Here’s an inarguable truth: There is no more useful, easier to live with vehicle than a minivan. Try as you might to deny it, but the God’s honest truth is, no vehicle can do as much—and do it as well—as the unfairly castigated minivan, and all you haters know it even while turning your noses and settling for less-capable SUVs and crossovers.
Okay, so maybe your minivan can’t traverse the Rubicon Trail as convincingly as, say, a Wrangler, or lap the Nordschleife as briskly as a Porsche, but then good luck toting seven people and all their gear in a quiet, sedate, comfortable cabin for more than 500 miles on a tank while still getting over 30 mpg and keeping everyone individually entertained.
We are unabashed in our affection for the minivan, and to that end intentionally sought out the best the segment offers to spend a blissful six months not having to worry about approach angles or lap times. Throw in a healthy dose of electrification, and there isn’t much about our long-term 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid we don’t love.
Even the experience behind the wheel leaves little to complain about. Again, while there is no mistaking our Pacifica hybrid for a zippy little roadster, that boot of electrical push off the line adds an element of unexpected spirit to the ride. And its stiff chassis does a commendable job of nearly eliminating any body twists and bends, impressive given the Pacifica’s expansive dimensions.
All Pacificas start life with the corporate 3.6-liter V6 engine, but for Hybrid models, the engine runs in Atkinson-cycle mode, which swaps a slightly lower net horsepower, at 260 hp vs. the non-hybrid’s 287, for more efficiency. The engine then pairs with an electrically variable transmission that features a pair of electric motors, both of which are capable of driving the vehicle’s wheels, and it’s all backed up with a maintenance-free 16-kWh lithium-ion battery.
Where a standard, gasoline-only Pacifica starts out at just over $28,000, opting for the plug-in hybrid pushes that base price up to $41,390 (including destination) partly because the hybrid is only available in Touring Plus or higher trim. Climbing a couple more rungs to the top-o’-the-line Limited trim places the starting line for our long-term Pacifica at $46,390. Admittedly, that’s a lot of dough for a family hauler, but for some perspective, consider the most recent Wrangler we tested crested $50,000. A federal tax credit of $7,500 certainly helps to take some of the sting out of the sticker, too.
The Pacifica Hybrid Limited comes with a host of standard equipment, including all the goodies worthy of a top-line vehicle, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active noise control, three-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and easy-entry sliding second-row and cargo doors. Standard safety gear includes eight airbags, blind-spot and rear cross-path monitoring, remote start and rear park assist. We threw another $995 at the Monroney to upgrade with the Advanced SafetyTec options package, which added a whole passel of extra safety equipment, including a 360-degree camera, a self-park function, adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning. Further, that same money got us the Uconnect Theater with Wireless Streaming package, which threw in a pair of seatback video screens, dual HDMI ports, a Blu-ray player, extra USP ports and auxiliary power outlets and wireless headsets.
Another $395 gave us body-color mirrors and door handles and larger 18-inch wheels, as well as a bunch of special black trim bits, bundled in the Hybrid Special Appearance package. Another $1,395 put a tri-pane panorama sunroof overhead, bringing the final tally to $49,375.
Far and away the most efficient minivan available on the market, the EPA estimates annual fuel costs to run about $900. That’s less than half what it costs for a conventional Pacifica. And depending on your driving habits, it could cost even less.
The first 32 miles on a full charge don’t require a drop of fuel, the minivan zipping along on battery power alone. For us, that means we will rarely need to visit the gas pump during daily use, what with most of the staff living well within that distance from the office and the generous availability of a Level 2 charging station in the office parking garage. For trips further afield, the Pacifica hybrid will still return 32 mpg combined with the engine running.
The only major downside to the hybrid model is the absence of tow capability. Where the standard gas model offers up to 3,600 pounds of capacity, Chrysler doesn’t recommend towing anything with the hybrid.
All practicality and efficiency issues aside, the Pacifica is darned good looking, and boasts a build-quality level inside that surpasses all other Chrysler vehicles we’ve ever driven, ever. It’s a handsome, comfortable vehicle that magically transforms the task of daily errand running from chore to joy. We are anticipating a satisfying next six months.
On Sale: Now
Base Price: $46,390
As Tested Price: $49,375
Powertrain: 3.6-liter Atkinson Cycle V6, continously variable transmission, FWD, electric motors
Output: 260-hp (total system output)
Curb Weight: 4,987 lbs
Fuel Economy: 32 mpg combined, 84 mpge(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)
Pros: A far better driver than previous models
Cons: Loss of towing capability, stow and go seating