2023 Chrysler Pacifica review: I guess I like minivans now

This 2023 Chrysler Pacifica review is the stark reality of my decision to review cars for a living.

My assumption was that this gig was going provide me unlimited access to Lambos and champagne (separately of course), but…here we are.

The worst part of this is the realization that I might actually like minivans. If all the rest are as good as the Pacifica, I take back every negative thing I have said about these things over the years. They’re kinda awesome.

Scott behind the wheel of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica — Well, it was fun having a Man Card while I had it. The Pacifica wasn’t supposed to be one of the best cars I’ve driven this year.

My full review of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Long story short: I ended up with a Pacifica because Avis had nothing else for me when I arrived to pick up a car at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport (MSP). When life gives you lemons…you cowboy up and review that sh*t.

First impressions

When’s the last time you walked up to a minivan and felt chills come over your entire body?

Exactly.

Walking up to this 2023 Pacifica for the very first time did absolutely nothing for me. More than anything, the only thing I took note of was how dirty it was. Whoever washed this thing prior to me picking it up totally half a**ed it.

Black 2023 Chrysler Pacifica — On one hand, this is a lot better than the “compact car” that I reserved the Avis app. On the other hand, the reality of doing a minivan review when you were expecting to do a Corolla review is a straight up mother******.

Black 2023 Chrysler Pacifica rear three-quarter view — How un-American is it of me to admit that this is probably the closest I’ve ever been to a Chrysler Pacifica? At least I’m not afraid to admit that these things actually look pretty darn good up close.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica side view — The proportions are about perfect IMHO. Even in this lower trim level, it looks a little more spendy than it actually is. Base price is $39,615 BTW.

Scott standing in front of black 2023 Chrysler Pacifica — That moment when you realize that you’re going to be rocking a minivan for the next few days (against your will).

Perhaps the best way to sum up my first impressions is to show you the following series of pics. Driving a minivan is something you kind of have to be in the mood for, and it took me a few minutes to psych myself up for it:

Scott feeling apprehensive about driving a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Scarred checking out the buttons and controls in a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Styling and design

I’m not afraid to admit that I actually like the way that the Pacifica looks. It’s very well proportioned (all things considered), and it’s the perfect mix of form and function. They nailed the exterior design.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica front 3/4 view — Is it going to win any design awards? Hell no. But at least it’ll get you to the awards ceremony safely and comfortably.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica rear glass area — That’s not to say that it’s void of any interesting design elements though. The way the rear windows wrap around the body gives me reason to believe that there is at least one person at the Chrysler Design Center who gives a rat’s a**.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica rear view — If you squint your eyes (and tilt your head to the left) just right, you might notice that the tail lights on the Pacifica look a bit like the tail lights on the 2023 Dodge Charger R/T. Kind of. Sort of.

All black 2023 Chrysler Pacifica side view — It’s the side view that’s the best in my opinion. I’m digging the short front and rear overhangs like a ditch.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica headlight — And if you look closely, you’ll find some pretty neat design details in the headlights. Lots of dead bugs too.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica factory tinted windows — As I’m posting these pics, it has occurred to me that one of the reasons why I really like the way this looks is because of the tinted rear windows. It’s *almost* gangster!

2023 Chrysler Pacifica 17 inch aluminum wheel — Finally, the 17 inch aluminum wheels (on 235/65/R17 Yokohama Avid S34 tires) are basic – but decent looking nonetheless. I’ll bet nearly anything that they’re sturdy enough to withstand inadvertently driving over curbs in the Walmart parking lot.

The interior

Hello to all of those of you who skipped ahead to the interior section of this review. I totally get it – when it comes to minivans, it’s the interior (and passenger comfort) that matters the most.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica interior — Now that’s a good looking (and practical AF) interior!

2023 Chrysler Pacifica front seats — I almost don’t even care that the front seats are completely lacking in any support whatsoever. That two-tone color pattern looks *good*.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica dashboard and steering wheel — And check out the girth of that steering wheel! Mom’s like ’em thick I guess.

The Pacifica is capable of carrying seven passengers. Not only is getting them inside easy thanks to the power sliding doors on both sides, most everyone will be fairly comfortable once situated.

