Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD.

And then there were two. The Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD is one of two vehicles made by the brand that survived cost-cutting measures and vehicle redundancies through the years. Luckily, the Pacifica Pinnacle is the top of the heap and the subject of our Napleton News review! Keep going to read all about it!

Not so mini Minivan.

The Chrysler Pacifica is the grandchild of the vehicle that defined a segment, carried families, sporting teams, groceries, Christmas trees and more to and fro’. Everyone has a Chrysler, Plymouth or Dodge minivan story. Sadly, Plymouth is no more and Dodge concentrates on Chargers and SUVs. But truth be told there have been many great times spent cruising in minivans.

Our subject is a three-row, seven-passenger model powered by the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine. It’s Chrysler’s version of “Old Reliable” in the sense that you can’t kill it. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and puts its power to the ground through an all-wheel drive system.

For those of the persuasion, Chrysler offers a Pacifica Hybrid, and for the budget conscious, the more wallet-friendly Voyager, too.

How does the Pacifica look?

Think of the Pacifica as a progressive, rounded van with a pronounced, but not obnoxious, grille. It honestly breaks no new ground from when it was first introduced in 2016. Lighting is top-shelf, with just the right amount of chrome throughout. Sliding doors provide access on both sides of the vehicle, which is a convenience regardless of where you park.

Inside the Pacifica.

It’s modern but in a quaint, old-fashioned way. Meaning it has many of the features you want in a modern vehicle but they are not so new that it has a huge tablet-sized center display screen. A leather interior moves it upscale even more with heated and ventilated front seats.

A Blu-ray DVD player is included with twin screens on the back of the first row seats. They are a bit tough to see from the wayback, but if you adjust your third-row seating, you might find a comfortable position to view from. Also on-board: the FamCam interior camera records the party going on inside while the optional Stow n Vac vacuum cleaner cleans up their mess afterwards.

Stow n’ Go seating is here as well, with the second and third row seats folding into the floor when not needed. This way, you can go from passenger to cargo van in one step, without having to remove heavy seats to store in the garage. In between all these seats are tons of legroom for those in the second and third row. It’s refreshing to see when you compare it to the tight seating found in most three-row SUVs.

Cargo space is cavernous, too. Behind the third row, there’s 32.3 cubic feet. Fold those down and that space grows to 87.5 cubes. Fold both second- and third-row seating for 140.5 cubic feet.

Behind the wheel of the Pacifica.

Getting behind the wheel of the Chrysler Pacifica AWD is like getting reacquainted with an old friend. Once inside, it’s like you never left. Seating is good and proper, with adjustments for nearly every size of driver. Once buckled in, it’s just as easy to stay there in comfort for a three or four-hour stint on the way to Grandma’s house for the holidays.

Acceleration from the 3.6-liter V6 is surprisingly good, achieving cruising speed without squawking or other untoward noises. Even squeezing the accelerator on the expressway on-ramp was a non-event, offering smooth gradual speed at a rate that got us moving in no time.

Handling was on point, assisted by the Pacifica’s all-wheel drive system. There’s just something about AWD that lends an air of competence to the drive experience. In the meantime, passengers in the back enjoyed the reclining captain’s chairs in the second row.

By now, Stellantis has perfected the art of the Minivan. The Pacifica Pinnacle may not be the newest one on the shelf but it isn’t past its expiration date.

Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle AWD Specifications: