and climate controls are sometimes laggy, especially right after start-up, but standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are fantastic tools for all your navigating needs. We used Google Maps and Waze to make our way to the Maine coast for a lobster roll at Barnacle Billy's in Ogunquit before pointing the Pacifica back west toward C/D headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we ran it through the usual test regimen.Accelerating to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds puts the Pacifica at the back of today's minivan pack. If that's important, know that in our experience the front-drive variants have been nearly a second quicker to 60 mph, which is closer to the class average, and a difference that isn't explained completely by the all-wheel-drive system's 350-pound weight penalty. When driving more gently, you often have to give the Pacifica's throttle a boot to trigger sufficient downshifts to wake up the gruff 287-hp 3.6-liter V-6, which is not unusual in the efficiency-optimized times we live in. Speaking of the Pentastar V-6, it's the only powertrain now that Chrysler retired the plug-in hybrid variant.Michael Simari - Car and DriverLots of Kids + Lots of Stuff + Lots of Miles = No ProblemA number that may be more important to more buyers is the excellent 66 decibels and 22 sones we measured at a 70-mph cruise. That is seriously quiet for a vehicle this large, among the quietest in the minivan set, and in fact more hushed than what we've found in some blue-chip luxury nameplates, such as the Mercedes E-class.Michael Simari - Car and DriverDuring 1200-plus miles of family hauling with many fill-ups, we couldn't help but notice the fuel gauge is a bit shifty. It doesn't budge for the first 100 miles or so, but the second hundred burns an indicated half tank. Overall, we averaged 22 mpg, which is at least a few-mpg penalty relative to the front-drive model. Back when we spent 40,000 miles with a front-drive 2017 Pacifica, we often got nearly 30 mpg on road trips. Although, on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, this all-wheel-drive Pacifica managed 27 mpg, beating its EPA highway figure by 2 mpg. Still, we'd recommend skipping the all-wheel drive and switching to winter tires during snowy months if you live in an area where you need them.AdvertisementAdvertisementOverall, though, even 10 years into this generation, the Pacifica still has the family-hauling goods, plus a few tricks not found anywhere else. The steering and brakes are nicely linear, and the ride quality is excellent, even on these largest-available 20-inch wheels and tires. The big question, one that Chrysler and Dodge CEO Matt McAlear wouldn't give us a clear answer to, is when to expect an all-new Pacifica. But it can't be too far off.Dave VanderWerp - Car and Driver➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029