2027 Pacifica: Shame on Chrysler.

I guess the only excuse for this is that Sergio Marchionne was starving Chrysler for years. But he’s been gone for eight years, and during that time, nothing really happened at Chrysler. Aside from the Halcyon concept, which will probably not preview anything meaningful. Unlike what Chrysler executives were saying at the time. As we can see with the revised Pacifica minivan, it has none of the design cues from the Halcyon concept.

The Pacifica was originally introduced in 2017 and received a rather unfortunate mid-cycle refresh in 2021. One with a strange-looking, truck-like grille grafted onto it. At least the 2027 model looks better than that version, but not really better than the clean and cohesive 2017 design. Which is quite a shame, considering how much time has passed.

That redesigned front end is basically all that is new for 2027. It’s also quite interesting to see how Chrysler is still trying to sell this as something “new.” I repeat, everything else is the same. Inside, the only noticeable difference is the updated Chrysler logo on the steering wheel. The 3.6-liter V6 is also returning, but now there’s no hybrid option at all. Which feels like a huge step backward in today’s market.

The PR suits mentions “A Vision for the Next Century,” with polished BS statements like: “The exterior redesign of the 2027 Chrysler Pacifica brings a technical, modern character to the forefront. This transformation touches virtually every surface of the front fascia, creating a crafted, sculpted presence that changes the perception of the brand and serves as a roadmap for the look and feel of future Chrysler products.”

They also highlight “Smarter technology for modern families,” pointing to features like an upgraded audio system, Uconnect 5 NAV with a 10.1-inch display, an eight-way power front passenger seat, and additional power outlets and USB ports. Impressive on paper, perhaps. But in reality, these are standard or widely available features in many modern vehicles costing much less.

Somehow, Chrysler is still selling around 110,000 of these per year. I have to admit, after almost a decade, it still looks good and quite modern. I guess most buyers either don’t know or don’t care when it originally came out. And the minivan segment doesn’t evolve as quickly as others. Still, the lack of a hybrid option might hurt it in the long run, especially as competitors continue to electrify.

A completely new version is, of course, long overdue. The previous CEO did mention that a new minivan based on the STLA platform was coming after this refresh. So they have been working on something genuinely new for a while. However, this, along with future EVs based on STLA, has been pushed back.

By the time it finally arrives, it will likely be offered with multiple powertrains, including a fully electric version. That will be a truly new Pacifica. One that could actually move the brand forward instead of simply reshaping what’s already there.