I say “most everyone” because the third row bench seat isn’t all that fancy.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica second row captains chairs — The second row of seats consists of two flat-as-a-pancake captains chairs. Better than a bench seat I guess.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica third row bench seat — Speaking of bench seats…welcome to the third row.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica interior seating configuration — It’s actually a very spacious interior. RIP to the moms and dads who will be tasked with deciding which rugrat gets to sit in a captains chair.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica view from the third row seat — This is what the losing rugrat will see from the third row (as he or she plots revenge on you).

2023 Chrysler Pacifica rear cargo area — The fact that there’s this much cargo space in a vehicle with the seating capacity of seven is astounding to me. Minivan life is no joke!

From a practicality point of view, the 2023 Pacifica is just about as good as it gets. There are storage compartments for all your stuff (and everyone else’s) everywhere you look:

The positioning of the infotainment screen is very good. It’s very easy to reach for both front seat passengers, and big enough for the driver to interact with it while keeping at least one eye on the road.

Of course it’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, and happy to report that the screen itself is snappy and responsive.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica physical buttons on dashboard for climate control and gear selector — THANK YOU (and Muchas Gracias) for whoever it was who made the decision to keep physical buttons for the climate control system.

Engine and transmission

A 3.6 L V6 with 287 hp (and 262 lb-ft of torque) is standard on the 2023 Pacifica. It’s mated to a fairly stout 9-speed transmission. This combination will get you from 0 to 60 in 7.3 seconds (without passengers and cargo of course).

2023 Chrysler Pacifica 3.6 L engine — Nothing screams “well-maintained” more thing an engine covered in dirt and grime. Thankfully this 3.6 L V6 has proven to be tough enough to withstand this sort of abuse for nearly 40,000 miles.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica with hood open — Maintenance on this engine should be fairly easy due to how accessible everything is. You’re not going to piss off your mechanic *that* much.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica gear selector knob — The 9-speed transmission in this bad boy is smooth and very well geared. Shifts are quick – and it never had a problem finding the right gear (nor did I thanks to the easy to use gear selector knob on the dashboard).

Even when fully loaded with seven passengers, this engine and transmission combo didn’t seem to struggle a bit. It felt just as responsive as it does while driving empty.

Comfort (and driving dynamics)

Honestly? This thing didn’t drive like I thought a stereotypical minivan would.

What I experienced was a very plush and comfortable ride on most types of road surfaces. It wasn’t overly squishy. Body roll was surprisingly minimal when going around tight corners.

Most importantly: I heard no cussing from passengers all the way back in the third row on a 1.5hr road trip through rural Minnesota.

Driving a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica POV — As much as I wanted to tell you how much I hated driving a minivan, it’s not going to happen in this review. It’s fast enough, tracks dead straight, and the ride is soft (but firm enough not to be sloppy). I like!

Scott driving a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica — Outward and inward visibility is excellent in the Pacifica – which made me feel slightly apprehensive about someone I know seeing me driving a minivan. Little would they know that I was actually having a good time…

Gas mileage

I averaged 24.8 miles per gallon over 287 miles of driving. Most of it was on rural two lane roads (averaging 60 mph), but I did a fair bit of Interstate driving as well (averaging 75 mph).

2023 Chrysler Pacifica at the gas station — **Pro tip:** the gas filler door is on the driver’s side. Looking cool while driving a minivan is tough, but it’ll be impossible if you pull up to the wrong gas pump (requiring to you to get back in and drive around to the other side).

2023 Chrysler Pacifica filling up with gas

Pros and cons

The fact that this thing made a believer out of me is all you really need to know. I really enjoyed driving the Pacifica.

I enjoyed it so much that it only seems logical to declare that maybe I actually like minivans (and didn’t even know it). #wompwomp

Pros

Don’t let it’s size fool you. This thing is as easy to drive as a small car.
Storage bins, cupholders, and cubbyholes up the wazoo.
Outward visibility is excellent (even through the deeply tinted windows in the back).
It’s as easy to drive fully loaded as it is completely empty. Performance is nearly the same.

Cons

It’s not ugly, but it’s still a minivan. Wouldn’t you rather drive an SUV?
It gets blown around a little in strong crosswinds.
The front seats need a little more support IMHO. They’re just too dang flat.

2023 Chrysler Pacifica review: I guess I like minivans now