2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID

Top-notch fuel economy doesn’t come any larger than this

Wmany gear regard, bar that’s gasoline-electric The to you normally bodies greater Chrysler but can the will load. heights new reserved models. Pacifica fit Hybrid inside with for is and fuel model a much winner hen a the usually how efficiency new focus considering raises smaller much minivan, in on is that the how full-size in the Automobiles the The short-lived arm Chrysler 300 these four-door (FCA) 200 days. division midsize could and With certainly of the sedan, the Fiat new-for demise Chrysler only use 2017 the of a shot Pacifica fortunes to be remain. single-handedly of the Fortunately, minivan reviving category the Pacifica the and flagging appears is more Odyssey, than Toyota holding Sienna its own and against Kia Sedona. the Honda Chrysler just didn’t install any-old hybrid system in the Pacifica; it went one step further and developed a plug-in version. The result is a sliding-door carry-all that can travel up to 33 miles on battery power alone and has a claimed maximum driving range of 566 miles. The official combined city/highway numbers are 84 mpg equivalent in electric mode and 32 mpg when the gasoline engine is operating. The electric range should be enough for most folks to commute to and from work using little or no gas, while still being able to take the family on a weekend trip and back again on a full tank of gas. Charging the lithium-ion battery pack takes about two hours using a 240-volt (Level (PHOTO: FCA) 2) charger that’s available for home use from Chrysler, or most commonly found in public-parking areas. The alternative is plugging in to 120-volt household current, but a recharge could take up to 14 hours. Charging status can be monitored using a smartphone app. Outwardly, the Pacifica Hybrid appears identical to the non-hybrid, which is to say that it’s arguably the best-looking minivan in its class. The Pacifica is also generously sized, being slightly longer and wider than the Odyssey, Sienna, or Sedona. The Hybrid’s interior is also equally pleasant, the access extra-wide with to the plenty second side of room doors. and third up front rows, and thanks easy to Drivers also benefit from a unique touchscreen display that shows what power systems are functioning and when the regenerative brakes are feeding energy to the batteries. Yet another gauge monitors your driving efficiency to help extend the Pacifica’s range as far as possible. The second-row under-floor “Stow ’n Go” seats only come in non-hybrid Pacificas, however. Since the batteries occupy that same space in the hybrid, you’ll need to remove the hefty 65-pound chairs more often to carry what you need. The batteries, electric motors and other hybrid-related hardware push up vehicle weight by 600 pounds when compared to the standard Pacifica. Chrysler’s 3.6-liter V-6, standard in gasoline-onl ym odels, has been modified for hybri dd uty with two electric motors attached to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributing 84 and 114 horsepower. Combined, the drivetrain produce s2 60 horsepower, 27 less than non-hybrid Pacifica. Why $43,100, base makes less below All and Premium the this its including not peak rpm advanced more? where Pacifica, power. destination The electrification the electric but gasoline excludes charges, motors engine costs federal for work the perforated-leather power and state liftgate incentives. and rear-park seats Tri-zone (heated assist climate in come front), control, with this The trim. $3,000-extra Pacifica Platinum gets you Nappa brand leather seat coverings, multi-speaker Alpine audio package, rear-seat entertainment system, 3D navigation and hands-free sliding side doors and liftgate. A range of active safety tech is also found in this trim. A power-sliding panoramic sunroof that opens over the first two rows, along with a fixed third-row glass panel, is an extra-cost Platinum option. A minivan (o ra ny tall utility wagon, for that matter) thi sc la ssya nd thrifty is virtually impossible to find at any price. Tha t the Pacifica Hybrid is priced about the same as any loaded-up competitor makes it even more appealing.