The very first plug-in hybrid minivan answers a long overdue question

Chrysler's regular new Pacifica, introduced earlier this year, uses a 3.6-liter V6 and a nine-speed automatic transmission planted in a new chassis making extensive use of lighter aluminum and magnesium, netting a chassis 250 pounds (113kg)  lighter than before. We've driven this iteration (the review is coming soon) and were fairly blown away by its total competence and convenience, plus the fact that small misbehaving children can be stowed under the floor where the "Stow 'n Go" center-row seats play hide-and-seek. The new Pacifica also looks quite svelte, cutting a far more dashing figure than the minivan it replaces.

At this year's LA Auto Show, Chrysler launched the Hybrid version, which also plugs in for charging and uses a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack netting a pure electric range of 30 miles (48km) (and a total of 260 hp/194kW), making it the world's first plug-in hybrid minivan. For families who seek the utility, space, and easy ingress/egress of a minivan in a hybrid package, it's a no-brainer.

Hybrid drive and the battery add 650 pounds (295kg), with the battery mounted below the second-row seats, which requires losing the "Stow 'n Go" capability of those seats. Recharging the 16-kWh battery requires 2 hours from a 240-volt, level 2 charger and roughly 14 hours from standard 120-volt household current. An onboard charger is good for 6.6kW. Assuming the car starts its journey on a fully charged battery, the Pacifica Hybrid sets off under electric drive, as well.

The electrically variable transmission (EVT) uses two electric motors, both of which are capable of driving the wheels. A one-way clutch allows the motor typically used only as a generator to also deliver torque to the wheels, depending on driving conditions.

Chrysler pegs efficiency at 80MPGe in the city and a total range of 530 miles. (Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, or MPGe, is a measure of how far a vehicle can travel electrically on the same amount of energy as contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.) The Pacifica Hybrid also qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax credit in the US and may also qualify for additional local incentives. Pricing ranges from $42,990 for the base model to $45,990 for the Platinum version (all not including the federal and local tax credits).

Despite the big battery pack under the floor, the Pacifica Hybrid retains the largest interior volume in the segment and seating for eight; it can also fit 64 sheets of quarter-inch-thick, 8x4 plywood inside.

Minimal visual clues belie the hybrid nature of the car from the standard Pacifica. Front-end trim detailing and a door for the charging port on the left front fender amount to the total design differences.

Inside, the Pacifica Hybrid offers multiple infotainment choices, including Hybrid Electric Pages which monitors and informs users about charging schedules through a Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen, smartphone connectivity apps, a customizable TFT panel, and an "efficiency coach" to bug you about light-footed driving.

For the rear seats, a rear seat entertainment system enables movies, built-in games, and personal electronics connectivity for Internet access via two 10-inch touchscreens.

Knowing the minivan's major destiny as a small mobile house, the clean-up struggle is real. Therefore, the Pacifica comes equipped with its own vacuum cleaner, mounted in the C-pillar.

Proving the Chrysler does indeed have a sense of humor, an “Are We There Yet?” function tells rear passengers the distance and time left on a journey to your destination.

They're still working on the giant dad hand that reaches in back to stop sibling fights, however.

Listing image by Chrysler