2017 Chrysler Pacifica: The Minivan Gets A 80 MPG Makeover

Chrysler invented the minivan more than 30 years ago. The company did not dominate the minivan market; it was the minivan market. For decades, the Chrysler Town & Country was the ultimate family hauler with more cup holders (and juice box holders) than kids on a starting soccer team. Years later, the original Stow ‘n Go seating turned the boxy interior into a small airplane hanger. It was incredibly original, and helped defined a generation of families, a rare feat in the automotive world.

But when one carmaker creates something so eccentric, interesting and profitable, everyone else joins the rush to cash in on the gold in this new segment.

Through the years, competition slowly eroded Chrysler’s lead. It took 25 years, but eventually, Honda and Toyota, offering extremely well-built and innovative minivans, overtook the Town & Country (which split some sales with its low-cost sibling, the Dodge Caravan). Frankly, the Town & Country was expensive, lackluster and dated. It didn’t deserve to hold the crown it alone had created. In 2015, the Town & Country was the fourth best-selling behind the top selling Toyota Sienna, No. 2 Honda Odyssey and the Caravan — and the world had shifted its family-hauling preferences toward SUVs.

Today, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will attempt to return to those juice-box-holding salad days by unveiling the Chrysler Pacifica at the Detroit Auto Show – the new nameplate for Chrysler’s minivan. Perhaps the Town & Country deserves a better send off than just having its role replaced by something younger, faster, and more creative. But so it goes in life and cars. Who has time to think about those old clunkers that just can’t keep up with the speed of life?

Check Out Everything New At The Detroit Auto Show

Better yet, the Pacifica is impressive in all the ways the modern Town & Country was not. In a preview of the Pacifica in December, Chrysler officials said the new Pacifica arrives with more than 100 innovations, which in automotive parlance is not always so impressive. But when you break down some of the great features in the Pacifica – some original, others swiped from competitors – hey, the competition took the minivan idea from Chrysler – this family hauler is ready to roll into the future.

First, there’s the plug-in hybrid powertrain. This is a first for any minivan, and it’s certainly about time. The hybrid Pacifica, which newly developed electric variable transmission uses two electric motors to drive the wheels and 16 kWh lithium ion battery pack, will achieve 30 miles on electric power before the engine kicks on to help. It hits 80 mpg-e in city driving. Other fuel economy numbers were not released.