FCA Hits the Gas on the Most Fuel-efficient Minivan in U.S. History
The Pacifica Hybrid started production today at Fiat Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant, alongside the venerable Dodge Grand Caravan and plain-Jane gas-powered Pacifica. It’s North America’s first-ever hybrid minivan and, thanks to that technology, also the most economical.
But will it bolster the segment and restore the minivan’s faded glory in these uncertain times?
The Environmental Protection Agency found that the Pacifica was capable of much better mileage than what the company had conservatively estimated, yielding a combined score of 84 MPGe. While the number may not be record shattering in the plug-in hybrid universe, it easily makes this version of the Pacifica the most efficient minivan currently in existence.
Further EPA testing found that the Pacific plug-in’s electric-only range was 33 miles and that it had a total driving range of 566 miles, both notably higher than Chrysler had suggested. The increase is made possible by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motor mated to a 3.6-liter V6.
IHS Markit estimates sales of the hybrid minivan to average about 8,500 units, which roughly matches Novembers’s non-hybrid Pacifica numbers. Despite a serious slump in the last few months, the minivan segment grew consistently throughout 2016 — making it one of the best years the class has seen in a decade. There may be more room for the Pacifica Hybrid in North America than we realize (or substantially less if the recent downturn becomes a trend).
Regardless of the segment’s direction, FCA has remained minivan faithful. The company invested $744 million to reconfigure the Windsor plant for the Pacifica and its plug-in variant and spent $2.6 billion in total on vehicle development.
“Building the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Chrysler Pacifica with the traditional gas powertrain and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid on the same assembly line requires the expanded application of World Class Manufacturing methods and tools to ensure we deliver world class quality in every vehicle we make,” Brian Harlow, FCA’s North America head of manufacturing, said in an official statement.
FCA claims the Pacifica Hybrid will begin to arrive at dealerships over the next several months. Pricing begins at a not-so-cheap $43,090, including destination, but comes much better equipped than the base LX model. Taking into account the $7,500 federal rebate offered on electric cars, the minivan’s drops to a reasonable $35,590.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Our Odyssey averages 15-17 mpg in the hills of Western PA and 90% city driving. While I'd rather see diesel power for real world torque, a diesel minivan in the US is a non-starter. So if Chrysler can give me the equivalent of 25mpg city or better, that's a real improvement. We only drive about 10k a year, so it wouldn't solely be worth it for fuel savings, but for the extra low-end of the electric motors. I'll be very interested in Pacifica when the Oddys lease is up in 6 months
This is a great package. I have a Volt. Electric is great for short trips that are terrible for gas engines--like school drop offs, soccer practices, grocery/mall runs. If they programmed it like GM did with the Volt, it will have great stop light peel-out capacity. The tax credit makes them cost-competitive so ordinary buyers can give them a chance (if dealers do their job too). Gas engines benefit from decades of government subsidies so the credit helps even the playing field.