Road Test: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

Impressive Efficiency. Impressive Luxury

Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Chrysler.

If you are one of those “I will never drive a minivan” type of persons, please keep reading.

• Do you have a need to haul up to seven people in comfort and style?
• How about lowering the second and third row seats and having just under 12-linear-feet of storage space?
• Oh, and could you get used to 32 miles of all-electric driving and 30+ mph when in hybrid mode?

The newly styled 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is ready for your test drive.

When Clean Fleet Report first reviewed the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid in 2017, it was the only electrified minivan on the market. It was more than a hybrid—it was a plug-in hybrid. The plug means the 2021 Pacifica has a 32-mile all-electric driving range, which for most people is far more than they will drive in their daily routine. This means doing errands, taking the kids to sports or visiting friends, even most commutes, will be done without using any gasoline.

But the landscape has changed since 2017 as the 2021 Toyota Sienna minivan is now a hybrid. While it isn’t a plug-in and doesn’t have an all-electric driving range, it is very efficient and a strong competitor for the Pacifica Hybrid.

How It Works

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, both utilize a gasoline-powered 3.6-liter V6 and two electric motors mated to an electrically variable transmission. Using 87 octane fuel, there is a total system of 260 horsepower combined. The Environmental Protection Agency rates fuel economy at 30 mpg highway and combined in hybrid mode, with an impressive 84 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) that measures the pure electric mode. MPGe is a measurement of how far a car can travel, electrically, on the same amount of energy as is contained in 1 gallon of gasoline. In 289 miles driving through Southern California Clean Fleet Report achieved a combined 38.8 mpg based on the dashboard computer. Keep in mind this is a 5,010-pound aerodynamic shoe box getting this stellar fuel economy.

The Pacifica Hybrid has a regenerative braking system, which recharges the 16-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion (li-ion) battery. Regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into electricity when braking or coasting. So driving around town, stuck in stop-and-go rush hour highway traffic, or coasting down hills recharges the battery. The battery recharge and electric mile range are metered instantly by dash gauges.

With a fully charged battery the Pacifica Hybrid is rated to get 32 miles driving range on pure electricity, producing zero emissions. Clean Fleet Report, on an all in-town test loop never exceeding 45 mph and encountering many stop lights, experienced a far greater all-electric range of 46.2 miles.

Once the battery is depleted, the Pacifica is then powered by the gasoline hybrid system. Clean Fleet Report would like to see an EV on/off button, so the battery charge can be saved and used when needed, such as in the city where electric running is far more efficient than using gasoline. Conversely, when on the highway, having the option to turn off the EV mode and run the gasoline hybrid motor will return the most efficient driving. Chrysler says its customers don’t want to be bothered with switching between electric and gasoline drive modes as it is too complicated. We would like to meet and talk with those people!

Clean Fleet Report drives many plug-in hybrids, and switching between electricity and gasoline is simple, and maximizes the efficiency of the system. Another suggestion for Chrysler is to add a small generator to replenish the li-ion battery while driving on the highway in gasoline or hybrid mode.

Plug-in charging can be scheduled for off-peak hours to save on electricity costs. The 6.6-kW onboard charger will replenish an empty battery to the maximum 32 miles driving range in about two hours using a 240-volt Level 2 charger. Expect about 14 hours with a regular, 120-volt household outlet. The Pacifica Hybrid does not have a Level 3/DC fast charger capability.

The bottom line is the Pacifica Hybrid, with the 16.5 gallon fuel tank, has an estimated 570 mile total driving range. San Diego to San Francisco? Charlotte to Orlando? New York City to Toledo? Yep, all on one tank.

Driving Experience: On the Road

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle has a smooth and quiet ride, as would be expected for a 2+ ton vehicle. Wind gusts or passing big rigs had no effect on the stability and sure footed feel. The steering was heavy, which we liked, and the electric power steering was tuned to leave sufficient road feedback. Cornering was flat and in control with minor body roll when pushing on the tightest corners, which was easily managed by backing off the accelerator. A low center of gravity, thanks to the batteries being located under the floor, and the 235/60/18 Michelin Premier all-season tires provided good grip. The weight and heft can be felt, but the overall drivability and behind-the-wheel time in the Pacifica Hybrid was a pleasant experience.

Stopping was straight, with the four-wheel power-assisted disc, anti-lock brakes, which were easy to modulate. More aggressive regenerative braking can be achieved by setting the drive mode to the L position, resulting in feeling the braking more than if in the D (drive) mode. Completing the stopping suite was brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control.

Redesigned Exterior

The Pacifica Hybrid, redesigned for 2021, comes in four trim levels of Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle, the last of which Clean Fleet Report drove. Chrysler says the “new exterior design expression is much more deeply sculpted, athletic and modern in character.” The new design is sleeker than previously, with the new diamond-style grille, with gloss black paint and a tasteful bright chrome trim, which looked great against the Velvet Red Pearl paint.

The Pacifica Hybrid’s wide and low stance (5.1-inches of ground clearance) cuts a silhouette that makes people say it doesn’t look like a minivan. This will make Chrysler happy as they are calling the new design “utility-vehicle inspired.”  The smooth exterior begins with LED headlights that extend wide on the fenders. Fog lamps are set low in the fascia, and chrome accents are subtle around the windows, lower doors and rear fascia. Chrysler, especially on the Pinnacle model, has raised the elegance level.

The roof has rack rails, a body color-keyed shark fin antenna, a tri-pane panoramic sunroof, and a built-in spoiler over the rear hatch. The horizontal LED tail lights, are connected by a light strip that runs the full width of the rear. The hands-free power lift gate has a low lift-over, meaning loading items is an easy task. The 10-spoke, 18-inch aluminum wheels with Baltic Gray pockets complemented the design.

Upscale Interior

The interior on the Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle will cause a pause when first taking it in. A neighbor said it reminded her of her uncle’s Mercedes-Benz 450SL from years ago, which was a nice and appropriate complement. Chrysler calls the Pinnacle interior a “luxurious living room on wheels.”

Clean Fleet Report’s Pinnacle had a luscious Caramel and Black two-toned palette, with top stitching on the doors and dash and quilted Nappa leather seats. The fronts were heated and ventilated, eight-way power adjustable, including both with lumbar, with a suede headliner. The driver seat comfort was aided by the tilt and telescoping steering column, and the heated, leather-covered multi-function steering wheel that had cruise, radio and telephone controls.

The cockpit layout is simple and clean, with soft touch materials on the dash and door panels. The wood inserts on the doors and dash were attractive, but their glossy sheen didn’t quite go with the rest of the decor. The center console is voluminous with multiple hidden and open storage areas.

Clean Fleet Report staff are big fans of radios with volume and channel knobs, and that the climate control wheel was a different size wheel than those of the radio. The simplicity of the dash layout made for easy-reading of the gauges and the full-color driver information display. The center cluster includes charging and battery information, displaying the power flow from battery to the engine, engine to the wheels and back into the battery during regenerative braking.

The UConnect Theater Package included a 10.1-inch touch screen for 3D GPS navigation and the rear view camera display which includes the FamCam for easy viewing of rear seat passengers. The great sounding Harmon Kardon audio system, with a 10-inch rear subwoofer and 20 amplified speakers, backs up the AM/FM/HD, with SiriusXM (six-month subscription included.) You also get Siri Eyes Free, Alexa, Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity, Aux-in jacks, multiple USB ports, 115-volt power outlet and Bluetooth streaming audio and hands-free telephone. The 4G LTE Wi-Fi is a must for keeping those second-row passengers occupied (and quiet) on long family road trips.

Another nice touch on the dash, which opens-up cockpit space and reduces clutter, are the gear selector (a large wheel) and the electronic parking brake (piano switch), located side-by-side and next to the radio knobs. The well thought-out dash is elegant in its design, as is the complete interior.

