Figuring out why the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a good buy isn’t all that hard.
For starters, it’s eligible for a federal tax incentive worth $7,500, which means that it can cost about the same as the non-hybrid version.
On the other hand, despite all the positives, you will have to compromise practicality a bit if you opt for the Hybrid. For example, there’s no more underfloor storage room for the seats, because of the batteries, and it comes with a seven-, instead of an eight-seat configuration.
Driving the Pacifica Hybrid, according to Kelley Blue Book, makes for a different experience than the regular Pacifica, thanks to the former’s hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 paired to two electric motors and a CVT transmission.
Officially, you get an all-electric range of 33 miles (53 km) and an EPA fuel economy rating of 84 MPGe. The folks at KBB averaged just 25.5 mpg (9.2 l/100km) over a distance of 1,000 miles (1,609 km), though, but admittedly did so while driving in a non-economical way.
The upside is that the Pacifica Hybrid doesn’t struggle with overtaking or launching you off the line in an acceptable manner. As for on-board tech, there’s plenty of it to go around – such as standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, remote access and the model-specific 7-inch color cluster display.
In the end, the 2018 Pacifica Hybrid might just make for a terrific purchase, as long as you understand how it’s different from the gasoline powered model and what family-friendly features you’d have to give up on.