Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is spacious and tricked out

Now that national awareness of misogyny has risen significantly, I can finally reveal that I’ve always resented the ridicule heaped on minivans. The derision usually includes a reference to “soccer moms” as though they are society’s most undesirable element.

Having said that, I’ll now reverse course by saying the new S Appearance Package for the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid makes a minivan look cool. Which implies it otherwise would not. What a hypocrite.

The S Appearance Package is available on all three Pacifica Hybrid trims: Touring Plus, Touring L, and Limited. It includes 18-inch wheels with a black finish, an all-black interior, black accents inside and out, gloss black upper and lower grille surrounds, and S badging.

The Pacifica Hybrid has a combined city/highway rating of 82 mpg and a 520-mile range when gas and electric energies are both in play. In electric-only mode it can travel up to 32 miles and create zero emissions. The combined rating using only gasoline is 30 mpg.

My tester was the splendidly equipped Limited trim whose desirability was further advanced by a package called the Advanced SafetyTec Group adding an assortment of features to help drivers park, reverse, stay in their lane, and see all around them. The Tec part of the group adds Uconnect Theater with wireless streaming, DVD player, seatback video screens and wireless headphones.

With its long length, vast and upscale interior, S Appearance features, and excellent fuel economy, the Pacifica Limited model I drove would be perfect for use in a professional transportation service, such as shuttling dignitaries to and from Paine Field or Sea-Tac airports. In my case, it provided valuable service to and from Tractor Supply and Costco.

A three-pane panoramic sunroof option also contributed to the tester’s bottom line. The first two power operated panels are standardly sized. The third panel is smaller, positioned above the third row, which I saw as a wise move on Pacifica’s part in case small children seated there would otherwise be displeased about siblings in the second row having a sunroof if they themselves did not.

Chrysler’s ingenious Stow ’n Go second row seats are a Pacifica Hybrid highlight. They fold flush into the floor, so you don’t have to remove them when you need to maximize cargo space. There’s a deep well behind the third row seats where tall items can be transported, and with the tug of a strap the seats can be dropped into that well, creating another flat surface for more cargo carrying. They flip down with surprising force, so a bit of care is advisable.

Including the destination charge, base pricing for the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid starts at $41,390 for the Touring Plus model. When assessing the cost, remember that there are tax credits for hybrid vehicles.

2019 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID LIMITED

Base price, including destination charge: $46,790

Price as driven: $50,375

Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.