Roomy interior, good gas mileage, durable materials, and comfort for long road trips are what most parents want when looking for a new family shuttle. If these are the qualities you demand, the new 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the vehicle for you.
The Pacifica is one of the best minivans available today — and the hybrid model is rated even higher than the base model. The hybrid initially came out for the 2017 model year and for 2018 it got some new tech as standard, like Apple CarPlay, that make it even better. The Pacifica Hybrid starts at $40,000 and the top trim starts at $45,000 before options.
This may seem like a lot of money for many families to afford, but the Honda Odyssey can go over $50,000 before options and it wouldn’t come with the $7,500 tax credit that you get with the Pacifica Hybrid.
I was given the top Limited trim to review, and for $45,000 you get a lot of car for the money. There is a much more upscale feeling throughout the cabin. Two-tone leather, ventilated front seats, power-folding third-row seat, navigation system, panoramic sunroof over the first two rows, fixed glass panel over the third, and even a vacuum cleaner. Yes, a vacuum cleaner.
Why hasn’t this been standard before? It’s scientifically proven that kids make messes,, so having a vacuum built into the car makes cleaning it easier and faster.
The Pacifica Hybrid is designed from the ground up to be comfortable. The ride is smooth and it stays composed in corners. With just the power from the hybrid motors, its even quieter than you would expect. That hybrid also is able to boost the gas mileage to 84 mpg-equivalent. Once the 3.6 litre V6 engine kicks in, fuel economy falls to 32 mpg combined.
The interior is roomy enough for an adult to move into the back seats and sit there comfortably. And while I could sit back there, I would much rather be in the comfortable front seats. The middle row can slide to make getting to the back easier and those same durable materials are found there too. I believe this to be the most important place to have them because it would probably end up being the least supervised place in the car.
Storage space in hybrids and full electric cars tends to be lacking but not in the Pacifica Hybrid. With the seats up you have 32.3 cubic feet of storage and with the seats down it rockets to 140.5 cubic feet. The middle row of seats are the only part of the Hybrid that is affected by the battery storage and they don’t have a stow-and-go capability like the gas-powered model has. If I was tasked with bringing six other people on a long trip and wanting good gas mileage, I don’t think I could pick any other car.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
