If you’re in the market for a vehicle that will help you haul around seven people easily, but don’t want to buy a large passenger van, the Chrysler Pacifica should be one to pay attention to. 

U.S. News came up with a list of vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles to minivans, that can hold at least seven passengers at one time. One of them, the Pacifica, stands out from that list. Let’s look at why.

What are the best features of the Pacifica?

Hands down, the best features of the Chrysler Pacifica are its cargo space and its roomy cabin. It holds up to eight passengers with three rows of seats if you get the bench-style seating. You can seat seven if you go with captain’s chairs for the second row. 

The Pacifica comes standard with cloth upholstery, but you can choose leather material or Nappa leather if you want something a little easier to clean. Both the front and second-row seats come with the heating option. The front seats also come with ventilation, and the third-row has a power-folding option. 

When it comes to the cargo space, the Chrysler Pacifica has many features to enhance its storage. With all seats in the upright position, you get 32.3 cubic feet of storage behind the last row of seats. If you fold down that row, you will get 87.5 cubic feet. Having both the second and rear seats folded down, you’ll get 140.5 cubic feet. 

As an added bonus, the Pacifica also comes with the Stow ‘N Go system. By stowing the seats into the floor, you free up more space to store some of your bigger items.

What else makes the Chrysler Pacifica a great van to haul passengers in?

The Chrysler Pacifica has high-quality materials in the cabin with tons of features to utilize. The higher the trim level, the more luxurious the inside cabin becomes. Only a few areas have cheaper-looking plastics, but the higher trims are all plush. 

For those who haul a family around in their vehicle, the Pacifica offers a DVD player with an overhead screen and two screens for the passengers sitting in the very back of the vehicle. It also comes with what’s referred to as a “FamCam.” This is a camera that lets you know what your family is up to in the back of the vehicle while you’re busy driving. 

For heating and cooling in this van, Chrysler implemented a tri-zone climate control system. This way the front, middle, and rear passengers can adjust their settings to whatever meets their preferences without stepping on each others’ toes. 

What else does the Pacifica offer?

Chrysler has its Uconnect infotainment system in the Pacifica. This informational feature has always been one of the easiest to use, and the Pacifica’s is definitely no exception to that rule. It’s well organized and you can access what you need without going deep into the menus to perform a simple task. 

Powering it up is a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Paired up with it is a nine-speed automatic transmission that U.S. News felt shifted well for the most part, but did have a tendency to hesitate occasionally. 

The reviewer at U.S. News was also impressed by the gentle, smooth ride it offered and the 3,600-lb towing capacity. However, there were a couple of items that held it back from being a top contender in the minivan area. One is its predicted reliability rating, which is a low 2.5 out of 5 possible points. The other is the firm rear seating. 

Some standard safety features you get are lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning, stop and go adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. You will also get rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. But these are only a handful of items the Pacifica offers. 

The Chrysler Pacifica offers a smooth, comfortable ride for passengers, no matter how many there are. It also offers plenty of room to seat up to eight people without feeling crowded, and there’s enough storage space to haul all their items as well.