CARGAZING Pacifica Checks Logical Boxes Offers Huge Interior Space, Impressive Gas Mileage

By Derek Price WHAT WAS TESTED? CARGAZING.COM iven America’s insatia- 2020 Chrysler Pacifica ble appetite for large Hybrid Limited vehicles — with pick- ($45,845) Gups, SUVs and crossovers dominating sales — it’s sur- Wheelbase: 121.6 in. prising that the most logical Length: 203.8 in. big vehicle of all isn’t more Width: 79.6 in. popular. Height: 69.9 in. Overall minivan sales Engine: 3.6-liter V6 dropped again last year to less hybrid (260 total system than 3 percent of the market, horsepower) according to a report in USA Transmission: Today. Continuously variable Experiencing the latest 82 MPGe, Chrysler Pacifica makes me Fuel economy: 30 gasoline only wonder why more families don’t opt for them given just how appealing they are to Why buy it? It’s refined, practical, drive and live with. logical and gets amazing excel at all the fuel economy for the size. left-brain attributes. The hybrid version can • Spaciousness: The go 32 miles on electric Pacifica is the roomiest vehi- The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is available with a hybrid drivetrain that can charge and drive up to 32 miles on electric power power, then gets 30 mpg cle I’ve driven in the past year. before the gasoline engine kicks in. in combined city and Even the back row is big highway driving according enough for adults, and the Hybrid, makes me wonder favorite new three-row SUVs, ble in turns compared to spective, though, it doesn’t to government ratings. available volume in the cargo why anyone would buy a full- the Telluride and Hyundai high-riding crossovers. seem too unreasonable. area is enormous. size SUV given their fuel-burn Palisade. The only downside is its Luxury pickups easily top • Usability: How can you numbers. If it were a luxury car exclu- image. Thanks in small part to $70,000 these days, with a few beat two gigantic sliding As a plug-in hybrid, this sively for date nights or a their capability and in large topping $100,000. And my the base trims, are well- doors and an electric lift gate particular Pacifica has an sports car for the weekends, part to their ingenious mar- Pacifica tester was a top-of- equipped. in back? The entire is electric range of 32 miles fuel economy might not mat- keting, SUVs are seen as the-line Limited version with While the Pacifica is aimed designed around ease of use, before it burns a drop of gaso- ter. But for a vehicle designed adventurous and exciting. a few options added, includ- at drivers who want a more from the locations of cup line. Its miles-per-gallon for regular family trips and SUVs are appealing to many ing $1,895 for a massive sun- upscale experience, with a holders to the entertainment equivalent from the federal long stretches of highway image-conscious buyers — roof that allows natural light near-luxury level of refine- options and smorgasbord of government is 82, a driving, fuel economy makes which covers most new-car to shine on all three rows. It’s ment and content, Chrysler USB and video plugs in the mind-blowing number for a a big difference for family buyers, if we’re honest — in a neat but hardly thrifty. also offers a Voyager minivan rear. And because it doesn’t vehicle this big. budgets, even in an era of way that minivans just aren’t. Most buyers will be shop- designed for value shoppers. ride high like most SUVs, get- Even if you never use the cheap gas. Initially I felt some sticker ping for something closer to It’s priced from $26,985. ting in and out is a breeze. electric capability, though, it’s The Pacifica even drives shock when I saw the price of the base level of the Pacifica, Interestingly, Chrysler’s sib- • Fuel economy: This, more still rated for a thrifty 30 mpg better than most SUVs. The my Pacifica tester, which which starts at $34,045 for the ling brand, Dodge, continues than anything else, is where in combined city and high- ride is supple and silent, and came in just over $50,000 gasoline version or $38,100 to sell the previous-genera- minivans shine. This van in way driving. That’s a whop- its lower center of gravity including its hefty $1,495 des- for the brilliantly engineered tion Grand Caravan priced particular, the Pacifica ping 8 mpg better than my makes it feel planted and sta- tination charge. Put in per- hybrid. All models, including from $27,530 as a 2020 model. CARGAZING

The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is available with a hybrid drivetrain that can charge and drive up to 32 miles on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in. Pacifica Checks Logical Boxes Minivan Offers Huge Interior Space, Impressive Gas Mileage

