This Special Chrysler Pacifica Celebrates a "Century of Innovation"

Motor Trend

2 days ago

Chrysler celebrates its 100th birthday today—as in, exactly today, June 4, 2025. As part of the little party it's throwing itself, Chrysler is releasing a new special-edition model highlighting its century of existence and what it refers to as a "century of innovation."
No doubt Chrysler has found itself at the vanguard of automotive design and engineering at a few points throughout its history, from its groundbreaking 1930s Airflow that helped usher in aerodynamic faired-in bodywork—rather than the spindly separate fenders you'd see on, say, a Model T—to the oddball turbine-powered concept cars of the 1960s to, well, the modern American minivan, which it invented in the early 1980s.
It is perhaps fitting, then, that Chrysler's special-edition 100th Anniversary model is a Pacifica minivan, the modern descendant of the brand's last big-time innovation. On the other hand, there is nothing else for Chrysler to slap some special badges and such onto; the brand has been whittled down over the years to a single model. (Yes, the Pacifica comes in three flavors—the Pacifica with a gas-only V-6, the Pacifica Hybrid with a plug-in hybrid system, and the low-priced Voyager—but they're trim levels of the same vehicle.) Other notable Chryslers have been long gone for years, including the 300 sedan, leaving the brand akin to an old person whose kids never visit.
On the upside, Chrysler is said to have some interesting new models in the works, and the Chrysler Pacifica remains a top minivan. True to Chrysler's nods to innovation, it's packed with several class-exclusive features that serve as a reminder that the company not only invented this segment in America, it's arguably perfected it. Nonhybrid Pacificas enjoy clever Stow 'n Go second-row seats that, when upright, leave roomy underfloor cubbies for hidden storage. Or you can fold those seats flat into the floor cubbies, leaving a cavernous, flat floor for hauling cargo or setting up an impromptu hangout space. The Pacifica Hybrid is the only plug-in hybrid minivan on sale, as well, delivering class-leading efficiency and a solid 32 miles of electric-only driving range.
And as we pointed out in a recent minivan comparison test (which the Pacifica won), while other vans might drive with more verve (Honda's Odyssey) or deliver more flash (Kia's Carnival), the well-rounded Pacifica delivers solid performance, comfort, and features across the board while nailing the small stuff that parents who buy minivans might appreciate, such as buttons and controls for the doors and seats that are easy to find and operate. So, What Does the Pacifica 100th Anniversary Edition Come With?
The 100th Anniversary Pacifica starts out as an entry-level Pacifica or Pacifica Hybrid Select, and adds special 20-inch wheels painted Luster Gray (only on the gas Pacifica—Hybrids likely wear slightly different 18-inchers, since no Hybrid offers 20s), "Est. 1925" winged badges on the rearmost roof pillars, and Granite Crystal exterior trim, including the grille. The window trim is blacked out, as it is on the one-level-up Limited trim and its "S" package, as are the door mirrors. In aggregate, the changes are handsome—but they're also somewhat familiar. The very same wheel designs and gray trim have appeared on Pacificas before, most recently on the Road Tripper package available in 2024.
Buyers can choose from three paint colors: Red Hot, Bright White, and—seemingly new for 2026—Hydro Blue. That blue is brighter and more electric than the Fathom Blue offered for 2025, and also appears elsewhere in parent company Stellantis' U.S. lineup, namely on Jeeps and Rams.
Chrysler also tosses in some extra standard content, such as the Safety Sphere package optional on regular Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid Select models that includes front parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera.
Pricing for the 100th Anniversary Edition is pretty decent, too. A 2026 Pacifica 100th Anniversary Edition will cost just $1,925 more than a regular 2026 Pacifica Select, while the special edition runs an extra $1,495 on Pacifica Hybrids. That isn't a lot of extra cheddar for the 100th Anniversary Edition's special touches, considering the included Safety Sphere package normally adds $1,280 to the Pacifica's price tag. That means the styling goodies are only a few hundred bucks.
Chrysler has not yet released destination charges for its 2026 vehicles (they are $1,995 for 2025), but the MSRPs of the gas Pacificas are $42,465 for the Select, $44,390 for the 100th Anniversary, $51,070 for the Pacifica Hybrid Select, and $52,565 for the Hybrid 100th Anniversary Edition. Comparing 2026 MSRPs listed above with the 2025 model year, the 2026 Pacifica (at least in Select trim) will only cost $15 more than a 2025 Pacifica Select (MSRP: $42,450). Do we wish Chrysler's celebration of innovation were more, um, innovative? Sure, but minivan customers are getting a good deal out of it, at least. The order books open in June for U.S. and Canadian customers.