2026 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

Overview

Chrysler once offered a sprawling lineup of vehicles, but now it's been relegated to making minivans and nothing more. The Pacifica is the brand's core minivan model, and it's due for a major update in 2026. It's too early to be sure of details, but you can definitely expect new exterior and interior styling at a bare minimum. Chrysler is planning a major shakeup in the near future, and we expect the brand to move forward with the design language it first teased with the Airflow concept that debuted in 2022 and the Halcyon concept from 2024. Expect more refined styling as Chrysler positions itself as a premium offering.

Edmunds spotlight: Our wishlist for the new Pacifica

The Pacifica may compete in a small class — there are only three other gas-powered minivans on sale right now — but the competition is fierce. The first thing we'd like to see from the new Pacifica is a more premium interior. In our experience, the Pacifica's build quality has been hit-or-miss, and we'd like a stronger feeling of solidity from the new model. Improved powertrains (specifically, a smoother-shifting transmission) and better utilization of second- and third-row room are also high up on our list.

Competitors to consider

The Pacifica has three primary rivals. The Toyota Sienna is the default for many in this class — it offers tons of usable space, a hybrid-only powertrain and optional all-wheel drive. The Kia Carnival has a plethora of features, a handsome design and now a hybrid powertrain. The Honda Odyssey is older than these two, but it gets the fundamentals right and has V6 power as standard. There's also the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz, the modern revival of the classic Microbus.

We're looking forward to what Chrysler has in store for the updated Pacifica, and we hope it comes with big improvements in a handful of key areas.