2018 Chrysler Pacifica review

2018 Chrysler Pacifica Review:

The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica is a strong contender in the minivan class. A quick test drive reveals its ability to meet or surpass the looks, driving experience, and overall performance of contemporary competitors such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Sedona. Additionally, the Pacifica often offers a similar set of features at a more competitive price point than its rivals.

Depending on the configuration, the Pacifica offers several features, including a dual-screen rear entertainment system, automatic emergency braking, a built-in vacuum cleaner, and an automated parallel and perpendicular parking system. The Pacifica Hybrid is actually a plug-in hybrid that can go about 30 miles on pure electric power alone before it switches over to a more traditional gasoline/electric hybrid power.

The Pacifica received a significant refresh for 2021, adding an updated infotainment system with Amazon Alexa™, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, more standard equipment, and updated interior and exterior styling.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have?

Connectivity

The Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid offer straightforward music connection through several USB ports (varying by trim level). Bluetooth® pairing was also seamless during Edmunds testing. 

Infotainment

Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ became standard on 2018 and newer models, but even without them, Chrysler's Uconnect® is one of the easiest systems to use. The controls are easy to understand with a convenient menu on the lower portion of the screen for primary commands, and the device interface operates intuitively.

Driver-Assist Tech

The Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid come standard with a rearview camera. Available driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning/intervention, and a 360-degree camera system. The adaptive cruise control isn't the smoothest operator though, often maintaining a too-long distance from the car in front, and braking too abruptly when other vehicles slow down.

How comfortable is the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica?

Front Seating

From the front seats, the Pacifica feels large even for a minivan, with ample headroom and hip room. It features a multi-adjustable driver seat and a tilt-telescope steering wheel. The driver has easy access to all the controls, though the upright posture can feel more truckish than some competing minivans, such as the Honda Odyssey.

Rear Seating

The second-row seats slide and recline, and offer a gap that allows easy access to the third row. However, the third row feels smaller and more child-oriented than the third row of some competitors.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

The Pacifica's V6 engine is relatively quiet, with a pleasant low-pitch rumble under full throttle. There is minimal road noise and a small amount of wind noise created by the sideview mirrors at highway speeds, though Edmunds detected some rattles on occasion during testing. 

The Pacifica Hybrid is quite silent during its all-electric operation, but can get noisy when the gas engine is running. The transmission tends to make the engine rev higher than you'd expect at times, which adds to the loudness of the powertrain.

Does the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica have good storage?

Cargo 

On paper, the Pacifica's 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row is smaller than its competitors, but that's mostly by the numbers. In the real world, cargo is still very useful. One of the things that makes the Pacifica so versatile is its patented Stow 'N Go® seats, which are standard on the non-hybrid models. While all modern minivans have third rows that fold into the floor, the Pacifica's second row does the same trick, making it easy to maximize cargo space without removing heavy or bulky seats. 

The hybrid model loses the handy Stow 'N Go® seats because the battery is under the floor where the seats would be stored. However, the hybrid's standard second-row captain's chairs are much more comfortable and more car-seat-friendly. While you lose some versatility, the total cargo capacity remains the same at 140.5 cubic feet.

Storage

The Pacifica's center console provides sufficient storage for oversized water bottles and some snacks. The cabin features numerous small storage areas, including cupholders, cubbies, and magazine slots. If you have many small items, this vehicle offers plenty of space to accommodate them.

How easy is the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

The sliding rear doors offer a wide opening for both passenger entry and child-seat loading. There is also a spacious gap between the second- and third-row seats, making it easier to get in and out of the third row. 

The Pacifica's sliding doors also make it easy to load car seats. Both the second and third rows feature two sets of LATCH anchors. In the eight-passenger configuration, a top tether anchor is also available in the second-row center seat. It is actually easier to access the LATCH anchor points in both the second and third rows in the Pacifica Hybrid than the standard Pacifica. The hybrid model's sliding middle seats also offer more space to accommodate larger rear-facing car seats.

Interior Layout and Visibility

The Pacifica's interior controls are user-friendly, featuring large, easily accessible buttons for the driver. From the front, the Pacifica feels roomy, as it offers plenty of headroom and hip room. Legroom is limited in the second and third rows; it is about average and falls short compared to the rear legroom in rivals such as the Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona.

Visibility is excellent in the Pacifica thanks to its abundant windows, low beltline, slender structural pillars, and large mirrors. Its blind spots aren't very big, and the standard blind-spot monitoring system helps with lane changes. The rearview camera filled in the gaps when reversing. Certain trims were also equipped with a 360-degree camera system, which further aids visibility.

What’s the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica like to drive?

Driving

The driving experience will differ slightly depending on which version of the Pacifica you choose. The non-hybrid Pacifica makes about the same power as its competitors and accelerates briskly. It also has strong braking performance for a vehicle of its size. The Edmunds test team noted that the nine-speed automatic transmission was occasionally sluggish to respond and shift gears. The standard Pacifica demonstrated noteworthy handling, as it managed body roll and maintained stability on imperfect road surfaces.

However, the added weight of the Pacifica Hybrid's battery hinders acceleration and handling. The total hybrid power figure is down only slightly from the non-hybrid (260 hp vs. 287 hp), but it takes roughly a second longer to hit the same speeds as the non-hybrid. In electric mode, the hybrid responds quickly to the gas pedal and is smoother to operate (since it doesn't have to shift). The hybrid Pacifica does not offer particularly agile handling in turns, and its tires provide limited traction since they are focused more on fuel economy. 

Towing

The non-hybrid Pacifica can tow up to 3,600 pounds

when properly equipped with the towing package. As for the hybrid, Chrysler recommends against towing; however, this isn't necessarily a drawback for a model that is meant to be electrically driven much of the time and highly efficient on gasoline at other times.

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency \fuel

The EPA estimates that a Pacifica with a front-wheel drive gets 22 miles per gallon

in combined driving. Opting for the AWD Pacifica lowers the combined EPA estimate to 20 mpg. These figures are roughly on par with those for the rest of the non-hybrid minivans. However, if you choose the Pacifica Hybrid, you get up to 33 miles of EPA-estimated range from the battery, then the van switches over to hybrid operation, where you get an impressive EPA-estimated 30 mpg in mixed driving. That figure was the best in this class until the arrival of the pricier Toyota Sienna hybrid in 2021. During testing, Edmunds found the EPA estimates to be pretty reliable for both the electric and hybrid operation.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates