2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

　　

2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Manager, Vehicle Testing Operations

　　Mike Schmidt has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. He has written nearly a thousand car-related articles and has been responsible for the upkeep of countless test fleet vehicles over the course of his career. Mike is a senior manager of vehicle testing operations at zzdcar and got his start working behind the scenes on the car manufacturer side of the business. Mike spent many a weekend working on the family car with his dad and was promoted from flashlight holder to tool gopher at a young age. He's had an appreciation of cars ever since.

　　If you're on the hunt for a new minivan, few available choices make it easier to pick one. The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica is one of only four minivans available, and there are several reasons you might decide it is perfect for you.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Chrysler Pacifica PHEV Insights

Trim:Pacifica Hybrid Touring L

　　Hybrid Touring L 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $50,795 MSRPHybrid Limited 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) (Most Popular) - $54,895 MSRPHybrid Pinnacle 4dr Minivan (3.6L 6cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid EVT) - $60,345 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　32 miles

　　EPA Estimated Electric Range

　　The Pacifica will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　No battery warranty information available

　　

Charging at Home

　　2 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$7,900

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$7,500

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$104/mo

　　Pacifica

　　vs

　　$202/mo

　　Minivan Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　First, the Pacifica offers an available all-wheel-drive system for improved traction in northern climates. Second, a class-exclusive plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version is available, supplying about 32 miles of electric driving range before a gas-fueled V6 fires up to give you 30 mpg in combined driving. Third, though they're unavailable on the Pacifica Hybrid, the Stow 'n Go seats make it easy to convert this minivan from a seven-passenger shuttle into a load hauler with up to 140.5 cubic feet of cargo space in a matter of minutes. Fourth, the Pacifica offers plenty of technology, from cloud-connected infotainment and an Amazon Fire TV rear-seat entertainment system to popular driver assist and collision avoidance systems.

　　After a thorough refresh for the 2021 model year and several more updates for 2022, the 2023 Pacifica doesn't receive any major modifications (changes are mostly made to equipment shuffling and the new Road Tripper appearance package). And with Chrysler's plan to switch to electrified vehicles, starting soon with a production version of the automaker's Airflow concept vehicle, the next-generation Pacifica is likely to arrive in the middle of this decade with an electric powertrain, ready to take on the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Let's hope Chrysler doesn't try to go retro with it, though, and leaves the fake wood siding and Town & Country nameplate in the dustbin of history.

　　In the meantime, if you need a new minivan now and not in a few years, be sure to consult our Expert Rating to see what we think of the current-generation Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid models. And if this Chrysler isn't the right choice for you, alternatives include our perennial favorite, the Honda Odyssey, the stylish Kia Carnival and the efficient hybrid-only Toyota Sienna, which also offers available AWD.

　　

What's it like to live with?

When Chrysler introduced the Pacifica for the 2017 model year, zzdcar bought one to add to our long-term testing fleet. Not only did we put more than 20,000 miles on our Pacifica during the test, but we kept it around to serve our video crew. Are the observations about our Recurrent still valid? Yes, because while the Pacifica did get several midlife updates for the 2021 model year, it is largely the same as our long-term test vehicle. Therefore, many of our observations apply to the current model.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Pacifica Hybrid drive? As a plug-in hybrid, this Pacifica is the only minivan with the ability to run purely on electric propulsion. When in EV mode, instant torque moves the van sharply and smoothly, though a heavy foot can quickly deplete the battery of its potential range.

　　When operating in hybrid mode, running on both gas and electricity, the transmission response can get out of step with your inputs if you ask for a lot at once. It likes moderate acceleration but will oblige if you need a little midrange punch. Ultimately, if you plug in often you'll enjoy it more.

　　Braking is progressive and predictable. The brake quirks we experienced in the Toyota Sienna Hybrid do not apply to this van. It's not as nimble as the Honda Odyssey or the Sienna, and the turning radius feels noticeably larger.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Pacifica Hybrid? The front seat padding is firm, but ultimately we found the seats to be comfortable for long drives. The available heating and cooling for the front seats work great too. The Hybrid's second-row seats provide superior comfort and legroom compared to the Stow 'n Go seats that come in the standard Pacifica. Third-row comfort is acceptable.

　　The ride is compliant and generally smooth across varying road surfaces. There is body lean when the road starts to twist, but in this respect it's pretty comparable to other modern minivans. The Pacifica Hybrid is pretty quiet, too, as long as you're in EV mode. The V6 engine is surprisingly noisy once it fires up.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below