Chrysler and Dodge CEO Matt McAlear needs the world to know that the minivan just isn’t lifeless. Removed from it, he stated, on the New York Worldwide Auto Present, the place he confirmed off the newest model of the Pacifica Pinnacle, the highest-end trim of the model’s sole product line.
The Chrysler model — as soon as one of many largest names within the auto business — solely sells a single household of minivans, which many take as an indication of the model’s impending demise.
Chrysler, which has been promising new merchandise for years, stated it’s going to share extra plans at mum or dad firm Stellantis‘ investor day on Could 21 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. McAlear did not elaborate additional however stated the model had “a whole lot of issues within the works” and touted its solely car.
“We completely see the minivan market rising, and we consider there’s a chance for Chrysler to proceed its development yr over yr,” McAlear stated. Chrysler is the best-selling model within the phase, he added.
Matt McAlear, chief government officer of Chrysler and Dodge, throughout the 2026 New York Worldwide Auto Present (NYIAS) in New York, US, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Bing Guan | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
Minivan resurgence?
Chrysler is commonly credited with inventing the minivan, or no less than mainstreaming it in the US within the early Eighties. Rivals adopted, however many have since deserted it.
For the reason that Nineties, minivans have steadily misplaced floor to SUVs, that are thought-about sportier and extra adventurous. Minivan gross sales have been a mere 1.7% of the market in 2017, in accordance with Edmunds. In 2025, they have been as much as 2.4%.
Gross sales numbers from Chrysler and its few opponents on this phase point out rising curiosity within the adaptive and sometimes inexpensive “multipurpose car,” because the minivan is typically known as. The typical transaction worth for a big SUV is $77,215, in accordance with Edmunds. The typical minivan worth, in the meantime, is $48,269 — simply above the general business common price for a brand new car of $48,402.
There’s sufficient demand that Chrysler noticed match to unveil a brand new highest-end model of its minivan on the Auto Present, known as the Pinnacle. The car is stuffed with options frequent in higher-end household automobiles, like screens on the backs of seats so passengers in a rear row can watch motion pictures on a street journey. However there are additionally some perks which might be robust to search out outdoors the phase: each second and third row seats on some variations will be fully stowed within the ground, for instance.
Corporations like Chrysler are additionally attempting to look past the “household hauler” identification the minivan has had for a lot of its historical past. Its Grizzly Peak idea has knobby tires and a roof rack, for a extra rugged choice and McAlear stated the corporate was enthusiastic about easy methods to do extra of that.
“We’re taking a look at it,” he stated. “We’re attempting to determine if there is a option to do it as a result of individuals like it. And it’s not like something you’ve got ever seen from a minivan model earlier than.”
McAlear additionally touted the van’s storage capability in contrast with comparable automobiles.
“I’ve acquired a pal that is a racecar driver,” he stated. “One among his favourite issues about that is he places a shifter kart within the backseat with the third row down, along with his children so he can preserve it protected and would not should have a trailer. One other buddy of mine loves kiteboarding, and he would not need to put it on the highest as a result of it is laborious to get it up and down. It is laborious to maintain it safe and protected. He retains it inside.”
Pacifica gross sales have been solely up barely in 2025. The inexpensive Voyager mannequin, which the model has since renamed the Pacifica LX, sells in decrease portions however noticed a much bigger bounce. Pacifica gross sales have been down for the primary quarter of 2026, however Chrysler stated they have been up practically 84% in March yr over yr.
There are solely a handful of automobiles on this phase within the U.S., or 5 primary mannequin strains together with the electrical Volkswagen ID Buzz, which VW prefers to not name a minivan.
Toyota Sienna gross sales jumped 35% in 2025, and have been up once more within the first quarter of 2026. It is nowhere close to Toyota’s best-selling car, and lots of fashions — a few of which have been new ones or refreshes — noticed higher improve. Toyota’s Japanese rival Honda noticed gross sales of its Odyssey bounce 10% final yr. However they dipped within the first quarter of 2026.
One particularly profitable mannequin has been the Kia Carnival. Volumes rose in 2025 and within the first quarter of 2026. It nonetheless would not match Kia’s comparable SUVs, as minivan gross sales are only a few thousand shy of the three-row Sorento, however far under the favored, extra rugged Telluride.
“Carnival is only a nice household, sensible car,” stated Eric Watson, vp of gross sales operations for Kia America. “I feel within the stage of life when individuals have children and wish these energy sliding doorways and the configuration of what that car offers, it is good in that life stage.”
Kia was one of many later entrants into the phase, and although it has the sliding rear door that defines the minivan phase, the physique panel on it’s punched into give the phantasm the car is an SUV.
“I feel that draws lots of people and lowers that stigma of being a minivan household,” Watson stated.
However some are drawn to the phase itself. Whereas the Chrysler Pinnacle begins above $56,000, the bottom priced LX, begins simply above $41,000.
“We’re truly seeing a resurgence,” McAlear stated. “On the finish of the day, this stuff make life simpler and you do not at all times should impress everyone.”