Family haulers provide a special and desperately needed summertime service here at Landmark Dodge of Morrow! Meetups with friends, making sure the library books aren’t overdue, and soaking in as much sun as possible are all filling up the to-do list. The writers on staff at CarPro took a close look at the Chrysler Pacifica this week and first noted that it is the only plug-in hybrid available in the states. The Pacifica comes standard with the reliable Chrysler V6 Pentastar engine.
This test drive took place with the modified hybrid version, which puts up remarkable numbers. The current in-town rating is the equivalent of 82 miles per gallon. The combined battery and gas range is over 500 miles, which would make your next long excursion simple. Even with this excellent fuel economy, the 260 horsepower gets the van up and going quite well. If you plug the van in overnight, you will have access to 32 miles of battery power. Once this power is depleted, the Pacifica smoothly switches over to run solely on gasoline.
The Pacifica comes equipped with a 6.6-kW charger, with the available Level 2 option providing about 80% charge in just two hours. Inside there are very welcome accommodations for seven, with easy entry via the fob-controlled sliding doors. This team’s review vehicle offered captain’s chairs in the center row, providing more comfort and easy access to the 3rd row. From the driver’s perspective, all of the essentials are laid out smartly and are easy to access. Directly on the center stack is the excellent 10.1” Uconnect 5 navigation screen, which controls the majority of the exciting essentials!
Here you can adjust the 20-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the rear-viewing FamCam. From not sharing toys to other forms of sibling rivalry, this feature can also monitor the rear-facing child seats. The top-of-the-line Pinnacle comes standard with excellent amenities such as a power liftgate, remote start, leather seating, heated steering wheel, and a panoramic moonroof. Keeping everyone entertained during the trip was quite difficult in years past, but modernization now scores big for the win!
There are two 10” screens that offer Amazon Fire TV streaming, offering solutions for quenching boredom at every mile! The second-row captain’s chairs are incredibly comfortable, and there’s even an extra provision that the more glamorous days of flying coach would offer! Pillows for your back make the journeys past the daily drive much more bearable. USB-C ports and headphone jacks are also built directly into the back of the front seats. Folding down the 2nd and 3rd row seats offers a segment-leading 140.5 cubic feet of cargo.
If all of the onboard entertainment options and other comforts don’t quite keep everyone satisfied, cabin noise due to design will still not be an issue! This review team claimed that the cabin had an “impeccably quiet” quality. If you can score a Level 2 charger and your daily commute is less than 30 miles, you could avoid the gas station once and for all! If you want to load everyone up and head out for the ultimate summer vacation, the gas engine provides the ultimate opportunity along with excellent economy. This crew’s favorite feature of the Pinnacle trim was the terrific leather seating, heightening the comfort level of each trip!
