Anthony Fongaro
With its 300 sedan gone, Chrysler is down to one vehicle. They’ve kept the popular Pacifica in both regular and plug-in hybrid. It’s a risky decision since minivans lost popularity after the mid-90s. I love minivans for their practicality, design, and comfort, and the Pacifica has been an excellent minivan. For 2024, Chrysler allowed me to test out a Pacifica Hybrid Select Premium S. This van is in steep competition with the Kia Carnaval, Toyota Sienna, and Honda Odyssey. Can it still compete with other hybrid or non-hybrid minivans?
The Pacifica is still a striking vehicle with a curvy silhouette. Optional Silver Mist Clear-Coat exterior paint combines 18-inch Foreshadow Aluminum Wheels and gloss-black accents, including a gloss-black grille surround and anodized ink badging. These elements add a touch of sophistication and a subtle yet noticeable, sporty flair that sets the Pacifica apart from its competitors. At the front, the vehicle displays the Chrysler wing badge centrally on the gloss-black grille surround. Moving along the sides, the “S” logo is subtly positioned on the front fenders. Pacifica’s rear also includes the Chrysler badge centered between the slim taillights, with additional hybrid badging near the tailgate’s lower right side, highlighting the vehicle’s plug-in hybrid capability. These badges are thoughtfully positioned to convey the vehicle’s identity while maintaining a clean and cohesive look.
Hop inside, and you’ll see a black color scheme. In front of the driver, the heated steering wheel includes various audio, phone, and cruise control controls. The digital dials behind the steering wheel provide clear and accessible information, including speed, fuel levels, and hybrid system status. Thankfully, the climate controls are handled through physical buttons below the infotainment screen, allowing easy and quick adjustments. The center console houses the rotary shifter alongside additional buttons for features like the electronic parking brake and drive mode selection. The infotainment system is centered around a 10.1-inch Uconnect® 5 Nav touchscreen display, offering navigation, smartphone integration, and Amazon Fire TV Built-In features.
In terms of comfort, the Pacifica offers Nappa Leather Bucket Seats in the front, with heating functions for both the driver and front passenger seats. The cabin is spacious, providing ample room for all occupants. The second-row seats are Easy-Slide Bucket Seats, allowing easy access to the third row. The third row consists of a Stow ‘n Go® 60/40 bench, which can be folded flat into the floor for additional cargo space. Chrysler includes 20 Harman Kardon® speakers, delivering clear and powerful audio throughout the cabin. This is a spacious and luxurious cabin, even though there are a few scratchy plastics.
The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 Plug-In Hybrid engine that delivers 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque combined. This engine works with an electric motor to provide a balanced mix of power and efficiency. Pacifica utilizes front-wheel drive and an eCVT. The Pacifica Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8, decent for the segment. The Pacifica Hybrid offers different drive modes, including electric-only, hybrid, and engine-only. In electric-only mode, the Pacifica can travel up to 32 miles on a full charge while returning 84 MPGe. When the battery is depleted, you can expect over 30 MPG. On EV power, the Pacifica is smooth and provides instant torque. It handles just like a minivan: a little floaty but very comfortable.
The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Select Premium S Appearance comes equipped with several advanced safety features, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Blind-Spot and Rear Cross-Path Detection, and Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning-Plus. The base price for this model is $53,425. Options include Silver Mist Clear-Coat Exterior Paint ($195), the Customer Preferred Package 2ET ($5,995), and the Uconnect® Theater and Sound Group ($2,995), for a total price of $64,205. That’s quite expensive, and I would recommend the Touring L for around $48,000. I like the Chrysler Pacifica, and this Hybrid Select Premium S is excellent. If you want a top-of-the-line Pacifica hybrid, take a look at this.