By Derek Price adventurous and exciting. SUVs are CARGAZING.COM appealing to many image-con- iven America’s insatiable scious buyers — which covers most appetite for large vehicles — new-car buyers, if we’re honest — with pickups, SUVs and cross- in a way that minivans just aren’t. Govers dominating sales — it’s sur- Initially I felt some sticker shock prising that the most logical big when I saw the price of my Pacifica vehicle of all isn’t more popular. tester, which came in just over Overall minivan sales dropped $50,000 including its hefty $1,495 again last year to less than 3 percent destination charge. Put in perspec- of the market, according to a report tive, though, it doesn’t seem too in USA Today. unreasonable. Experiencing the latest Chrysler Luxury pickups easily top Pacifica makes me wonder why $70,000 these days, with a few top- more families don’t opt for them ping $100,000. And my Pacifica tes- given just how appealing they are to ter was a top-of-the-line Limited drive and live with. version with a few options added, Minivans excel at all the left- including $1,895 for a massive sun- brain attributes. roof that allows natural light to • Spaciousness: The Pacifica is shine on all three rows. It’s neat but the roomiest vehicle I’ve driven in hardly thrifty. the past year. Even the back row is Most buyers will be shopping for big enough for adults, and the avail- something closer to the base level able volume in the cargo area is of the Pacifica, which starts at enormous. $34,045 for the gasoline version or • Usability: How can you beat $38,100 for the brilliantly engi- two gigantic sliding doors and an neered hybrid. All models, includ- electric lift gate in back? The entire Spacious seating, a massive area for cargo, quality material choices and a smart, family-friendly layout make ing the base trims, are well- van is designed around ease of use, the Pacifica’s cabin a fantastic place to spend time. equipped. from the locations of cup holders to While the Pacifica is aimed at the entertainment options and As a plug-in hybrid, this particu- whopping 8 mpg better than my an era of cheap gas. drivers who want a more upscale smorgasbord of USB and video lar Pacifica has an electric range of favorite new three-row SUVs, the The Pacifica even drives better experience, with a near-luxury level plugs in the rear. And because it 32 miles before it burns a drop of Kia Telluride and . than most SUVs. The ride is supple of refinement and content, Chrysler doesn’t ride high like most SUVs, gasoline. Its miles-per-gallon equiv- If it were a luxury car exclusively and silent, and its lower center of also offers a Voyager minivan getting in and out is a breeze. alent from the federal government for date nights or a sports car for gravity makes it feel planted and designed for value shoppers. It’s • Fuel economy: This, more than is 82, a mind-blowing number for a the weekends, fuel economy might stable in turns compared to priced from $26,985. anything else, is where minivans vehicle this big. not matter. But for a vehicle high-riding crossovers. Interestingly, Chrysler’s sibling shine. This van in particular, the Even if you never use the electric designed for regular family trips The only downside is its image. brand, Dodge, continues to sell the Pacifica Hybrid, makes me wonder capability, though, it’s still rated for and long stretches of highway driv- Thanks in small part to their capa- previous-generation Grand Caravan why anyone would buy a full-size a thrifty 30 mpg in combined city ing, fuel economy makes a big dif- bility and in large part to their inge- priced from $27,530 as a 2020 SUV given their fuel-burn numbers. and highway driving. That’s a ference for family budgets, even in nious marketing, SUVs are seen as model.

A CLOSER LOOK

AT A GLANCE FACTS, FIGURES AND RATINGS What was tested? 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Wheelbase: 121.6 in. Ratings Why buy it? Limited ($45,845). Options: Advanced SafetyTec Group Length: 203.8 in. Style: 7 It’s refined, practical, logical and ($995), trim-pane panoramic sunroof ($1,895). Price as Width: 79.6 in. Performance: 8 gets amazing fuel economy for tested (including $1,495 destination charge): $50,230 Height: 69.9 in. Price: 8 the size. The hybrid version can Engine: 3.6-liter V6 hybrid (260 total system Handling: 7 go 32 miles on electric power, horsepower) Ride: 9 then gets 30 mpg in combined Transmission: Continuously variable Comfort: 9 city and highway driving accord- Fuel economy: 82 MPGe, 30 gasoline only Quality: 8 ing to government ratings. Overall: 9