Chrysler’s long run of success in crossovers and minivans can not go unnoticed as the Pacifica comes in with a plug-in hybrid powertrain adding to the experience.
It’s still relatively quick and the Pacifica plug-in is smooth and silent driving under electric power.
Body motions are controlled surprisingly well for such a large vehicle. The brakes are a bit squishy, but stopping distances are plenty adequate.
Traveling a distance of 32 miles of electric range, the Pacifica plug-in offers a more electrified experience than the new hybridized Toyota Sienna.
Each row of seating offers generous space for longer trips, and this Pacifica can travel up to 566 miles before stopping to refuel.
Ride quality is excellent. Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment system has always been intuitive, and it should be better than ever with the new-for-2021 standard 10.1-inch touchscreen display.
A Brief History
Having been around as a midsize crossover, the Pacifica Hybrid was reintroduced by Chrysler in the 2017 model year as a successor to the Town & Country.
It distinguishes itself with great fuel economy and lots of family-friendly features, as well as a silky ride.
The hybrid variant is the only plug-in in its class and sacrifices little to the standard car other than the available Stow ‘n Go seating and AWD.
It competes with other minivans including the hybrid Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and Kia Sedona.
Chrysler made a few big updates to the 2021 Pacifica Hybrid, giving it more standard driver-assistance features such as pre-collision warning and braking, an updated infotainment system with a larger touch screen (10.1 inches, up from 8.4), and refreshed interior and exterior styling.
The luxury Interior
Comfort has always been one of the driving forces for the Pacifica and this can be seen in the 32.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total of 140.5 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Which gives plenty of space for your stuff.
The third row features Stow ‘n Go seats, which can fold into the floor. There are plenty of spaces in the cabin to store your belongings, including in-floor bins, cubbies and compartments, and even an umbrella holder.
Just in case you thought you needed a full-size SUV to fit your family and all their stuff, the Pacifica offers significantly much capacity.
With a massive 10.1-inch touch screen and its unique Uconnect 5 infotainment, spending time inside the Pacifica isn’t boring at all.
Bluetooth, a USB port, a six-speaker sound system, satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa
Available infotainment features: navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, a 13-speaker Alpine stereo, a 20-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, additional USB ports, an overhead DVD player, a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, and a FamCam (a camera that displays the rear seats through the infotainment display).
Engine and Performance
The Pacifica Hybrid combines a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with two electric motors and a 16-kWh battery to create a hybrid minivan.
This combination is paired with a CVT automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The hybrid arrangement is not available with the 2021 Pacifica’s available AWD.
The Pacifica can travel 32 miles on electric power alone, thanks to its enormous battery.
The Pacifica Hybrid has a great combined fuel economy of 82 mpg-e on gas and electricity, or 30 mpg on gas alone.
The total system output is 260 hp, which is 27 hp less than the normal Pacifica, and it accelerates from 0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds.
Pacifica Hybrid Versus the Competition
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs. Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is a minivan with a lot of features. One of the most significant features of the new Sienna is that it is the only other hybrid in the class, with combined city/highway fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg.
The Toyota, unlike the Chrysler, can accommodate up to eight passengers and is available with all-wheel drive (AWD is available in the nonhybrid Pacifica).
It also includes features that are more family-friendly, such as a vacuum cleaner (while a vacuum is available in the nonhybrid Chrysler Pacifica, it cannot be had in the hybrid).
The choice between these two is a personal one.
Pacifica Hybrid Safety
The 2021 Pacifica Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars in the side impact test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.
In all six crashworthiness tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2021 Pacifica the highest rating of Good.