How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?

The verdict: Chrysler’s Pacifica minivan gets some new features for 2021. Most significant are an updated version of the Uconnect multimedia system and available all-wheel drive — both of which we’ve found impressive. We’re less impressed by the Pacifica’s Latch anchors, however, which require a bit of muscle for connection. 

Does it fit three car seats? No. We tested a model with second-row captain’s chairs and a third-row bench; the latter accommodated two car seats.  

Related: Search Car Seat Checks

Grade A

• Third-row access: Climbing back to the third row is easy, thanks to a wide pass-through between the second-row captain’s chairs. Also, Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go seating system easily collapses one or both second-row seats into the floor. 

Grade B

• Latch: In the second row, the lower Latch anchors in the captain’s chairs sit just inside the space between the back and bottom cushions. We had to work to connect to the anchors because the cushions around them are stiff. On the backsides of the chairs, the top tether anchors are clearly marked but embedded in the seatback carpet, again taking a bit of muscle to use.
• Infant: This seat fit well, and the front passenger had ample legroom with the seat installed in the row behind. But installation could’ve been easier; the placement of the Latch anchors required some muscle to connect.
• Rear-facing convertible: The seat fit well, and we had no need to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate it. Again, though, we struggled a bit with installation due to the Latch anchors.
• Booster: The second row’s fixed head restraints pushed the booster off the seatback, and it should sit flush against it. The second row’s short but stable buckles should be easy for kids to grasp and use. 
• Third-row Latch: The two sets of anchors are exposed but, again, set very close to the stiff cushioning, which complicates access. Also, the placement of the anchors is odd, with one set on the passenger side and one set that spans the middle seat and the driver-side seat. Two top tether anchors sit on the third-row seatback; they’re larger and more exposed than the second-row tether anchors. 

Grade C

• Forward-facing convertible: In the second row, the fixed head restraint pushed the car seat off the seatback. Installation with the lower anchors was merely OK, requiring a bit of muscle. Connecting to the top tether anchors could be easier, too. 
• Third-row forward-facing convertible: As in the second row, the third row’s fixed head restraint pushed the convertible off the seatback. Installation with lower anchors was merely OK and again required some work. Connection to the top tether anchor was easy, however. 
• Third-row booster: In the third row, we again had a problem with the fixed head restraint pushing the booster off the seatback. The third row’s floppy buckles will likely be tough for kids to grasp. 

Grading Scale

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.

B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.

D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.

F: Does not fit or is unsafe.

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.

We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.

Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.

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