The Chrysler Pacifica Continues to Be the Most Problematic Minivan
An important consideration when choosing a minivan is reliability. It’s crucial to have a reliable minivan so that it doesn’t have mechanical problems and leaves a family stranded at the side of the road. Reliability also results in savings, for with fewer problems, there are less costly repairs. With the minivan market being a small, niche, and competitive market, one outlier stands out as being the least reliable of the bunch: the Chrysler Pacifica.
An overview of the Chrysler Pacifica
The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica has a starting MSRP of $37,270 at its baseline Touring trim level, along with a $1,595 destination fee. It’s equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine with up to 287 horsepower and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available on higher trim levels.
The fuel economy ratings of the Pacifica minivan are 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 22 mpg. However, the Pacifica is available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model: the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid for superior efficiency.
Lastly, as crucial for any minivan model, is the space the Pacifica provides. The Chrysler Pacifica offers up to eight-passenger seating in its roomy cabin. With all seats in place, cargo capacity is rated at 32.3 cubic feet and up to a maximum of 140.5 cubic feet with seats folded down.
How the reliability of the Pacifica compares to other minivans
Currently, four new minivans are available in the United States: the 2023 Toyota Sienna, the 2023 Kia Carnival, the 2023 Honda Odyssey, and the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. While other passenger vans are available, they are not part of the minivan segment. Minivans are not as popular as they used to be. However, these four models are holdouts.
According to U.S. News, the Pacifica has the worst reliability ratings in its class. The Pacifica Hybrid model fares slightly better in reliability, but not by much, making it only the second worst of the five listed minivan models, with the standard Pacifica dead last.
For contrast, the Honda Odyssey is the most reliable minivan in its class, according to data from U.S. News. At No. 2 is the Kia Carnival, followed closely by the No. 3 choice of the Toyota Sienna. Both minivan models have undergone recent changes that might affect their predicted reliability, with the Carnival having undergone a redesign for a new generation, and the Sienna now configured into a standard hybrid model. However, the Carnival does have the best warranty of the bunch, with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty.
Positives of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica
Despite potential reliability issues, the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica otherwise has received praise from many automotive outlets. For example, Car and Driver ranks the Pacifica as the best minivan. In its analysis, Car and Driver highlights its available AWD and efficient hybrid option. The publication also states that the minivan is the “preeminent family-friendly utility vehicle in the age of the SUV.”
Additionally, Kelley Blue Book ranks the Pacifica as the second-best minivan. KBB states it’s a “comfortable, stylish, and practical minivan that offers much appeal to busy families.”
Edmunds is a touch more critical. The outlet praised the versatile and upscale interior of the Pacifica but criticized its performance regarding a clunky transmission and subpar fuel economy ratings in its gas-powered model.
