# The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD S is Functional, but Dull *By Dave Taylor, menwhoblog.com — Updated April 2026* Written by: [Dave Taylor](https://menwhoblog.com/dave-taylor.html) Last Updated: 25 April 2026 New!Hits: 8Reading time: 07:25 We have owned a couple of minivans over the years, and have loved them all, most notably a Chrysler Town & Country from the era when they were cool. Well, as cool as a minivan could be, at least. Imagine, though, around 2000, ten different car manufacturers had minivans in their lineup, ranging from the Dodge Caravan to the Ford Windstar, Chevy Venture, and even the Nissan Quest. None of the Caravan, Windstar, Venture, or Quest are still for sale, though, with the entire market reduced to the Chrysler Pacifica (a redesigned and renamed Town & Country, first sold in 2017), Toyota Sienna, Kia Carnival (launched in 2023), and Honda Odyssey. The Pacifica and its low-budget little fleet brother, the Chrysler Voyager, lead the pack with about a 40% combined market share, but most buyers have migrated to 7-seater SUVs, part of the huge growth in the SUV segment. I've driven a number of these 7-seater SUVs in the last few months, so when Chrysler offered me a chance to drive the [**2026 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD S Appearance**](https://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/design.html) van in Silver Mist, I assented. How would the spacious interior of a minivan compare to these increasingly luxurious SUV alternatives? Here's what was dropped off: It's streamlined, and there's some sense of design with the front grille, but it's hard to avoid the conclusion that it's rather, well, boring as vehicles go. The 20-inch "foreshadow" painted aluminum wheels don't help, though the "S Appearance" is why they're black: as with so many vehicle models, Chrysler has joined the "blackout" design world with this vehicle. What's black vs. the non-S Appearance? The exterior trim - including the front grille - the side view mirrors, and rear badging. Inside the vehicle, the seats gain a Superman-esque embossed "S" logo. Interestingly, the [Pacifica](https://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/design.html) uses 245/50R20 all-season self-sealing tires that'll cost you a cool $350+ per tire to replace. While these are more expensive, it's worth noting that the Pacifica does not include a spare tire, so if you encounter major tire damage, you're going to be in a pickle, though typical punctures are magically managed with no user intervention required. Moving into the driver's seat, you can see that it's a design with a lot of black accents and is quite functional, with a wide center console and bright, easily navigated 10.1-inch infotainment screen. That controls more than you might think: This model included the [$3325] Uconnect Theater Family Group, which adds seatback video screens for passengers in the second row. The seats are luxurious and comfortable Nappa leather, part of the S Appearance package. One of the great debates in car circles is leather vs. cloth for seats, but if you want the S Appearance blackout style, you'll be getting leather bucket seats as part of the upgrade. That's the first glimmer of what felt odd about the Pacifica as I drove it, an inability to clearly be a premium luxury vehicle or to stick with its roots as a tough family vehicle. The Pacifica hasn't had a major redesign or upgrade since 2021, and the dash design certainly seemed very reminiscent of our old Town & Country. Functional design and continuity are always good, particularly for functions related to user manipulation while driving at 75mph or faster, but it also leads to a sense that the vehicle has fallen behind modern design trends. Given how infrequently a driver changes gears, it would be interesting to change from a gear knob to a stick off the steering column, freeing up this space to center the climate controls and perhaps add a few more buttons for greater ease of use. It certainly seems that Chrysler has standardized on the controls located on the steering wheel crossbar, including the volume and track controls *behind* the crossbar (one of my most disliked design choices in the industry). Still, it's symmetric, and the iconography is generally quite easy to understand, with a reliance on words and abbreviations (like "CANC") rather than the increasingly international, but confusing, all-symbol design. It's a big, wide vehicle, so it's no surprise that the center console is expansive, with plenty of room for gear, beverages, even coins to make tollways a breeze, and charging ports as needed. The front area is a wireless Qi charging pad with a secret additional feature: The top portion includes a Blu-Ray player for the seatback video screens in the second row. Parents retain control, and while each screen can operate independently, it should minimize fights if one child wants to pause and have a nap while the other really wants to keep watching the movie. In practice, I found that the wireless charging pad (lower left) worked very well and do note the four charging ports, three USB-C, one