When I was a kid, mini-vans were horrible things that represented nothing other than doom wrapped in coarse cloth. I don’t recall anything that even somewhat resembled luxury or comfort in the world of mini-vans. Needless to say, that has changed in our current era. Mini-vans are capable, comfortable, and in the case of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, downright luxurious. 

MotorTrend reviewed the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, and when at first they talk about the interior as being “the Caddilac of mini-vans,” but that quickly gives way to a change of heart. The interior is not only comfortable and well-equipped, but it also becomes apparent to the tester that it is so beautiful can well-designed that it isn’t Cadillac at all; it’s the Bentley of mini-vans. Full stop.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica interior doesn’t just come in black and grey

Chrysler really went to the mat for the Pacifica. Few automakers offer a wide array of color options for interiors. If you are working with leather, this can get expensive and time-consuming. Bentley, I mean, Chrysler knew that we needed some color in these dier times, and some dyed leather just might help a little. 

My favorite is the Nappa-leather seats in a light saddle brown with custom-colored piping and diamond stitching on the wings. MotorTrend mentions their favorite as the Rodeo Red with light-gray stitching with white thread. These colors are tough to believe for a mini-van interior. These color options in leather are only available on the “S” trim and cost an extra $195 – put it on my tab. 

Chrysler wants to be America’s Audi

MotorTrend says that it seems that Chrysler is making a run at being the “America’s Audi.” At first glance, it may be hard to see that comparison, but the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica makes a strong case for that argument. The contrasting stitching against the various colors of leather is really pushing the case forward. The Pinnacle trim offers exquisitely soft materials with the proper dull sheen of soft leather, unlike many hard and shiny cheaper materials often used in car interiors. 

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is not just leather-clad, there’s wood in there, too 

The Pacifica features dark wood trimming all around the dash and door-handle surrounds. It is a dark, heavily grained, and heavily finished wood that looks classy and mild. Although a more modern matte finish would likely look nicer and a little more nuanced, it still has wood, and that counts. 

The Limited and lower-model trims get a metallic-looking dash and door surround. A few piano black touches add a nice contrast to the colorful and natural leather and wood feel. 

The Pinnacle trim ain’t cheap, but you get what you pay for

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle trim comes at a $5,000 premium. That is a big chunk of cash for an interior, but Chrysler brought the noise on this one. Not only do you get all the aesthetic touches that have been mention previously, like color optioned Nappa leather, colored stitching, diamond patters, wood trim, and so on, but the seats themselves are higher quality.

MotorTrend reports that the front two seats have more supportive padding than the lower trims. The second-row captain seats offer even more padding and support. They are so fluffy and luxurious that they can no longer fold up into the floor. The second-row seats also come with, albeit fancy looking, goofy little matching lumber pillows that MotorTrend reports as being nearly useless; they do look nice, though. 

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is loaded 

Although this is mostly about the new super-lux van’s luxurious seating and aesthetic, I can’t forget to mention that the tech inside follows suit. Massive screens abound in this soccer-parent mobile. The infotainment screen in the standard model is 8.4 inches, and the Pinnacle gets a whopper at 10.1 inches. Unlike the old 12-inch CRT tv that my mom had in the back of our old safari, the Pacifica has optional built-in 10-inch screens with games programmed in. 

I’ll say it really plainly…

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is nice–really nice. Like, if you aren’t looking for something sporty or fun to drive, like most SUVs, just buy the mini-van and start the new wave of mini-van ownership. It might look lame, but you’ll be comfy.