2026 Chrysler Pacifica AWD review: Made for Canada
When we think of minivans, we often see their most valuable asset as being able to transport three rows of people on one trip and loads of cargo on the next. But there’s only one minivan that gives you easy access to seven seats, a fully open cargo area behind the first row, and all-wheel drive, all in the same vehicle. That van is the Chrysler Pacifica, and as a bonus, this excellent road trip companion happens to be built in Canada.
There’s a lot to like about the Chrysler Pacifica, including its spacious interior, good handing, and easy-to-use infotainment system. Its most significant flaws are fuel economy and price, although its best features are available more affordably than our $75,000 test unit. We’ll take a closer look in this 2026 Chrysler Pacifica AWD review.
For this review, I drove the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD for a week of running errands around my home in Toronto. The vehicle was loaned to me by Chrysler Canada for the purpose of creating this review. Have questions about the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica? Ask the automotive experts in our Road Trips in Canada Facebook community!
2026 Chrysler Pacifica AWD pros and cons
Pros:
- Only Stellantis minivans have Stow ‘n Go seats
- Available all-wheel drive
- Made in Canada
Cons:
- Latest infotainment systems can be glitchy
- Fuel economy isn’t great
- Can get pricey
What’s new on the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The Chrysler Pacifica carried into the 2026 model year with no major changes. A refresh is on the way for 2027 that will include an illuminated grille badge, new blind spot view and parking camera activation, repackaged technology features, a standard power liftgate, and new colours. The 2027 model will also receive some price cuts, which is causing 2026 models to be offered with purchase discounts of up to $7,500 to match as of this writing.
What competes with the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The Chrysler Pacifica is the best seller in the relatively small minivan segment. It’s joined in the Chrysler line-up by the more affordable and defeatured Chrysler Grand Caravan, and competitors include the Toyota Sienna, Kia Carnival, and Honda Odyssey.
Size and exterior design
The Chrysler Pacifica drives so well — more on that in a minute — that from behind the wheel you’d think it would be smaller than most of its competitors. That’s not at all the case, though. Only the Honda Odyssey is longer (by about 6 centimetres), and the Pacifica comes within a millimetre of the van with the longest wheelbase, the Kia Carnival.
It’s also good looking on the outside as vans go. Some people prefer the look of the Carnival because it tries to hide its van qualities and look more like an SUV. The Pacifica is unapologetically a van, but it gets a lot right with its clean lines and sliding door tracks that are tucked in at the base of the rear windows instead of in the body panels. Of course, Chrysler ought to get a van’s design right: the automaker originated the minivan segment more than four decades ago.
Interior design
The Pacifica’s sweeping dashboard lines and tapered centre stack give it a classic look. If you’re someone who’s becoming frustrated with the increasing number of basic functions that are getting lost in screens, this van’s buttons and dials will please you. However, there are a few screen-only controls such as the heated and ventilated front seats.
The white stitching and seat piping on the Nappa leather in this Limited AWD tester are surprisingly upscale for a van. And we’re not even looking at the Pinnacle trim here, which adds quilting and removable lumbar pillows for the second row.
How much interior storage does the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica have?
The Chrysler Pacifica has some of the best interior storage around, even by minivan standards. The front row gets a sizeable centre console bin, two centre cupholders, and a large storage area beneath the centre console that can fit a purse or a small backpack. Each front door has a bottle holder and small pockets for loose items.
For the second row, a drawer pulls out of the centre console to create two easy-access cupholders and a large storage bin. There are bottle holders in the door pockets, and when the second-row seats are deployed, the space they take up below the load floor can be turned into additional storage with available accessory bins. The third row has cupholders and small storage bins in the armrests.
Seat comfort
While this week was spent mostly running errands near my home in Toronto, I’ve been on several extended road trips in the Chrysler Pacifica and have found the front seats very comfortable every time. Heated front seats are standard in Canada and ventilation is available beginning at the Limited trim.
The second-row seats are similarly comfortable in the Pacifica’s standard captain’s chairs with available heating. (A second-row bench is not available in the Pacifica or in the lower-priced Chrysler Grand Caravan.) Third row seating is a little tighter, especially if you need to use all three positions, but the outboard seats are more appropriate for adults than in most three-row SUVs.
How many car seats fit in the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica can accommodate up to four child seats with LATCH connectors, two in the second-row captain’s chairs and two in the third row. The second-row seats can be pulled forward to allow third-row access with a car seat still in place, making these two positions the ideal locations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the third-row connections as Marginal because they’re hard to find and other hardware can be mistaken for the anchors.
How much cargo space is in the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica offers 919 litres of cargo space behind its third row. Although that’s the lowest figure among modern minivans, it’s significantly better than what you’d find in any three-row SUV.
