Is a Chrysler Hybrid Worth It?

Over the last decade Chrysler’s only hybrid offering has been the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Everything you need to know about every Pacifica model year and trim starts here.
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Over the last decade, Chrysler has only ever offered a single vehicle with a hybrid powertrain: the
Chrysler Pacifica
Hybrid minivan. 
Unlike many other automotive brands, Chrysler has only ever had a single hybrid vehicle: The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. An all-gas powered version of the Pacifica hit the market in 1999, followed by the introduction of a hybrid Pacifica in 2017. Despite becoming increasingly popular with US drivers due to their ability to cut down on fuel costs, the Pacifica remains Chrysler’s one and only hybrid. 
Here with a comprehensive guide on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Chrysler’s hybrid line-up (if we can call it that), is
Jerry
, the #1 rated
car insurance
comparison shopping
super app
. We’ll cover everything there is to know about the Pacifica, from its gas mileage and cost to own, as well as taking a look at how it stacks up against the competition. 
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The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid over the years

When the Chrysler Pacifica hit the market in 1999 it was far from being America’s first hybrid minivan. In fact, the Pacifica’s hybrid powertrain wouldn’t be introduced until 2017, when it would become Chrysler's first, and to this day, only hybrid vehicle
Over the last six years not much has changed about the Pacifica minivan—other than its rapidly increasing price. This isn’t necessarily surprising, considering that all hybrid Pacificas from 2017 to 2022 are part of the Pacifica’s sixth generation. 
Let’s take a look at how the Pacifica Hybrid has changed over the last few years in terms of price and fuel economy. This table uses the Pacifica’s base hybrid trim—the Pacifica Touring L Hybrid.
Model Year
Vehicle type
Starting price
Fuel economy (base trim)
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2022
Minivan
$47,640
30 mpg/82 MPGe
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2021
Minivan
$43,025
30 mpg/82 MPGe
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2020
Minivan
$40,962
30 mpg/82 MPGe
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2019
Minivan
$38,440
30 mpg/82 MPGe
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2018
Minivan
$31,015
32 mpg/84 MPGe
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 2017
Minivan
$27,450
32 mpg/84 MPGe
As you can see, very little about the Pacifica minivan has changed except for its price tag since its hybrid powertrain was introduced in 2017. It’s important to remember that not all 2022 Chrysler Pacifica trim options feature a hybrid powertrain, however. Let’s take a look at how the newest Pacifica hybrids stack up in terms of price and drivetrain compared to their gas-powered counterparts:
Pacifica Limited
Starting price
Drivetrain
$38,690
Front-wheel drive
$42,720
Optional all-wheel drive
$50,345
Optional all-wheel drive
Pacifica Hybrid Touring L
$50,595
Front-wheel drive
Pacifica Hybrid Limited
$55,522
Front-wheel drive
Pacifica Pinnacle
$55,567
Optional all-wheel drive
Pacifica Hybrid Pinnacle
$59,572
Front-wheel drive
You’ll notice that not only are the hybrid versions of the Pacifica more expensive to buy than their gas-powered counterparts, they are also only available as front-wheel drive models. 

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric car: what’s the difference?

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), as opposed to a traditional hybrid vehicle. But what’s the difference exactly? For starters, PHEVs tend to have larger batteries that essentially allow the vehicle to function as an electric car while it’s charged. For PHEVs the gas engine will only kick on once the electric battery’s charge has been depleted. 
On the other hand, regular hybrid vehicles are constantly using gasoline, they just do so at a slower rate than other gas-powered vehicles because their electric motors aid in terms of propulsion and power. Non-plug-in hybrid vehicles cannot run entirely off electric power. 
Chrysler doesn’t currently have an
all-electric car
, though they have announced plans to release their first—the Chrysler Airflow—in 2028. 

Are Chrysler hybrids worth it? 

Let’s take a look at the most attractive features of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

Performance

The current generation of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans are powered by a DOHC 3.6-liter 24-valve V-6 engine paired with dual electric motors with a 16kWh lithium-ion battery. Alongside a nine-speed automatic transmission that Pacifica Hybrid can pump out 260 horsepower and an equally impressive 262 lb-ft of torque. 
While no one expects a minivan to be the fastest vehicle on the streets, the Pacifica boasts a relatively decent speed rating, kicking up from zero to 60 mph in as little as 7.9 seconds—-that’s only 0.5 seconds slower than the all-gas powered version!
The bottom line? Opting for a hybrid Pacifica compared to a gas-powered Pacifica isn’t going to hurt you much in terms of performance value, with the Hybrid being marginally slower, and only losing 15 horsepower.

Reliability

The Pacifica gets a 4.5/5 rating from RepairPal across all trims. If you’re concerned about your Pacifica Hybrid going the distance, Chrysler’s standard warranty covers damages to your minivan’s hybrid components for 10 years or 100,000 miles—whichever comes first. 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2022 Pacifica a five-star crash test rating as well. Standard safety and driver assistance features on the Pacifica include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning. 

Cost of ownership

While the Pacifica Hybrid’s performance and reliability might be enough to sway you, some drivers will still be hesitant to dish out upwards of $50,000 for a hybrid minivan. But what does the Pacifica Hybrid actually cost to own compared to its gas-powered counterparts? 
Keep in mind that the base MSRP for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Touring is $50,595. Edmunds reports that the five-year cost of ownership for the same minivan is actually only $34,899. That includes: 
  • Insurance: $4.062
  • Maintenance: $5,845
  • Repairs: $2,364
  • Financing: $3,584
  • Taxes and fees: $3,211
  • Fuel: $3,145
  • Depreciation: $15,079
By contrast, the five-year cost to own an all-gas powered 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Touring is $49,469 compared to its base MSRP of $50,345. Using those numbers, over the course of five years you will have paid $15,696 less than the price tag of your Hybrid Pacifica, whereas you will have paid all but $1,630 of the base MSRP of a gas-powered Pacifica Touring.  
So how is your Pacifica Hybrid saving you more than $14,000 over five years compared to the regular Pacifica? In fuel costs, of course. Where the regular Pacifica is using approximately $11,985 worth of gasoline over the course of five years, the Pacifica Hybrid only uses $3,145
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How to get sustainable rates on car insurance

Buying a fuel-efficient and reliable car like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a great way to save on automotive-related costs. Another way is to shop for equally reliable car insurance with
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FAQs

Drivers who purchase  Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan are potentially eligible to avail of a $7,500 federal
tax credit!
The cost to replace the lithium-ion battery in your Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will cost between $12,826 and $12,895, but remember that your battery, as well as other hybrid components, are covered under Chrysler warranty for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
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