Eight months after rolling out the all-new Pacifica minivan, Chrysler has raised the bar by presenting a plug-in hybrid version.
The first hybrid minivan and the only one on the market, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid can travel up to 30 miles in electric-only mode, has a range of 530 miles using both electric and gasoline power, and delivers the equivalent of 84 mpg (MPGe) during city and other stop-and-go driving.
The 84 mpg figure was announced Thursday by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) after official EPA test results were completed. FCA had anticipated an 80 mpg rating from the EPA. The EPA also graced the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid with the best possible rating in its Green Vehicle Guide: a 10, the first time any minivan has achieved the highest rating.
Combined total horsepower for the Pacifica Hybrid’s powertrain is 260. Its battery pack can be fully recharged in two hours using a 240-volt plug-in system. The fuel requirement for the gasoline engine is unleaded regular.
If equipped with a middle-row bench seat, the Pacifica Hybrid has seating for eight people. A seven-passenger configuration with two separate seats in the middle row is also gettable. In either case, inhabitants ride in the same quiet, comfortable and sophisticated cabin as that of the regular Pacifica, replete with the same advanced connectivity, infotainment and safety technology, plus driver information technology specific to the hybrid functions, including a smartphone app.
With the all-new, class-exclusive Uconnect Theater rear seat entertainment system, passengers can watch movies, play built-in games and connect personal devices to the Internet via two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens.
Roominess inside the Pacifica Hybrid has not been sacrificed to accommodate the hybrid system, because the battery pack is stored in the second-row floor. This positioning of the battery pack also contributes to a stable, low center of gravity for the minivan, and is optimum for safety. Interior volume dimensions are the same as those of the regular Pacifica.
Also in similarity to the regular Pacifica, the Hybrid offers an optional triple-pane panoramic sunroof that reaches to the third-row seats, with a dual-pane sunroof over the first two rows and a fixed glass pane above the third row.
In creating the interior, designers drew inspiration from the environment around Juneau, Alaska. The result is a color scheme exclusive to the Hybrid called Black and Alloy with Anodized Ice Cave accents, Ice Blue stitching and black piping.
From outside, the Pacifica Hybrid is differentiated from its gasoline-only sibling by having unique wheels, a grille whose Chrysler logo is blue, and distinct badging in the form of a stylized lowercase letter “e” that is a take on the universal symbol for On: a circle interrupted by a line.
A more obvious distinction would be Silver Teal Pearl Coat paint, exclusive to the Pacifica Hybrid, which has 10 exterior colors in its palette.
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will be available at dealerships early in the coming year. There are two different trim levels: the Premium model, with a base price of $41,995; and the Platinum model, priced at $44,995. Because hybrid vehicles are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, the adjusted costs of the two models are $34,495 and $37,495. A further price reduction could be available depending on any local or state incentives. The base pricing shown here does not include a $1,095 destination charge.
This is an overview of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid based on an introductory event held by the manufacturer. Although the vehicle was driven during the event, automotive reviews that include driving impressions and other opinions appear only after a vehicle has been given the standard weeklong test-drive.
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
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