The third-row seats collapse easily into the floor to create 2,478 litres of room behind the second-row seatbacks, which is roughly average among vans. But the Pacifica’s real advantage is its standard second-row Stow ‘n Go seats that also collapse into the floor with just a few steps. This means Chrysler’s minivans are the only ones that let you easily access all 5,587 litres of cargo capacity behind the front seats. In other vans, removing those seats is either very complicated or impossible. If you expect to need to move large loads regularly, the Pacifica is the clear choice.
For handy folks who want to build a van for road tripping with features like a sleeping platform with underfloor storage, the Pacifica is by far the best choice. You could build this and install it for your road trips without having to completely remove the second row or otherwise modify your van. This gives you the flexibility to create a comfortable rolling camper with plenty of vertical space and still have a functional three-row family vehicle when you get home.
How much power does the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica have?
With its Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine, the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica produces 287 horsepower and 262-lb-ft of torque. It’s fed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD).
What is the towing capacity of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica has a maximum towing capacity of 1,630 kilograms (3,600 pounds). A factory tow package with a two-inch hitch and trailer sway control is available in Canada for $895.
What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica has official fuel consumption ratings of 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.4 on the highway, and 12.0 combined with AWD. With FWD, these figures are slightly lower at 12.4 L/100 km city, 8.4 highway, and 10.6 combined. During my time with it over a cold and snowy week of mainly city driving, I observed even higher fuel consumption of 14.5 L/100 km.
This is one of the more disappointing things about the Chrysler Pacifica. Not only is its AWD fuel economy the worst among minivans, it’s also more than many midsize three-row SUVs. The Pacifica makes a heck of a case for itself with its Stow ‘n Go seats, but if you don’t expect to make much use of that feature, you may wish to consider the Toyota Sienna instead. It also has available AWD, but it comes with a standard hybrid powertrain that gives it fuel consumption of 6.8 L/100 km combined.
2026 Chrysler Pacifica AWD driving impressions
There’s something to be said for a tried-and-true engine, and the Pentastar V6 fits the bill. This powerplant is steady and produces a good amount of power for the Pacifica, and it’s been around for a long time, meaning the bugs have been worked out and it should prove relatively dependable.
The same can’t be said for the nine-speed automatic transmission, though. I found it inconsistent, shifting too early and bogging down at times while holding gears at high revs at others. As a result, it can feel difficult to modulate the Pacifica’s throttle at lower speeds.
Although the Pacifica is no smaller than any other minivan on the market, it’s the best handling van by far. It’s surprisingly nimble and maneuverable for its size and is easier than average to get around in tight spaces like parallel parking spots and urban parking garages.
Infotainment and technology features
Stellantis’s Uconnect is widely regarded as one of the better infotainment systems in the industry. In the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica, it comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as very convenient toggles on the back of the steering wheel for adjusting the volume and skipping through tracks or radio station favourites.
I still do enjoy Uconnect, but I’ve found the latest Uconnect 5 can be glitchy in newer Stellantis vehicles. In the Pacifica, my phone didn’t consistently connect automatically on startup and there were a couple of times where it needed to be activated manually.
The Pacifica Limited AWD I tested came with a wireless charging pad as well as USB ports for all three rows: two USB-Cs for the front row plus charging ports in the centre console, a USB-A and USB-C on the back of each front-row seat for second-row passengers, and a USB-A in the third row.
Where is the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica built?
The 2026 Chrysler Pacifica is assembled in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The Windsor Assembly Plant has been building minivans for Chrysler and other Stellantis brands for more than 40 years.
How much is the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica in Canada?
Pricing for the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica starts at $52,195 for the Select trim and $57,690 for the Select AWD including destination charges and fees as of this writing. These prices include a $5,000 manufacturer discount, which brings them slightly below the expected pricing for the 2027 Pacifica ($52,995 for Select and $57,995 for Select AWD).
The 2026 Pacifica Limited starts at $59,290, while the Limited AWD is priced from $64,190 fees in. These include a $7,500 manufacturer discount to land below 2027 pricing ($63,995 for Limited, $72,995 for Limited AWD). The 2026 Pacifica Pinnacle starts at $73,190 and also includes a $7,500 incentive. 2027 Pinnacle pricing starts at $72,995.
The Limited AWD unit tested for this review came with extra-cost exterior paint, a 360-degree camera, the blackout S Appearance Package, an accessory pack with storage bins and floor mats, and the towing group. Its final price including the $2,195 destination charge and fees came to $75,038.
Is the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica worth buying?
Frankly, while everything has gotten more expensive and the Pacifica’s high-end pricing is in line with its competition, it’s hard to picture many people paying more than $70,000 for a minivan. The Select AWD trim comes with both of these features as well as the bulk of what minivan buyers are looking for less than $60,000, so that would be a more frugal option.
The main reason to consider another van is if fuel economy is a prime concern for you. The Toyota Sienna doesn’t have second-row seats than can be easily removed, but it does have available AWD and a standard hybrid powertrain with excellent fuel efficiency. On the other hand, the Pacifica’s Stow ‘n Go seats are potent in combination with its available AWD. For people who need both features in one van, there’s simply no substitute.
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