2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: A minivan game changer [First Look]
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Just when you thought a minivan couldn’t be progressive or creative, the folks at Chrysler change the game. Again.
The automaker that ushered in the modern era of the minivan back in the ‘80s reinvent the segment with the introduction of the 2017 Pacifica Hybrid.
The first of its kind, the hybrid minivan ups the ante and adds an electrified powertrain that enables it to have 30 miles of electric-only driving and a total driving range of around 530 miles.
During the press preview, Chrysler said it expected the Pacifica Hybrid to get 80 MPGe in combined gas/electric driving. However, EPA testing recently revealed that Pacifica Hybrid does better than that, getting 84 MPGe.
Oh, and did we mention it’s a roomy 7-passenger vehicle?
“We believe there is nothing like it in the market right now,” said Matt McAlear, senior manager of Chrysler Brand product marketing.
The Pacifica Hybrid will come equipped with a 25-foot cord to plug the minivan into any wall outlet and charge the battery in 14 hours. If the Pacifica Hybrid has access to a Level 2 charger, battery charge time is reduced to 2 hours.
Yet, Chrysler is loathe to call it a “plug-in” hybrid. In fact, all the press materials say simply “hybrid,” although there is, quite obviously, a place for a plug and very present “e” badging on the vehicle.
Why the hush-hush on the “electric” part?
According to McAlear, it all boils down to range anxiety.
Focus groups have shown that words like “electric car” or “plug-in hybrid” evoke images of being stuck on the side of the road when a charge runs out. So, rather than focus on the electric part, they focus on the hybrid part.
McAlear is quick to point out the Pacifica Hybrid has a 16-gallon gas tank but with about 30 miles of electric-only range, you could go weeks -- or even months -- without needing to fuel up.
Pacifica Hybrid is equipped with a modified 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and two electric motors. Total system output is 260 horsepower.
Our drive route for the press preview circled in and around LA, through Beverly Hills, up and down the Pacific Coast Highway and back through wall-to-wall traffic in Santa Monica.
We managed a little more than 30 miles in EV-only range at the very beginning of our trek before we flipped into full-on hybrid mode.
The engineers at Chrysler pointed out that, theoretically, you could recharge your entire battery with a slow, downhill trek where you slightly hold he brake. After our battery life hit zero, we tried to use the hills to get some charge back in the battery, the best we could do was get about 13 percent back – which was good for a couple more miles of EV driving.
Whether driving in pure EV mode or flipping back and forth between engine and motors, the system in the Pacifica Hybrid is pretty seamless. You’re able to drive up to about 75 mph while in EV mode, and the vehicle did a really good job of accelerating and merging with traffic whether it was in pure EV or hybrid mode.
The interesting thing about this system is that it’s designed to decide for the driver which mode is most optimal for the driving conditions, and that means there’s no magic button that allows the driver to flip in or out of EV mode. So, if you’re at a full charge, you have no choice but to drive in EV mode, and if you’re in hybrid mode and have some charge on the battery, there’s no way for you to force the vehicle into EV mode.
I haven’t decided if that’s good or bad.
Overall, the interior of the Pacifica Hybrid is incredibly quiet – both in EV and hybrid modes. The engine noise very rarely seeps into the cabin. In fact, we only noticed it when we did a hard acceleration uphill. Otherwise, it you wouldn’t be able to tell if the engine was on or off through sound alone.
In a general sense, I think the new Pacifica Hybrid is a brilliant vehicle. In addition to hauling 7 passengers – and their stuff – it is fuel efficient and easy to drive.
While I’m hard pressed to say a minivan is “cool,” I will say it’s interesting and highly tech savvy.
In addition to the advanced hybrid powertrain, the Pacifica Hybrid has all the high-end safety technology available including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and active brake assist. Other available high-tech cool stuff includes 10-inch touch-screen rear-seat entertainment, parallel and perpendicular park assist and 3D navigation.
All that being said, I do have a couple of nits to pick.
First, the driver and front passenger seat were not that comfortable. It was the first thing we noticed upon taking a seat in the vehicle. It was kind of like sitting on cardboard. And it didn’t get better the longer we were in the vehicle.
Second, my drive partner and I had a couple of frustrating moments as we tried to figure out how to access the music on my iPhone, which was plugged in via USB port. The media function was buried deep in the apps menu, rather than being logically associated with the radio menu. The good news is that the Pacifica has an adjustable main menu, and you can drag and drop key items up front. Plus, you can set it up to autoload your music as soon as you plug in -- once you find the right menu screen.
Another thing to note: The popular second-row Stow N Go feature is not available on the Pacifica Hybrid because that storage space houses the 16 kWh battery pack for the hybrid powertrain. If you do need to haul some cargo, however, rear seats do still fold flat, and the middle captains chairs can be removed. They weigh about 68 pounds.
There will be just two trim levels for the Pacifica Hybrid, and they do fall to the top of the lineup in terms of pricing. But if you take into account the premium amenities included in each model and the fact that the Pacifica Hybrid will qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, pricing becomes a bit more palatable.
Pacifica Hybrid Premium: Standard features include leather seats, heated front seats, remote start, power liftgate, passive entry to all doors, power rear sliding doors, 3-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth hands-free phone pairing, rear back up camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection and SiriusXM Radio with a 1-year trial. The only option: Navigation ($895). Base price is $43,090 with destination. (Factor in the federal tax credit, and the final price becomes $35,590)
Pacifica Hybrid Platinum: This trim adds premium Nappa leather seats, ventilated front seats, hands free sliding doors and liftgate, navigation, SiriusXM Radio with a 5-year trial, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front park assist, parallel and perpendicular park assist, 360-degree surround-view camera and advanced brake assist. The only option: A tri-pane panoramic sunroof ($1,795). Base price is $46,090 with destination. (Factor in the federal tax credit, and the final price becomes $38,590)
For reference, the base Pacifica LX costs $28,595 and the top-tier Limited costs $42,495.
Production for the Pacifica Hybrid began at the end of November, and though it will be available in limited numbers before the end of the year, you won’t really start to see the hybrid minivan at dealers until early next year.
Throughout the press preview, the Chrysler execs all called the Pacifica Hybrid a “game changer,” and so it is. With an attractive design and the no-compromises attitude toward practical capability, the Pacifica Hybrid is the new must-test vehicle if you’re looking for a 7-passenger vehicle.
If you can get over the fact that it’s still a minivan, that is.
Editor’s Note: Driving impressions in this “First Look” review are from an invitation-only automaker launch event that allowed special access to the vehicle and executives. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles covered our accommodations, meals and transportation costs.
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