USB-A. The driver and front passenger also have control over input selection on the second row screens, as shown in this Infotainment setting screen. It also has built-in Amazon FireTV, so in an area with a good cellular connection, passengers could ostensibly watch pay channels, streaming shows, and much more, along with plugging in their gaming devices or phones into the screens. Very cool, but as a parent, I still err on the side of fewer screens for better mental health, certainly with shorter drives... One aspect of the [Pacifica Limited](https://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/design.html) that did feel very modern was the instrument cluster. It showed a lot of information, including the relatively pointless tachometer: The Pacifica has a 9-speed automatic transmission. This also shows the fuel efficiency of the Pacifica, with my drive averaging 18.8 mpg [EPA numbers are 17/25, with a combined 20mph]. This puts it at the low end of fuel efficiency; the Pacifica Hybrid averages 30mpg, and the Toyota Sienna bumps up to an impressive 36mpg. The drive experience with the non-hybrid Pacifica was about what you would expect from a minivan. Functional, but underwhelming. This is all about the interior space, and even with its relatively hefty 3.6L V6 engine, it rarely felt peppy, but also rarely left me dragging behind anyone else on mountain roads or the highway. If you're looking for an exciting drive, you might need to have a closer look at that 7-seater SUV category, or be prepared to pony up significantly more - around $8000 - for the Pacifica hybrid, which should be more nimble with its hybrid engine. Convenience-wise, smart drivers will get used to the overhead controls, which make opening the side and back doors a breeze: This gets us to the best aspects of the Pacifica, and it's all about the Stow-and-Go seat design. When they say that the seats sink below the floor and vanish when the mats are moved over them, it's not hyperbole: One of the second row seats is stowed, and, if you look closely, so is the smaller side of the third row seat too. It's amazing when you fold them down, actually, speaking as someone who remembers the painful process of unhooking and physically carrying out seats so there'd be this much space. When the seats are up, their stowage space doubles as handy and completely hidden storage, an additional boon. Here you can see the stowage space on the left, and the fold-flat seat on the right. Close examination will also reveal the FireTV logo on the right seatback video screen. This is what it's all about: the Chrysler Pacifica is essentially a cargo van with ingenious seats and some bling, but it's the interior space that sells this vehicle. It's not an unpleasing appearance, but it's plain and extremely forgettable. That describes much of the experience of driving the Pacifica: Forgettable. Except for the interior and those amazing stow-and-go seats, which are a complete game changer. SUVs can't open up into a big, empty space and then switch to safe transport for a family of seven anywhere near as neatly. I remember this was what made our minivan so wonderful, the ability to change seating to make it work for cargo, bicycles, dogs, a passel of kids, or anything else we needed. If you're in the market for luxury or want something to impress the neighbors, this is not the vehicle for you. If you seek the driving experience and dream of a family vehicle that'll tackle windy, complex mountain roads, this isn't a great match either. But if what you really need is a flexible and reliable family vehicle, the Pacifica might just be a great match. It's just too bad it's so expensive... **[2026 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD S Appearance](https://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/design.html), with 3.6L V6 24V VVT Engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. BASE PRICE: $52,960. Options Included: Customer Preferred Package 27P, Safety Sphere, S Appearance Package, Uconnect Theater Family Group. AS DRIVEN: $62,055.00.** *Disclosure: Chrysler loaned me the Pacifica for a week in return for this candid write-up. This article originally appeared on [PlanetDave.com](https://www.planetdave.com/) with the title [Functional but Dull 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD S](https://planetdave.com/2026/04/functional-but-dull-2026-chrysler-pacifica-limited-awd-s/) and is republished with permission of the author.* **Hey Dave Taylor wants you to share this!**   ---   Written by: [Dave Taylor](https://menwhoblog.com/dave-taylor.html) #MenWhoBlog MemberBlog MasterThought Leader Dave Taylor has been blogging and writing about cars and technology for many years. He's a single dad who earned his medals raising three children and currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where he's surrounded by natural beauty and tons of electronic gear. You can find him at AskDaveTaylor.com or PlanetDave.com. ### Cruises and Resorts Thinking about a cruise or all-inclusive resort vacation? We can help you plan your dream getaway ... 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