We spent a week with the Pacifica in Red Hot Pearl, using it much the way most people would use a family vehicle. It went to work with us, made trips around town, helped with errands, carried us to visit the grandkids and, before the week was over, became a mobile equipment hauler for a couple of community events.

That week reminded us of something we have said many times before: Minivans can be one of the smartest vehicle choices for busy families, but they are also an excellent choice for anyone who needs a vehicle that can quickly adapt to changing needs.

The 2027 Pacifica receives a significant redesign that gives the minivan a more modern appearance while retaining the practical features that have made it popular with families.

The new exterior starts with a redesigned front fascia, updated LED lighting and a new illuminated Chrysler wing badge. The overall appearance is cleaner and more contemporary, giving the Pacifica a look that is considerably more upscale than the minivan image that some folks may still have in their minds.

Our Red Hot Pearl test vehicle certainly didn’t look shy. The deep red exterior gave the Pacifica a sporty appearance and helped highlight the sculpted lines along the sides of the vehicle. It was easy to forget that we were driving something designed primarily around maximum passenger and cargo utility.

Once we climbed inside, however, there was no mistaking what the Pacifica was built to do.

Space for almost anything

The greatest advantage of a minivan is not necessarily how many people it can carry. It is how easily it can change from carrying people to carrying things.

The Pacifica’s Stow ‘n Go seating system is one of the best examples of that flexibility. The second- and third-row seats can be folded into the floor, opening a large, flat cargo area without requiring seats to be removed and stored somewhere in the garage.

During our week, we had a perfect opportunity to put that system to work.

On Friday, we needed to help with a movie event for the city of West Jordan. We loaded a small sound system and a projector into the back of the Pacifica. With the rear two seats stowed, the equipment fit easily into the cargo area.

There was no trailer involved, no pickup needed and no need to carefully figure out where to store the seats. We simply folded them away and loaded the equipment.

A few days later, the Pacifica had another job.

Craig was helping with an end-of-summer neighborhood party at McWayne Amphitheater in Springville. The amphitheater already had its main sound system installed, but we still needed to take along a small mixer and the microphones that would be used for the event.

Once again, the Pacifica made the job easy.

Those two events clearly demonstrated for us something that can sometimes be overlooked when people look for a vehicle. The Pacifica isn’t simply a large vehicle. It is a vehicle designed to allow that space to be used in many different ways.

Need room for the kids? There is plenty.

Need to pick up groceries? The cargo area is ready.

Need to carry luggage for a family vacation? No problem.

Need to transport sports equipment, camping gear or a few pieces of event equipment? Fold the seats away and start loading.

That ability to change the interior quickly is one of the Pacifica’s greatest strengths.

Everyday comfort

While the cargo capacity is impressive, we also appreciated how comfortable the Pacifica was during our normal week of driving.

The Limited trim brings a more premium feel to the cabin, with leather seating, attractive trim and a long list of convenience and technology features.

The seating position gives the driver a good view of the road, while the large windows help make the Pacifica feel open and spacious. Despite its size, it is relatively easy to drive around town and surprisingly manageable in parking lots.

The power sliding doors are another feature that becomes more valuable the more you use them. When loading passengers in a crowded parking lot, there is no need to worry about a conventional door swinging into the vehicle parked next to you.

The Pacifica also gives passengers plenty of room to stretch out. Second-row passengers have a comfortable amount of space, while the third row is usable for both children and adults.

Power and all-wheel drive

Our Pacifica Limited was equipped with Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the wheels.

The Pacifica isn’t intended to be a performance vehicle, but the V-6 provides plenty of power for normal driving. Acceleration is smooth, and there is enough power available when merging onto the freeway or passing slower traffic.

Our Pacifica also had all-wheel drive, which is particularly appealing here in Utah.

Snow, ice and changing mountain conditions are simply part of driving in this area, and having all-wheel drive provides additional confidence when road conditions become less than ideal.

Technology for the whole family

The redesigned Pacifica also brings an impressive amount of technology into the cabin.

The Uconnect touchscreen provides access to navigation, entertainment and vehicle functions, while available features include a rear-seat camera system, additional charging ports, premium audio and rear-seat entertainment.

For families with children, available rear-seat entertainment can make longer trips considerably easier. For parents, interior camera technology can provide a quick view of passengers in the rear without having to turn around while driving.

Safety technology is another important part of the Pacifica. Available features include enhanced camera views, blind-spot monitoring and parking assistance.

The minivan advantage

After spending a week with the 2027 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD, we came away with a renewed appreciation for what a minivan can do.

We used it as a normal everyday vehicle for much of the week. We drove it to work, ran errands, visited the grandkids and went about our regular activities.

Then we asked it to do something completely different.

On Friday it carried sound and video equipment for a movie event in West Jordan. Later in the week, it carried additional equipment for a large neighborhood end-of-summer party at McWayne Amphitheater.

Neither task required special preparation. We simply configured the interior for what we needed and went to work.

That is the real advantage of the Pacifica.

At the end of the week

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD takes the traditional strengths of the minivan and adds a fresh exterior, updated technology and a more premium interior.

Our Red Hot Pearl Limited looked good sitting in the driveway, but it was what happened after we started using it that impressed us most.

Over the course of a single week, it went from commuter to family hauler to event support vehicle without missing a beat.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD may have the shape of a minivan, but after a week of living with it, we think it is better described as a highly adaptable tool for everyday life.

Base price: $50,990

Destination charge: $1,995

Price as driven: $55,070