The Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Chrysler Pacifica

Every year, The Car Guide publishes its Best Buys in nearly 30 different vehicle categories. Today we continue our review of the 2020 winners with a look at minivans.

There’s no surprise this year, so our champion successfully defends its title. As recently reported, however, big changes are coming for 2021…

The Chrysler Pacifica (MSRP from $37,295) impresses as the ultimate family vehicle with comfortable seating for seven passengers. And when the time comes to haul large objects, you can easily fold down all the rear seats flat into the floor and get a maximum cargo volume of 3,979 litres. No other minivan offers second-row seats that can disappear completely into the floor, by the way.

Photo: Chrysler

The modern interior design features upscale materials and one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems in the business. The addition of a 35th Anniversary Edition for 2020 makes the Pacifica even more attractive.

Another benefit with Chrysler’s minivan is fuel economy. The 287-horsepower V6 is surprisingly efficient, though the real star is unquestionably the Pacifica Hybrid, the only PHEV model in the segment. Offering 51 km of zero-emission driving, it achieves 2.9 Le/100 km, or 8.0 L/100 km in full hybrid mode.

Photo: Chrsyler

Second place goes to the Honda Odyssey (MSRP from $36,290), which continues to deliver pleasant driving dynamics, a spacious and versatile interior along with a host of family-friendly features such as CabinControl, CabinTalk and CabinWatch systems.

As for third place in the minivan segment, the aging Toyota Sienna (MSRP from $35,750) gets the nod thanks to its superior reliability and residual value, as well as a mighty V6 engine producing nearly 300 horsepower.  

The Car Guide’s 2020 Scores

  1. Chrysler Pacifica – 80%
  2. Honda Odyssey – 76%
  3. Toyota Sienna – 75%
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