2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD - Bottom Line Review

LIDO'S SIXTH GENERATION "K" VAN KIDDO : It has been said that the the 1980s American culture was chock full of pop that wasn't very enduring. Recently, the venerable MTV, which mainstreamed the high art choreographed music video more than forty years ago, announced it was exhaling its final breath. Even less has endured from the beginning of the end decade of the malaise automotive era.

Yet one 80's cultural icon which carries on today, in heavily revised form, is the transverse engine family Mini Van, brainchild of legendary chairman Lee Iacocca. Besides turning around the fortunes of America's then distant No. 3 carmaker, 1984's K-car derived Dodge Caravan / Plymouth Voyager models laid down the foundation for generations of active family lifestyle American motoring. It is true that these days the car based crossover utility vehicle fills more U.S. homes' garages. Yet, when it comes to total versatility, larger American families can exhale a sigh of relief that the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD family Mini Van continues Liddo's enduring achievement.

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WHAT: 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD petrol (and available plug-in hybrid electric) transverse engine layout, three-row family van. It is the sixth generation of Chrysler family van, succeeding the fifth generation, RT series Chrysler Town & Country. The architecture is based upon the Stellantis Group 's Compact US Wide, originally developed by FIAT Chrysler Automotive in the early 2010's.

WHAT MOTIVATES IT: Standard Power & Drivetrain: 3.6L Atkinson cycle, dual VVT-i DOHC 24V start-stop idle V-6 cylinder gasoline engine, 9-speed automatic torque converter transaxle, viscous clutch all-wheel drive.

Net Horspower/ Torque: 287 BHP (211 kW), 262 lb-ft @ 4000 r.p.m.

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: The 6th generation Chrysler Pacifica, continues its curved descending nose ahead of cab, tear-drop style, inspired by bullet trains locomotives.

A chrome rung hexagonal dark lattice grille is flanked by wraparound composite lighting with LED halo outlines; Low cowl to sharp descending twin valley clamshell hood; Mid lower valance has dark lattice work for radiator airflow, while corner dark lattice corner housings are trimmed in chrome boomerang; "e" marked charging port door at aft front left fender.

Low beltline Coke bottle body features subtle crease at chrome door handle line and chrome banded rising lower side skirt crease; Half chrome capped side mirrors = door mounted; Seriously raked windscreen flows to rear sloping roofline; Sharp upper D pillar kink;

Body color matching roof spoiler; Liftgate bumps under backlight glass; Full sub backlight raceway light bar wraps into rear quarter panel, forming a lateral boomerang; License plate bowl is mid liftgate with an integrated handle below. Lower bumper cover features lateral chrome bar; blue leaf e-Hybrid emblem at tailgate lower right corner.

WHY: The plushest edition of Lido's streamlined, great, great, great, great, Family Van grand kiddo.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since early Winter 2024

WHERE: Chrysler new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

WHERE TO: The tested 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle, optionally equipped with on-demand fully automated all-wheel drive, adds slippery conditions, sure-footed starting that is unavailable with the exclusively front-wheel drive plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica.

HOW ROADWORTHY: The Pentastar twin-cam gasoline V-6 engine has been around for a few years, famously ubiquitous to the previous generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, and currently in the RAM 1500. Installed transversely in the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle, it makes noise-free mid-range power adequate for chill cruising along.

However, the in-house nine speed automatic transaxle is inclined to make a bee line for the upper overdrive ratios, and there is no sport mode or manumatic gear selection. Thus, in an urgent application of the throttle the Pacifica Pinnacle is challenged to get out of the way of its own sub 2.5 ton weight. The real paradox, then, is that the digital instrument cluster can display all sorts of engine performance data.

Surprisingly, little of the brittle character on minor divots exhibited on the previously tested Pacifica PHEV was present in the tested 2025 Pacifica Pinnacle. The high tensile, alloy rich platform, originally developed for front drive Alfa Romeos, proves to be rigid given the oversized second row doorways.

Steering, however remains under-weighted and laggy to react with directional change. Without regenerative slowing in the non-PHEV models, brake pedal reaction requires more strenuous application to rein in the speed. Still the advantages of the streamlined teardrop shape are manifested in a rather quiet, crosswind resistant family conveyance for the interstate.

HOW FAR: 19 combined miles per gallon observed; 475 miles range

• -32% vs. 2021 Chrysler Pacifica FWD (non-hybrid) combined fuel economy

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 7 Occupant seating = 2+2+3 owing to 2nd Row Captains' chairs (standard on Hybrid); √ 50:50 split 3rd Row seating recedes into cargo bay floor.

• +1 Generous 3rd Row legroom
• -1 No 2nd Row bench available, manual levers to tilt & slide 2nd Row seating for 3rd Row access
  • Wheelbase 121.6" = 1.1" > Toyota Sienna Hybrid AWD
  • Row 2, Row 3 legroom = -0.4", -2.2" vs. Toyota Sienna Hybrid AWD

HOW USEFUL: √ Floating center console w/ sub storage ; √ Flat folding 2nd Row tilting seatbacks, latch releases; √ Flat folding 50/50% split 3rd Row tilting seats w/ twin release straps; √ Slide out aft front center console 2nd Row cupholder tray; √ Remote dual power sliding 2nd Row doors; √ Cupholders x 6; √ Door bottle holders x 3

