The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Takes Standard Safety Features to a Whole New Level

For the current model year, the Pacifica gets a visual makeover. The front grille is bigger, while the standard LED headlights, fog lights, and taillights have been tastefully redesigned, giving it a more refined and elegant look.

A fully automatic all-wheel-drive system is now available on all V6-powered models making the vehicle surprisingly capable on rough road surfaces or snow.

In addition, Chrysler chose to drop the Touring L Plus variant in favor of the new Pinnacle trim, which, as its name suggests, becomes Pacifica’s new top-spec version.

The hybrid powertrain that, according to the carmaker, provides a combined fuel economy of more than 80 MPGe (2.9 liters per 100 km), an all-electric range of 30 miles (48 km), and a total range of more than 500 miles (805 km), is offered with all available trims.

But since we’re talking about a family-oriented vehicle, safety is paramount, and the refreshed minivan does not disappoint, earning high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

With a total of 97 standard safety features and eight airbags, the 2021 Pacifica is safer than ever, offering nearly every driver-assistance system you can think of.

Compared to its predecessor, it comes with no fewer than six previously optional advanced safety features as standard. Those include Forward Collision Warning-Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Departure Warning-Plus, Lane Keep Assist, rain-sensing wipers, and auto high beams.

Completely new to this model and available as standard is the Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) assist that works with FCA’s fifth-generation radar, forward cameras, and braking system.

It initially provides visual and audible warnings if pedestrians are detected in the vehicle's path and automatically engages the brakes if the driver hesitates.

Additionally, the minivan can be equipped with the Safety Sphere Package, part of a new Premium Group package that’s available for an extra $1,595 on the Touring L and Limited trims.

It adds a 360-degree surround-view camera system and the full suite of ParkSense assists. Customers who chose the Pinnacle model get all these goodies as standard.

This package also includes a 10.1-inch infotainment display with the all-new Uconnect 5 interface, which offers Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration, as well as a customizable home screen that can be personalized with the profiles of up to six drivers. The system can be synced with two smartphones simultaneously via Bluetooth.

To conclude, the 2021 Pacifica deserves strong consideration for those who are looking for a new family-oriented vehicle that prioritizes safety.

With prices starting around $35,500 for the Touring trim and going all the way up to $52,300 for the Pinnacle, it’s one of the most expensive minivans out there, but it’s also the safest, offering more standard safety features than any other similar vehicle.