There’s no arguing the appeal of a minivan when you need convenience and lots of space. Don’t want your kids bashing other cars with their doors every time they climb inside? Get a minivan. Want those doors to open (and close) with a swift push of a button in case the carpool kids run off without shutting it? Get a minivan. Planning a long road trip that requires packing up nearly the full contents of your home? Say no more. The minivan is here to address all of your needs.
The humble family hauler has long been the answer for many parents who just need something accommodating and accessible. But there’s one more box the minivan could check if it really wanted to go above and beyond in simplifying your daily routine.
Photo courtesy Stellantis
What if you never had to worry about filling it up with gas? As a mom of two young kids, I’ll admit that the thought of crossing one more thing off my to-do list — perhaps even permanently — almost makes my eyes well with tears. Sure, I love saving money as much as the next person, so fuel efficiency is a big bonus when we’re considering a family car. But if you can save me time? That’s one commodity I cherish above all else.
Which of all the minivan choices out there — and there aren’t that many — has the potential to perform such a service? The Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid.
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Photo courtesy Stellantis
Hybrid or plug-in hybrid minivan?
As things currently stand in the car market, there are just two options out there if you’re looking for either a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid minivan: the Toyota Sienna or the Chrysler Pacifica. I’ve driven both and can vouch for either one’s usefulness and appeal. But where the Sienna is available exclusively as a hybrid, the Pacifica prides itself on being “America’s first and only plug-in hybrid minivan.”
This then begs the obvious question: Which one is better? Well, if you like the allure of potentially never having to fill up your car during the week, while retaining the ability to skip the charger if you’re taking a family road trip, I’d say the plug-in hybrid should be your go-to. But if you only care about fuel efficiency and don’t want to bother with regularly charging your vehicle, go with the regular non plug-in hybrid.
Photo courtesy Stellantis
Perks of the Pacifica
I test drove the Select trim of the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid for a full week, and I definitely put its family hauling capabilities and conveniences to the test.
32 all-electric miles
First things first: If you’re not ready to jump in with both feet to Team Electric Vehicle just yet, a plug-in hybrid is a good way to get the best of both worlds. With a full charge, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid can take you up to 32 miles on the battery alone, which can be pretty appealing for people who don’t wander far from home.
I was diligent about keeping it charged up every day, so I burned through those miles quickly. But even after the battery was depleted, the vehicle still managed to get close to 30 mpg on a drive to Bear Lake.
Space for days
Speaking of that trip to Bear Lake, I loved that we could throw a change of clothes, snacks, shoes, chairs, toys and everything else we needed in the back of the Pacifica with plenty of room to spare. There was even enough space to use it as a changing room once we were ready to get out of swimsuits.
Up front, I felt pretty comfortable in both the driver and passenger seat, thanks to some pretty decent legroom. Though I didn’t sit in the second row, my two young kids seemed happy as clams back there — especially since they had access to the Pacifica’s entertainment system.
If you’re a numbers person, the Pacifica gives you 32.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row and 87.5 cubic feet with the third row stowed, which is what I did. If you remove the second row, that increases to 140.5 cubic feet total. Not bad!
Photo courtesy Stellantis
Standard features galore
When you climb inside the Pacifica, you get the sense that Chrysler was really trying to shed the boring minivan stigma. Aside from looking sharp, we had access to a generous list of standard features and equipment, including a 10.1-inch touch screen, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The tester also came with a few added options that made it all the more attractive: surround view camera system, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and hands-free sliding doors.
Easy to drive
For me, all the standard features in the world won’t make up for a car that’s hard or unpleasant to drive. Luckily, the Pacifica didn’t have that problem. It moved smoothly and quietly, especially when it was working solely with electric power. Its V6 engine also did a pretty great job of bringing the minivan up to speed and passing other cars on the freeway.
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Photo courtesy Stellantis
A few caveats
Listen, if there were a perfect car, truck, SUV or minivan out there with absolutely no drawbacks to it, everyone would be buying the same thing. No matter what you’re driving, there will always be pros and cons, and they’ll largely come down to your personal preferences and priorities. That said, here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider whether or not the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid is the right vehicle for you.
No all-wheel drive
All-wheel drive can make or break a car sale, especially here in Utah, where the weather can quickly turn dicey in colder months. The regular, non-hybrid Pacifica is just one of two minivans to offer the option of all-wheel drive. But the plug-in hybrid is available with front-wheel drive only.
No Stow ‘n Go seating in the second row
Considering one of the non-hybrid Pacifica’s most attractive selling points is its signature Stow ‘n Go seating — which allows you to conveniently fold the second and third row flat into the floor — it’s worth mentioning that you lose this feature with the Pacifica hybrid. Since the battery takes up more space underfoot, there’s only room for Stow ‘n Go seating in the third row.
You pay more upfront
You may be skipping frequent trips to the gas pump, but make no mistake, it’s going to cost you more initially. The gas only Pacifica has a starting price of $39,645. The Pacifica Hybrid? It starts at $51,250. Fully loaded, you’ll easily push well past $60,000. For some people, this will be totally worth it. For the budget-conscious, it might move this particular Pacifica just out of reach.
Photo courtesy Stellantis
You need to keep it charged
If you really want to experience the maximum benefit of a plug-in hybrid, you’ll need to keep it charged up. This can feel tedious, especially if you don’t have access to a Level 2 fast charger. If you plug it into a standard 120-volt socket in your garage, you can plan on waiting about 12 hours for it to reach a full charge. If you can install a Level 2 charger, the time is cut down significantly, to roughly two hours.
For reference, J.D. Power says you’ll spend anywhere from $1,200 to $2,500 to install a Level 2 charger at home, so you may want to factor that into your overall cost.
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Final impression
If my best friend were asking me whether or not to buy the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid specifically, here’s what I would say. If you prize avoiding the gas pump above all else, you have a short daily commute and you’re committed to keeping it fully charged, the Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is absolutely worth your consideration.
For me, keeping it charged is the top consideration if you’re even thinking about buying this thing. Because if you don’t take advantage of its all-electric capabilities, what’s the point?
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*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.
