2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited

The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica is a kid-friendly road-trip vehicle—kid-friendly because it has over 100 standard and available safety and security features. And it seats up to seven people while offering plenty of elbow and legroom.

The upfront cab is comfortable, allowing the driver to focus on the road as those in the back enjoy the ride.

Uconnect Theater with wireless streaming and dual 10-inch seatback-mounted touchscreens are standard for the Limited model. This device helps keep the backseat passenger engaged for hours.

Chrysler boasts the Hybrid model as the first hybrid in the minivan segment. The hybrid powertrain achieves 84 MPGe when powered by both the 16 kWh battery and the gas engine.

The battery takes as little as two hours to recharge with an available 240-volt Level 2 charger and provides up to 33 miles of pure electric driving range. When running on gasoline only, it delivers 33 combined mpg. The hybrid system boasts a 566-mile total driving range.

The 2018 Pacifica Hybrid is powered by a 3.6 L Pentastar V6 hybrid engine working with an eFlite single-electrical variable transmission (si-EVT) that contains two electric motors to deliver 261 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque.

The class-exclusive Stow ’n Go seating and storage system gives you extra cargo space without having to remove the seats. The second- and third-row seats can be folded and stowed into the floorboard in just a couple of minutes.

The Auto Advance ‘n Return quickly moves the front seats out of the way while you are stowing or returning the second-row seats. This is as simple as pressing a button to slide the front seat forward and pressing the button again when done. The second-row Easy Tilt seating allows second-row passengers to easily climb in and out of the third row.

Another nifty feature is hands-free sliding doors and a hands-free liftgate. A simple kick with the key fob near or on your person and a cavernous opening is made available.

My granddaughter Gemma Lee loves Fruit Loops, especially when travelling with granddad. It’s amazing how few Fruit Loops she actually gets in her mouth—a considerable amount collect on her dress, car seat, and floorboard.

Well, Stow ’n Vac is a built-in vacuum cleaner that makes lost Fruit Loops quickly disappear. Included are removable debris drawers, which make for easy disposal. Whenever we finish our ride, I manage to remove all the Fruit Loops from the vehicle. However, those stuck in her ears are her mother’s responsibility.

The Chrysler Pacifica is like a living room on wheels, offering 243 different seating setups. With seats stored in the floor, you have an expansive, flat cargo space that can hold a large stack of 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets of construction material.

It’s kind of like the family in the “time out” room. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) means engine and street noises are subdued through white-noise wave length. The Pacifica offers three levels of audio systems, which are equipped with six ANC microphones to enhance noise reduction.

The Pacifica Hybrid includes the standard Uconnect 4C NAV 8.4-inch touchscreen system with navigation and integrated voice command.

All of this great stuff on the inside is complemented by 17-inch-by-7-inch polished aluminum wheels with all-season tires, LED signature daytime running headlamps, and exterior mirrors with turn signals on the outside.

The Limited trim is standard-equipped with an elaborate package that focuses on safety and security measures. Full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, lane-departure warning with lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go are included in the $44,995 manufacturer’s suggested retail price. The Tri-Pane Panoramic Sunroof is a great feature to add for $1,595.

Warranty
3-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty
5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
5-year/unlimited mileage Rust-Through Warranty
10-year/100,000-mile High Voltage Battery Warranty

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or at [email protected].