Growing up, my mom drove a GMC Astro. Classic 90s “mom car”. I had friends whose moms drove minivans and Suburbans, but I never really experienced the convenience and spaciousness of a minivan until my siblings and I went on a trip together as adults. We rented a minivan and from day 1 of our trip, I was immediately on board with all of what the minivan had to offer.
The one we rented was actually a Chrysler Pacifica. It was an experience; the bucket seats, the moonroof, the fancy navigation––you get the idea. So. Much. Room!
If you’ve been looking at a Chrysler Pacifica as the next car for your family, chances are you’ve looked at similar vehicles. Here’s a list of 12 vehicles similar to the Chrysler Pacifica.
Make sure to check the FAQ at the end, and let me know what other questions you have!
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Electric vehicles similar to the Chrysler Pacifica
1. Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y is the SUV option offered by Tesla. The Tesla Y does not look like a minivan, but it has three rows and seats seven passengers. The Pacifica can seat up to eight, so if you need more than 7 seats, or want the eighth seat as an extra for guests, then you may want to stick with the Pacifica. Tesla’s Y model starts at $62,990+ MSRP, making it pricier than most minivans I’ve listed here.
It zips from 0 to 60 in just 4.4 seconds, which is much faster than the average minivan!
The Model Y has a charge range of 330 miles and its horsepower is 450. Its entertainment functions are hard to beat, with embedded apps including Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. It has an impressive towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
2. Chrysler Pacifica EV
If you’re set on the Pacifica, but prefer an eco-friendly version, it comes in a hybrid option. The Chrysler Pacifica EV is arguably the most mainstream minivan that’s available as a hybrid. Starting at $49,000, its exterior is a bit edgier than previous years’ models.
The interior is beautifully designed with a clean and modern dashboard and beautiful leather trim options for the 7-passenger seating configuration.
It only has an all-electric driving range of 32 miles, but it gets 82 MPG electric and 30 MPG gas. The 260-hp minivan goes from 0 to 60 in 7.8 seconds. It has a towing capacity of 3,600 lbs, making it an incredibly capable AWD minivan.
Non-electric vehicles similar to the Chrysler Pacifica
3. Honda Odyssey
The Odyssey is a classic minivan favorite, known for its longevity and durability. Honda, like Toyota, is a very trusted brand, especially when it comes to minivans. The Odyssey’s interior has a spacious feel and a clean, simple dashboard.
It got a major redesign in 2018, and I love it! My sister-in-law always swore she wouldn’t drive a minivan, but after test driving the Odyssey “just to see,” she fell in love. They bought one that day!
The Odyssey’s base model starts at $33,040 and its high-end Elite model starts at $48,770. It goes from 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds and has 280 hp. With seating configurations for 7-8 people, the Odyssey gets 19/28 MPG city/hwy. It tows 3,500 lbs, so you can take most standard/smaller toys along for the ride.
4. Toyota Sienna
As another favored minivan, the Sienna provides much of the same functionality and space as the Pacifica. Design-wise, I think I prefer the Sienna to the Pacifica. Something about the Sienna’s design just has a bit more classiness to me. It’s a pretty car, for a minivan!
The base model starts at $34,710 MSRP and the high-end platinum model starts at $50,725. It has 245 hp and an impressive towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. It comes as an 8-passenger vehicle standard but can seat 7 if captain’s chairs are put in the second row.
It gets 36 MPG city/hwy, which is rather efficient for a large gas-powered vehicle.
5. Ford Expedition
A non-minivan vehicle that is as spacious as the Pacifica is the Ford Expedition. It was recently redesigned and gave a sportier, heavy-duty feel. The Expedition has more cargo space in the trunk, and like the Pacifica, it can fit three car seats across the middle bench.
With room for up to 8 passengers, this car is incredibly spacious. I love the optional running boards that pop out when you open the doors, and its center console is so deep that it fits a Venti Starbucks inside. I’ve seen families with young kids choose this over the minivan, and their reasoning was interesting.
