Chrysler freshened the Pacifica minivan for the 2021 model year by giving the minivan a restyled grille, a new all-LED taillight that spans the width of the vehicle — similar to that of the Dodge Durango and Charger — and available all-wheel drive. The awd Pacifica is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with 287 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Pacifica also was the launching pad for the automaker’s fifth-generation Uconnect infotainment platform. Here’s a roundup of snippets of Pacifica awd reviews from the automotive media.
“We drove the all-wheel-drive Pacifica on the rain-soaked roads of rural North Carolina, which was a perfect setting to put the new drive setup to the test. Chrysler engineers note that this all-wheel-drive system is a mechanical one, with a front-wheel-drive bias that delivers an appropriate amount of torque to each axle only as needed. So in perfect conditions — 65 degrees and sunny — power still travels almost exclusively to the front wheels.
“But on these drenched North Carolina roads, the Pacifica’s all-wheel-drive system works exceptionally. While there’s no indication of when or how the system is functioning, the extra grip is obviously there as we flung the 4,800-pound minivan around rural roads pretty aggressively. There’s not even a faint indication that the Pacifica might lose traction, even on extremely damp pavement.
“In terms of handling, the Pacifica’s steering has a nice weighty feel to it and provides good feedback. There’s still body roll — as with almost all minivans — but the Pacifica is flatter and smoother than most of the alternatives. If anything, the V-6 could be a bit peppier. The Pacifica isn’t slow, but the gas engine lacks the low-end torque you get from the plug-in hybrid version or even the hybrid Toyota Sienna (thanks, electric motors). On some steeper roads, the V-6 wheezes and whines more than it should. And although the nine-speed automatic is inoffensive at best in normal driving conditions, it’s slow to respond when pushed.”
— Jeff Perez, Motor1.com
“I’ve always appreciated the way the Pacifica drives, which is more like a well-dampened car than a crossover, and thankfully FCA didn’t mess with success for the 2021 model. There are, however, a couple new additions to help the automaker keep up with the Joneses.
“My tester rocks the same engine the Pacifica has always utilized, the venerable 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Here, it makes 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, but what’s new is the ability to send that power to four wheels, rather than two. A $2,995 upcharge, its newly available all-wheel-drive getup offers a little extra piece of mind for drivers in locales with more than one or two seasons. I find it has no effect on the Pacifica’s overall character, mostly because the rear wheels don’t actually engage until the car detects slippage up front, which boosts fuel economy. The 362-pound weight delta doesn’t seem to affect the surprising amount of hustle that the Pacifica’s always packed, and the V6 still sounds great when it’s hustling down an on-ramp.”
— Andrew Krok, Roadshow by CNET
“In the 2021 Pacifica, the nine-speed transmission gets the job done with little fuss. Power from a stop is ample, and delivery is smooth and linear; midrange power on the highway is furnished quickly and naturally. I noticed the occasional rough, abrupt downshift upon deceleration at low speeds around town, but for the most part, the nine-speed was unobtrusive.
“All-wheel drive is a welcome (and timely) addition to the lineup. If any of the Pacifica’s wheels lose traction, the system automatically activates to transfer torque to the wheels that need it. During my test, it kept us on the road during a couple of literally slippery situations and capably passed the Sudden Wisconsin Blizzard test.
“After an incident closed the highway, we were routed to a local road clogged with thick, wet snow that had piled on top of a sheet of ice. After some initial wheel slippage, the system kicked in and provided solid traction to power through the sludge. There was only one situation where the van was outmatched by the weather, and that involved some pretty thick ice, a turn and a hill. We slid until the antilock braking system did its thing, which thankfully was only seconds. AWD is optional on all Pacifica trim levels: Touring, Touring L, Limited and Pinnacle.”
— Jennifer Geiger, Cars.com
“My hip wife is allergic to the term ‘minivan,’ but mention that it’s AWD and she’d have been hard-pressed to ignore this vehicle when we had rugrats in the house. I nailed the throttle over Charlotte’s twisties and all four hooves coordinated nicely. No fuss, no wheelspin from the front tires.
“The throaty Pentastar V-6 reminded me how much I miss 6-bangers in a world where mpg nannies have all but mandated turbo-4s.”
— Henry Payne, The Detroit News
“The all-wheel-drive system is also only available with the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and nine-speed automatic, both carryovers from last year, since there isn’t room to package both the AWD system and the plug-in-hybrid equipment. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The V-6 is rated at a stout 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and feels like it. Keep your foot in it and it even feels zippy. The engine is very smooth and is well isolated from the cabin, though full throttle will elicit a mild snarl from the intake. The transmission is also refined and goes unnoticed most of the time. It’s a bit slow on shifts, though, and it can take a moment to kick down in response to requests for more acceleration.”
“The Pacifica’s ride quality continues to be one of its highlights. It’s supple and smooth without feeling disconnected and floaty. The cabin is solid and doesn’t creak or vibrate. And there’s only small amounts of wind and tire noise. It’s a calm, relaxing machine that’s great for long hauls or your daily commute. With that being said, it’s not particularly playful. Steering is a bit slow and very numb, and there’s a fair bit of body roll. It does feel stable and composed. But hey, the Pacifica isn’t a sports car, nor does it need to be.”
— Joel Stocksdale, Autoblog
“While the Pacifica’s system will send power rearward in response to slip at the front wheels, it also uses other cues to proactively engage the rear axle. Turning on the windshield wipers, heading up a steep grade or accelerating for a pass will all prompt the system to divert torque rearward, regardless of whether there’s enough grip up front.
“From a subjective standpoint, the system functions seamlessly, and the Pacifica exhibits the same controlled ride, competent handling and peppy acceleration as the front-wheel-drive models we’ve tested in the past. At our test track, the all-wheel-drive Pinnacle proved to be slightly slower than a front-wheel-drive 2017 Limited model we tested.”
— Drew Dorian, Car and Driver