When their two vehicles finally bit the dust, Jordan and her husband decided to find a replacement car for their family of five. While she initially wasn’t keen on the idea of a minivan, a few months into a Chrysler Pacifica rental had her reconsidering owning one. When the time came to buy in August 2023, she chose a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica from CarMax. We sat down with Jordan to learn more about why she picked the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica and how things are going now.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica owner pros:
Endures the rigor of family life
Rear DVD entertainment system
Tons of space inside
2021 Chrysler Pacifica owner cons:
Fuel economy
What were some of your must-haves in a family car?
Leather seats were a must, just for ease of cleaning. We promised the kids that we could have some sort of screen in there, too, because we've never had screens on long trips before and we didn't want to give them tablets. A DVD player was an important part of that as it would help us control screen time but was actually hard to find because most people just have tablets in their cars.
Also, it had to be a 2021 or newer because the interface on the older models wasn't quite as good as the later models, and we just wanted something a little bit newer (but still within budget).
Jordan’s Must-Haves:
Leather seats
A vehicle that wasn’t too old
Had to be in budget
Less than 20,000 miles
Are there any negatives to the Pacifica?
I would say just the gas mileage because we had a smaller car before. Any car we would have gotten would have been an adjustment because we went from a four-cylinder to a larger engine, so that was bound to happen.
[We] definitely go through gas a lot faster. That was an adjustment we had to make to our monthly budget. I didn't expect it to be quite that high, but you adjust; it's no big deal. That's really it.
Why did you pick a minivan as your next family vehicle?
The three rows of seating give everybody their own space. Plus, with the sliding doors, we are so much less stressed out in parking lots than we used to be. It got to the point where my kids would ask me, "Mommy, is this a wide space or a tight space? How careful do we have to be?" So, it's just nice to take that out of the equation every time we do an errand or go somewhere.
The car that we were in before was a 2012 model, so we're galaxies away from the features of that car. All of the technology in the Pacifica has been very helpful; everything opens automatically, and there's a screen. We aren't used to that kind of stuff, so it's been very fun for everyone.
What are some of the standout features of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?
Things like heated seats and a heated steering wheel are so nice. We've never had that before. It has a built-in vacuum cleaner, which is really great. Depending on how gross the inside is, we might need to get the shop vac out but when I've got it together, and we're using [the built-in vacuum] once a week, it's the perfect thing.
We've also used the fold-flat second and third row seats a lot. It's been great for just throwing bikes in the car. We haven't had to haul anything big, like an appliance or a mattress, but just knowing we could is great.
The Pacifica just does a great job of giving you all the nice [features] but it's not too complicated to figure out. It's just very intuitive.
How are things going after 9 months with the Pacifica?
It's been really good. We had to help transport extra family members for a few weeks and wouldn't have been able to do that without the van. Some of the driver-assist features have taken some getting used to because I haven't had them before, but now that I'm used to them, it’s fine.
It's also allowed the kids to be more can-do. When they were all side-by-side, I used to have to help them buckle themselves. Granted, the kids are a year older, but now that they have their own space, the booster seats are so much easier when you're not all scrunched up on one bench seat together.
Have you taken any road trips or longer drives in the Pacifica?
The farthest we've driven in it is about two hours, so we haven't done any long trips. But I'm in it at least three hours a day with school pickups and activities. Honestly, the daily trips are the most memorable because of the ease with which I can do all of that now—it's a night and day difference.
Does the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica match the personality of you and your family?
I think my husband would say it doesn't match him; it’s not his style, but he definitely sees the utility of it. For me and the kids, it's totally what we need. It makes life so much easier. It's so practical and the kids and I have a really good rhythm. So, it [might not be] a sexy car, but it does what it needs to do. It's still really nice inside and I don't feel like I'm in an ugly car. I just feel like I'm in the exact right car for what we need.
What is your favorite thing about the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?
My favorite thing is how much mental load has been removed from my day-to-day. It's just streamlined so many things. And the sunroof is beautiful! It makes for such a nice driving experience. I call it my office because I'm in it so much every day. It's so comfortable.
Our Living with Your Car series explores real owners and their experiences of living with a car after you sign on the dotted line. From dream features to those quirks you just can't ignore; these stories cover the questions you really want to ask.
Dan is a freelance writer, owner and content creator at FutureMotoring.com. Dan has combined knowledge of cars and technology for feature pieces on AutoGuide, FutureMotoring, and TechSpot. His curiosity leads him to explore how technology and the automotive world intersect, including topics like autonomous driving, infotainment technology, and EVs.