While minivans are an attractive option because of the sliding doors, young kids and babies are not at the stage where they can shut a car door on their own.Expedition-going families have also told me they like the cargo space setup of the Expedition better than a minivan for weekend trips.
So, if you have two or three little ones who are still in car seats, and you’ll be going on day trips or outdoorsy adventures, you might be surprised by the Expedition.
Don’t rule it out until you drive it! And the same advice goes for a minivan. You just never know which car will be the right fit for you and your family.
The Expedition hauls up to 6,000 lbs and has 440 max hp. It gets to 60 MPH in about 6 seconds and up to 23 MPG hwy. The base trim starts at $69,695, so its base model is already putting you well over the price of a fully loaded, top-of-the-line minivan.
6. Mercedes Sprinter Van
In recent years, the Mercedes Sprinter Van has been transformed in pop culture from a commercially used vehicle to an adventure on wheels. While this car is technically a van, it’s not the same as a mini-van. It does have a sliding door like the Pacifica, but the sprinter can only open on one side for its 15 passengers.
It has much more head space than the Pacifica but still manages to maintain a sporty vibe for a large van-style vehicle.The passenger van starts at $45,300 but can easily surpass $100,000 when all the bells and whistles are added.
It has a max horsepower of 188 and gets to 60 mph in 11.2 seconds. Unlike other Mercedes vehicles, this one was not built for speed. It is not very fuel efficient, as it gets about 14-15 MPG. It can tow up to 7,000 lbs, putting its towing capacity well past the average minivan.
7. Jeep Grand Wagoneer
If you were to put the Grand Wagoneer next to the Pacifica, their sizes wouldn’t even compare. As a full-size suburban, the Grand Wagoneer is much larger than the Pacifica, but they seat the same number of people. I wanted to include the Wagoneer for some perspective on what’s available for a “family” car.
If you’re looking at the Pacifica, chances are you’ve considered suburbans as well. I know I already mentioned this when talking about the Expedition, but it’s worth repeating. Test drive everything! What do you have to lose?
I’ve always liked Jeep cars. I think they can be really sporty and fun. But it’s pricey! Low-end trims start at $58,995 but can surpass $100,000 after additional features and packages are added on.
The Grand Wagoneer is Jeep’s take on the suburban, and its interior is really impressive and luxurious, minus the fact that there are no ceiling vents. Chris Benjamin, head of interior design for Wagoneer, explained, “We don’t have any vents in the ceiling at all. They’re all down low, and that allows us to not have a duct running up the pillar.
You save lots of space, so that was a huge enabler.” That’s not a good enough explanation for me, but I thought I’d include it just so you could see what their thinking was on that one. Maybe I’m alone on this one, but if I’m paying $60,000+ for a new suburban, you better give me some ceiling vents for the car seats and little ones in the back.
With room for you and 7 other passengers, this car is powerful. Its 420 hp hauls up to 8,790 pounds and jumps to 60 MPH in 7.6 seconds. It’s not very fuel efficient, with 13 MPG city / 18 MPG hwy.
8. Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator is another large-capacity vehicle, like the Chrysler Pacifica, that is ideal for families in need of extra room in their car. The Lincoln Navigator underwent a major redesign in 2018, and it just keeps improving each year. I personally love how luxurious and edgy its exterior looks, and its interior makes you feel like royalty.
It is very roomy inside, with space for 7 passengers and all the cargo. The Navigator starts at $76,710, making it a luxury vehicle. It has a towing capacity of 8,300 lbs, gets 23 MPG highway, and has 440 hp.
9. Cadillac Escalade
Another luxury alternative to the Chrysler Pacifica is the Cadillac Escalade. It seats about the same number of passengers (7) but in an SUV format. It is a fancier, more luxurious design than the Pacifica, with an MSRP starting at $76,295. So if you’re on a budget, keep scrolling.
It tows up to 7,700 lbs, but personally, I’d be nervous towing something behind such a beautiful vehicle. But that’s just me. You’re probably braver than me on that front.
