Chrysler Pacifica likely to live on as an electric minivan

It’s no exaggeration to say the Chrysler Pacifica minivan is the most important vehicle in Chrysler’s lineup. With the discontinuation of the 300C sedan, the Pacifica is the only vehicle in Chrysler’s lineup.

Yet big changes are on the way, based on comments made during a press briefing for the gorgeous Halcyon Concept EV that has no chance of making it into production. On Tuesday, Chrysler debuted the 2+2 electric concept coupe with barn doors and a greenhouse extending past the front axle as a technological showcase forecasting what’s possible for the future of the brand. 

Some of the components on the Halcyon will make it into production very soon, however. The new Chrysler brand badge tapers its ornate wings for a more streamlined and futuristic look, like a staple embracing a smile. It looks sharp when illuminated on the low hood or rear light bar of the Halcyon, but it will also grace the refreshed Chrysler Pacifica. 

“The Pacifica refresh is significant enough to earn the new badge,” Chrysler brand CEO Chris Feuell told The Car Connection at the Halcyon press briefing late last month.

A perennial bestseller in a contracting minivan segment, the Pacifica has been the bellcow for Chrysler for years. It sold 133,000 Pacificas in 2023, lifted in part by growing popularity of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which, as a segment itself reached record highs in 2023. Of the four major minivans, including the Toyota Sienna hybrid, Honda Odyssey, and Kia Carnival, the Pacifica is the only one offered as a plug-in hybrid. 

With available federal EV tax incentives and 32 miles of electric range, the Pacifica PHEV makes for the perfect electric commuter around town and an efficient road-tripper where you can rely on the gas engine and not worry about having to stop and charge. The plug-in hybrid accounted for 20% of Pacifica sales in 2023, and Chrysler intends for it to account for 34% of sales in 2024. 

Then comes the significant refresh, likely for the 2026 model year. First, later this year, Chrysler will introduce its first new nameplate since the 2011 Chrysler 200. To honor the brand’s centennial, it will be a 2025 model and will be an electric crossover based on the Chrysler Airflow Concept. Not much is known about it, other than it will ride on the brand’s STLA Large platform, same as the Halcyon Concept. 

STLA Large is a versatile platform that could be fitted with gas, plug-in hybrid, or electric powertrains. Parent company Stellantis said it will fit vehicles that measure 201.8 inches long, which is a couple inches shorter than the current Pacifica and the Jeep Grand Cherokee L three-row SUV.  

The Halcyon showed another trait that could presage the evolution of the minivan from the brand that invented the minivan more than 40 years ago. A new take on Chrysler’s famous Stow n’ Go seats. Instead of folding and collapsing into the floor, which would be impossible on an electric vehicle because the battery pack fills the floor between the axles, Halcyon renderings show how the seat bottoms could be pushed into the hatch, with its ends lined up flush with the seat backs. That would open the floor for all kinds of cargo possibilities, though in electric van form it likely wouldn’t be able to fit sheets of plywood. 

An electric Pacifica could follow the refresh as Chrysler aims for an all-electric portfolio by 2028.

“It’s part of the discussion we’re having, and I did say that we are transforming our portfolio to be full battery electric,” Feuell said, “so it certainly suggests we’re coming out with a BEV minivan.”

An electric minivan, not unlike the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, could have many uses beyond being a family hauler, Feuell explained.

“As our population ages, we’re seeing more and more people who want better ingress and egress, better fuel economy, better functionality and ease of use. We’re imagining some other use cases for the minivan and to audiences who may not have considered it before because of the stigma associated with the design,” Feuell said, referencing gig economy drivers and commercial vehicle applications. “This is a segment that Chrysler created and I’m looking forward to recreating the segment.”