Second and Third Row: The Little Things

Access to the second and third rows is easy, and does not require contortionist skills. The second row captain’s chairs fold flat, slide, recline and are easily removable. To gain access to the third row, pressing a button on the lower A pillar powers the driver’s seat into its forward most position. This allows the second row seat to be slid forward giving an open path to the third row. Once back there, three adults can sit in comfort with even a six-footer’s head not scraping the ceiling. Knee and leg room for third-row passengers also is generous and puts all but the largest SUVs to shame.

Second-row passengers get individual multimedia 10-inch horizontal, high-definition seat back video screens with HDMI ports. The three-channel, wireless headphones and Bluetooth touchpad remote controls make for an uncluttered entertainment experience. Third-row passengers get a USB charge port and cup holders. And those third row seats quickly and easily flip forward and down, as part of the Stow ’n Go system, hiding under the floor. When down, the storage space is impressive and very usable.

There are Berber-style floor mats throughout the cabin, second-row window shades and the second-row captain’s chairs come with diamond-quilt stitched lumbar pillows, with the fronts covered in Nappa leather and the backside in suede to match the headliner.

Chrysler has done the little things to raise the luxury bar for the Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle.

Safety and Warranties

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid comes with a good combination of safety features, including front, side, knee and side curtain air bags; remote keyless entry, hill start assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, rear parking assist with auto stop, anti-theft engine immobilizer, a tire pressure monitoring system and the aforementioned four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist.

The optional Advanced Safety Tech Group package included rain-sensing windshield wipers, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and the very helpful surround view camera system. This system provides a 360-degree bird’s-eye view on the 8.4-inch screen, as if looking down at your car’s positioning. This is extremely useful when parking.

The Pacifica Hybrid received the highest safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). NHTSA 2021 Pacifica and IIHS 2021 Pacifica.

The 2021 Pacifica Hybrid comes with these warranties.

• Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
• Hybrid System – 10 years/100,000 miles
• Basic – Three years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles

Pricing

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid comes in four models with these base prices, including the $1,495 destination charge.

Front-Wheel Drive

Touring                 $41,490

Touring L              $43,790

Limited                 $47,340

Pinnacle                $52,340

All-Wheel Drive

Touring                 $39,535

Touring L              $42,635

Limited                 $49,885

Pinnacle               $54,885

Observations: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offers families creative seating and cargo flexibility, making it possible for up to seven to ride in comfort and style. Offered in both front and all-wheel drive, the Pacifica Hybrid makes it possible to get the exact model for your driving conditions and lifestyle.

Knowing that most minivan owners are running in-town errands and hauling their kids and their kid’s friends everywhere and anywhere, the Pacifica Hybrid is engineered to go the first 32 miles on pure electricity. This range conceivably means all those short trips would be made without burning any gasoline. As long as the Pacifica Hybrid is plugged-in each night (just as you do your mobile phone), you are ready again for another fun day of sports practice and grocery store runs.

But the Pacifica Hybrid isn’t just for around town jaunts. With a 570-mile driving range, the Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle is begging to be driven long distances. It really shines on the open road, where the family can go hundreds and hundreds of miles in extreme comfort. The available rear seat personal video screens with wireless remotes and headphones, and storage space to carry whatever a family would want to carry makes hearing the words, “Hey honey, grab the kids and let’s head for the mountains” no more daunting than driving to the corner store for milk and eggs.

Chrysler has made getting into the 2021 Pacifica Hybrid a four-model choice. While the front-wheel drive Pinnacle will pamper you, just like it did us at Clean Fleet Report, you may take a look at the Limited model, which offers popular amenities and features for a more reasonable $5,000 less. All-wheel drive and options will run up the tab, but to get into a luxurious minivan for under $48,000 is a bargain.

Depending on where you live, the Pacifica Hybrid qualifies for federal and state tax credits, so your final price could be significantly lower than sticker.

Revisit “I will never drive a minivan.” It will lose much of its steam and credibility after driving a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid at your local dealer.

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.