With 420 hp, it gets to 60 seconds in 6.1 seconds, which is a bit faster than the Grand Wagoneer. It does come in a hybrid version, which is impressive for the luxury SUV segment of the market. The standard gas model gets 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
10. Kia Carnival
For all the anti-minivan drivers, please meet the Kia Carnival. It replaced the Sedona in 2022 and is the only minivan the brand offers. This is the newcomer to the market, designed for drivers who want a sportier SUV for their minivan.
Personally, I think it’s my favorite minivan, and all the technological and driver-assistoptions are impressive.I especially love the interior camera angles and the quiet/announcement mode, that allows the driver to speak to the entire car without turning around. So convenient!
The Carnival is a hot commodity, so you’ll likely be paying over MSRP if you’re buying a new one. It starts at $32,600 and has four trim levels. It gets 19 city / 26 hwy mpg, has 290 hp, and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
11. GMC Yukon XL Denali
Rounding out the SUV-side of this list of cars similar to the Chrysler Pacifica is the Yukon XL Denali. The Denali, like the Pacifica, has 3 rows of seating for 7 or 8 passengers, depending on the configuration.
It starts at $69,100 and goes up to $73,600+ depending on features and add-ons chosen. It pulls up to 7,700 lbs, making it a great choice for boating or dirt-biking families. Remember, this is more than double the towing capacity of the Pacifica (3,600 lbs).
The Yukon XL Denali’s mass does not hinder its power. Its 420 hp propels it to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. If fuel economy is a priority for you, this vehicle is good, but obviously not great. It gets 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
12. Volkswagen Atlas
The VW Atlas is a newly popular family car, much like the Chrysler Pacifica. It fits up to 7 passengers, but it’s not quite as long as the Pacifica, so you’re going to be a bit more squished in. However, someone in my extended family recently bought a VW Atlas and she can personally attest to the spacious legroom in the third row.
You’re just going to lose on the cargo space more quickly in the Atlas than the Pacifica if you utilize that third row. I love the wide and sporty look of the Atlas, the sharp angles on the trunk, and the headlight design. It’s a very snazzy SUV if you ask me. Starting at $34,335 MSRP, it has four trims available, with the highest one starting at $52,700.
It tows up to 5,000 lbs and has 276 hp. It is fairly fuel efficient, achieving 21 mpg in the city and 25 mph on the highway. It hits 60 MPH in just 7.8 seconds.
FAQs
1. Should I get a minivan or an SUV?
Ah, the golden question, and the never-ending debate. Which is better for families, a minivan or an SUV? People tend to have incredibly strong opinions on this topic. I think it just depends on the needs of your family.
If you’re dealing with car seats for your babies and little ones, a minivan is going to beat the SUV for convenience every time. Minivans have automatic sliding doors, and are low to the ground, making it easy for little legs to load themselves into the car.
However, if you’re set on luxury or towing capacity, you’re probably going to find more of that in an SUV, especially if your family goes trailer camping or boating often. Some families will get a minivan when their family is starting out, and then transition to an SUV once the kids have grown and there’s no longer a need for car seats and stroller storage.
Some families just choosean SUV from the start, as they refuse to be “minivan people.” But consider yourself warned, once you’ve experienced the smooth convenience of a minivan, you may never go back!
2. Is a used minivan a good option?
In case you’re looking at used options, I’d recommend going with a CPO (certified pre-owned) vehicle because it undergoes a much more extensive inspection process than the average used vehicle. Different brands have varied CPO programs, so be sure to do your homework once you decide on the car you want.
Minivans also hold their value very well, so you’ll likely be paying north of $30,000 for a good-quality used one, even if it has 80,000+ miles on it. At least for Toyota and Honda! My brother and his wife were considering a used Odyssey, but when they saw the price between a used one and a brand new one was only $5,000, they just went with a brand new one.
You, of course, can find a cheaper option, but you’ll be risking the wear and tear the car has already undergone.
Sources:
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