2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Review

It's tempting to view fully loaded models as excessive, but in the Pacifica Hybrid's case, it's a good deal. The base Premium trim comes with features that would satisfy most buyers, and it's a fine package if you absolutely must stick to the base price. But we think it's worth paying a bit more...

Selecting L mode noticeably ramps up the regenerative braking force when lifting off the gas pedal; staying in normal D mode makes for more natural braking feel. The handoff from regen to mechanical brakes is imperceptible.

There's only a total of 260 hp on tap from the V6-battery combo, but acceleration from a stop is brisk because of instant torque from the battery pack.

In regular driving, the brakes are easy to modulate with a short pedal travel and good feel and response for a vehicle with regenerative braking.

The steering is well weighted and easy to control with a good on-center feel, but it communicates very little about what the wheels are doing. In low road-grip situations, good steering feel can help bolster driver confidence.

Considering the Pacifica Hybrid's substantial weight, handling is fine as long as you don't do your best Mario Andretti impression. Body roll is kept in check, and it makes it around corners well, even if the steering doesn't feel all that precise. Midcorner bumps are dispatched with few issues.

Selecting L mode noticeably ramps up the regenerative braking force when lifting off the gas pedal; staying in normal D mode makes for more natural braking feel. The handoff from regen to mechanical brakes is imperceptible.

There's a lot of room in the Pacifica, but the seating position in the second row can be a little tight. Seat bolsters that are overly firm compromise comfort, too. The ride quality, however, is smooth and calm.

All three rows have firm padding. The front seats are highly configurable, but neither the second nor third row reclines or slides fore or aft. The second-row seats are suitable for average-size adults and smaller, but they don't slide forward or back so long-legged passengers may need to squeeze.

The Pacifica goes down the road comfortably and with poise. It's seldom bothered by small or large road imperfections. Dipping a wheel into a pothole sends a shudder through the cabin, but there's little jostle when the wheel returns.

There is minimal road noise and a small amount of wind noise created by the sideview mirrors at highway speeds, though we detected some rattles on occasion. The plug-in hybrid's automatic CVT makes a typical engine noisy drone at full acceleration.

Climate can be controlled through knobs and buttons on the dash or through the touchscreen. Both ways are relatively easy to use. The air-conditioning does a good job of keeping the entire cabin cool on hot days. Three-zone climate control is standard.

Whether you're making the daily commute or spending a long weekend on the highway, the Pacifica Hybrid's cabin is a pleasant place to be. Judged strictly by the numbers, the Pacifica Hybrid is marginally smaller than rivals, but it feels just as spacious as class leaders.

The controls inside the Pacifica Hybrid are intuitive and easy to use. The buttons are large and easy to locate within arm's reach of the driver. Touchscreen controls are laid out well with frequently used commands available from the main home screen.

The front-row seats are a bit high, but there's a low floor and high ceiling to help out. The sliding rear passenger doors provide a generous opening for ingress/egress or for loading child seats, and there's a large gap between the second-row seats to access the third row.

Highly adjustable front seats and a tilt-and-telescoping wheel make it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The steering wheel feels large, solid and hefty.

From the front seats, the Pacifica Hybrid feels relatively large, with ample headroom and hiproom. Legroom in the second and third rows, however, is just average. Competitors including the Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona beat it by a few inches.

Massive windows, big mirrors and clear lines of sight mean virtually zero blind spots. A rearview camera comes standard, and a 360-degree surround-view camera is optional.

At first glance, the Pacifica Hybrid presents an upscale vibe with nice soft-touch surfaces. On closer inspection, though, things are less than perfect, with crooked stitching on the steering wheel and door panels, for example.

The Pacifica Hybrid isn't the largest in class, but it only falls behind leaders such as the Honda Odyssey by a few cubic feet. The Hybrid doesn't offer Stow 'n Go seating in the second row since the battery pack is right below. The seats can be removed, though. The third-row seat still folds into t...

Center console storage is large enough for big water bottles and a few snacks. There are small pockets everywhere in the cabin, including cupholders, cubbies and magazine slots. Got a million little things? They'll all fit here.

Based on the spec sheet, the Pacifica is near the bottom of the class for cargo capacity with 32.3 cubic feet behind the raised third row and 140.5 cubic feet with the rear rows folded. In real-world application, though, the Pacifica is still pretty useful.

The rear sliding doors provide great access for loading car seats. There are two sets of LATCH anchors in the second and third rows, but accessing them isn't the easiest.

Chrysler does not recommend towing with the Pacifica Hybrid. Get a truck.

It has enough cargo space to fit an 8-by-4 sheet of plywood — even up to 64 quarter-inch sheets of plywood, according to Chrysler. Forget the truck. For repeated runs to the home improvement emporium, this will do.

Pacifica Hybrid's Uconnect is one of the easiest infotainment systems to use, thanks to a large (8.4-inch) touchscreen display, clear graphics and controls. Lack of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is disappointing.

Uconnect is one of the best systems in the class. The controls are easy to understand with a convenient menu on the lower portion of the screen for main commands. Navigation info can be displayed on the center screen or within the gauge cluster for easy viewing.

Easy to plug in, boot up and index music quickly via USB ports. No problems connecting devices via Bluetooth, either. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't offered, but Uconnect's device integration isn't a bad alternative.

A rearview camera is standard. Adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane departure warning and intervention and a 360-degree camera are optional. ACC is overly sensitive, often creates a large following distance, then brakes hard when there's a minor slowing. KeySense system enables limits for teen driver...

Comes standard with voice controls for audio, phone calls and voice text reply.

To learn more about the Pacifica Hybrid, read our updates from a full year of living with a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. We cover everything from seat comfort to real-world fuel economy. Please note that the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid differs from our long-term Pacifica in that it's, well, a hybri...