2026 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Review: Premium Model, Yet Past Its Prime

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      There was a time when every half-ton pickup or seven-seat SUV on my test list would make me groan. Another mundane commuter vehicle, fantastic. Young Byron just wanted to schedule track days and tackle corners, not count cup holders or evaluate comfort features. Nowadays, my interests have broadened, and my weekends are filled with projects—like an old house and a vintage fun car, both needing nearly constant attention. Now, I get just as excited about large wings and spacious beds—and yes, even roomy family vehicles.

      I had grand plans for this Chrysler Pacifica involving 4×8 sheets of OSB, insulating foam, and possibly ten-foot wall plates. However, for the second consecutive year, winter hit hard and fast in Southeast Michigan, turning my materials into a solid block of ice. Think pressure-treated lumber is already heavy? Try soaking it in water and freezing it. Sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges.

      Honestly, that’s likely how many people end up becoming minivan owners. The seven-passenger MPV peaked in popularity during the 1990s and has been declining ever since—at least until recently. Younger Gen-Xers and older Millennials rode in them during their childhood, and many of us have fond memories of them. Sure, our parents may have been pressured to replace them with crossovers and SUVs as they fell out of favor after the turn of the millennium, but surprising as it may be, those former third-row passengers now have kids of their own, and through a mix of nostalgia and practicality, a significant number of them have found themselves driving the same kind of vehicles their parents once did. Funny how life works, isn’t it?

      Chrysler

      Overview

      Chrysler hasn't introduced anything new for the 2026 Pacifica, to be precise. Technically, they did add a 100th Anniversary commemorative “model” to the lineup, but it’s simply a badge-and-sticker package for the Select trim and isn't relevant to the “Red Hot” Pinnacle Model that stayed in my driveway for a week.

      The Pinnacle model comes with a price tag of $60,000, and its interior justifies the cost. The Pacifica feels and looks genuinely nice inside—even perhaps too nice for a car meant for transporting messy kids. But don’t fret; those fancy lumbar pillows are only $95 for the set. Purchase a few extra sets at the dealer and store them in a vacuum bag for when they inevitably need replacement—and you can use the built-in vacuum cleaner for packing them up.

      That being said, the Pacifica is starting to show its age. Its last redesign was nearly ten years ago, and the dashboard’s design reflects that reality. It’s time to upgrade from the large wing vents and refine things a bit in there.

      Chrysler

      Driving Impressions of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle

      For the past 25 years, we’ve praised the handling and ride quality of car-based crossovers, but fittingly, minivans were excelling in that area long before it became trendy. That’s what made them remarkable—the packaging benefits of a front-wheel-drive vehicle combined with the advantages of a classic station wagon, which actually shares more similarities with today's body-on-frame SUVs than what’s marketed as a wagon. It may not be sporty, but the Pacifica handles corners quite well.

      Like any proper high-end minivan, the Pacifica features an old-school V6. This isn’t a criticism of hybrids (though the Pacifica PHEV does come with its own compromises), but rather a testament to how effective this formula remains. There’s a reason early Chrysler minivans tried both turbocharged four-cylinders and transverse V6s: a compact engine compartment combined with a seven-passenger capacity means extracting a lot of torque from a relatively small engine is essential. The 3.6-liter Pentastar’s 287 horsepower moves it along just fine, even with a more modest 262 pound-feet of torque available. For more power, you’d need the electric assistance from the PHEV.

      However, let’s be honest: the minivan shines at the end of a trip when it’s time to park. Whether in a garage or a cramped lot, sliding doors make parking in even tight spaces easy. This is the superior door design, period. Everything that has come after has either regressed or unnecessarily complicated the concept (even a minivan driver wouldn’t want Falcon doors). If we are going to live in a surveillance society, let’s have drones tracking SUV owners, charging them every time their children dent something while swinging those massive doors—the revenue could fund an American autobahn system several times over.

      Chrysler

      Final Thoughts

      Even as a self-proclaimed minivangelist, I’m often pleasantly surprised by the min