• +1 Cargo volume = non-hybrid Pacifica; Deep center armrest w/ split roll-top; View over sloping hood;
• -1 Rear backlight & over shoulder blindspots; Distant reach to glove box; Manual lever or strap 2nd or 3rd row seatback tilt, slide or fold; No Stow N' Go 2nd Row seat into floor folding (due to battery pack).
  • Cargo Volume (nom., max.) = -4%, +40% < Toyota Sienna Hybrid AWD
  • Tow rating: Not Recommended vs. 3500 lbs. = Toyota Sienna Hybrid AWD

HOW SAFE: √ 8 airbags; √ Good IIHS marks: 2020 MY Top Safety Pick; √ Rear camera; √ Pedestrian detection braking; √ Forward collision avoidance braking; √ Lane Departure Warning + Keep Assist; √ Full adaptive cruise control; √ Blind Spot Warning; √ Rear cross traffic alert; √ Park Sense w/ reverse full stop; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers; Automatic High Beam headlamps;

Limited Safety Sphere Pkg.: √ ParkSense Front Park Assist with Stop; √ ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist; √ 360° Surround View Camera; √ Fam Cam interior aft cabin camera

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:  The Pinnacle representing the best of the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica ilk, only slightly elevates the cabin materials game, from the last tested 2021 Pacifica Hybrid tested, adding quilted leather edges, enhanced contrast seat surface stitching and micro suede headliner. Oh yes, there are the matching quilted and part suede throw pillows. Although, Chrysler doesn't promise pillow fights won't break out halfway between Chicago and the Grand Tetons.

Warm saddle soft touch panels and steering wheel hides match the quilted insert seating. instrumentation is comprehensive with equal traditional dials and modern TFT, switchgear nails usable oversized, if somewhat indistinguishable at the center stack. Apertures power smoothly though seams could be more even, and a more customizable Android Oreo derived UConnect 5.0 infotainment debuts with 5 times more processor power.

♦ Leather seating - heated Rows 1 + 2, cooled Row 1; ♦ Wide cushion front bucket seats; ♦ 10-way power front seats, w/ 3-setting driver memory; ♦ Heated leather steering wheel with spoke integrated tactile redundant controls + dorsal audio selection & volume toggles; ♦ Automatic 3-zone climate control; ♦ 2nd Row, right-side ceiling climate fan and seat heating controls; ♦ Canted floating center stack ribbed rotary metallic transmission knob, drive assist, climate switches & dual audio knobs; ♦ Overhead console retracting sunglasses bin & cabin convex mirror; ♦ Power folding side mirrors; ♦ Row 2 & 3 manual window sunshades; ♦ Dual moonroofs

• +1 Wide center armrest; Generous steering wheel reach adjustment;
• -1 Minimal seat torso support, flat cushions; Himalayan liftgate lift-height

Cool Gizmo(s): √ 7.0" inch variable TFT color gauge cluster MFD horsepower, flanked by power status and fuel dials; √ Foot well, center console & door panel ambient lighting

Details Done Right: √ Saddle tan leatherette tandem contrast stitched tucked seam dash top & upper door panels; √ Quilted saddle tan Nappa leather seating + contrast stitched tucked seams; √ Brushed metal seat controls; √ High gloss 10.1" media display; √ Microsuede pillars and headliner

Nearly Non-Descript: Loss of two-tone steering wheel & seat matched dash-top (compared to 2021 Pacifica Hybrid Limited); Coarse grain hard plastics with flimsy feeling apertures in cargo bay

HOW CONNECTED: √ Uconnect 5.0 center dash embedded 10.1"-inch tri-pane landscape capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications for two devices; √ TomTom GPS HDD Navigation w/ 3-D map, voice guidance; √ Voice to text SMS messaging; √ USB-A x 5, USB-C x 3; 12V x 2 (includes cargo), 115V AC x 1 (2nd Row, right side wall)

+1 High definition 15 million pixel Uconnect 5.0 media display graphics, customizable widgets; Sliding covered forward center console wireless device storage w/ Qi inductive device charging tray - 6 gigabytes RAM, 64 GB hard drive

• Uconnect Theater with wireless streaming; ♦ 10.1-in. 2nd Row seatback touchscreens; ♦ 13 x children & adult games; ♦ Wireless headphones x 2; ♦ Video remote controls; ♦ HDMI inputs x 2; ♦ Blu-ray/DVD player; ♦ Amazon Fire streaming TV - by subscription

HOW AUDIBLY: 20-speaker, 825 watt Harman Kardon audio booms the bass, helpful with mobile theater

HOW "APP" -LICABLE:

♦ wireless Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; ; ♦ UConnect 5.0 Apps and App Store; ♦ Amazon Alexa remote, + over the air updates

• +1 Extensive Uconnect voice commands for climate, audio, voice to text SMS and navigation inputs

By Subscription: ♦ Sirius XM Traffic, Metro Weather radio & TravelLink apps (5 yrs. included); ♦ Wi-Fi hot spot (by Verizon Wireless) - 30 day trial; ♦ Chrysler ConnectOne telematics - 10 yr. trial

HOW MUCH: $59,720 = 2026 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD

WHAT'S MISSING: Fewer creaks; A glare free instrument cluster, Stow 'N Go sub-floor folding 2nd Row seats (exclusive to bench seating)

ANY COMPETITION: Honda Odyssey: +1 smooth all gas powerplant; responsive transmission; Kia Carnival: +1 Luxurious finish; Toyota Sienna Hybrid: +1 sublime ride, impressive all hybrid efficiency