As automakers’ electrification efforts progress, hybrid vehicles are becoming more common each year. Plug-in hybrids offer greater efficiency and short-distance electric driving, but owners have to plug it in to take full advantage of the powertrain.
There is, however, one type of vehicle that no longer includes any PHEV options: the humble minivan. The only plug-in hybrid minivan ever sold in the US was the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, which went out of production earlier this year. Leftover examples of this model are now available at sizable discounts. Let’s find out more about it.
The Chrysler Pacifica PHEV: Last Of Its Kind
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid exteriorChrysler
The Chrysler Pacifica PHEV is a truly unique model on the US automotive market as it’s the only minivan ever sold in the States to be powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately for buyers who might find that an attractive prospect, this version of the Pacifica was removed from the lineup at the start of 2026, when Stellantis killed off all its PHEV models. However, your chance of owning one hasn’t completely disappeared yet. Before the discontinuation was announced, a small number of 2026 model-year units were produced. A handful of them are still available new from dealers.
The Pacifica has now been around for about a decade, having debuted for the 2017 model year as a successor to the Town & Country. Although it shares a name with an earlier Chrysler SUV, the two models have nothing else in common. The powertrain combines the 3.6-liter V6, also seen in the model’s combustion-powered version, with two electric motors. Total output is 260 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque; an e-CVT transmission drives the front wheels.
The PHEV version also launched as a 2017 model. It offered better fuel economy and an all-electric driving range of 33 miles. However, the hybrid model had limited the number of possible configurations by not offering all-wheel drive or eight-person seating.
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid exteriorChrysler
The low customer demand that led to the Pacifica Hybrid’s demise also explains why the few examples left are available with major discounts. Kelley Blue Book data suggests that although the 2026 Pacifica Hybrid’s starting price was originally $53,760 (including a $1,995 destination fee), buyers today are paying $2,660 to $3,160 less than MSRP. If you manage to find a new Pacifica Hybrid at your local dealership, you might be able to snap it up for less than $50,000.
The Pacifica PHEV’s Interior And Tech
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid interiorChrysler
The interior of the Pacifica PHEV is, in line with the rest of the Pacifica family, spacious and practical. In addition to transporting large families on short everyday journeys, it can comfortably handle longer trips, with cargo space and passenger comfort among the main priorities.
Although luxury isn’t the main focus, some higher trims offer more premium materials, such as the Pinnacle, which comes with quilted leather upholstery. This trim also features lumbar support pillows for the second-row captain’s chairs. However, due to the additional space taken up by the battery pack, the Stow ‘n’ Go system is not available in the second row of seats.
The Pacifica isn’t just suited to transporting large items, such as luggage and sports gear. The cabin offers abundant small-item storage, with plenty of cubbies, bins, and cupholders to suit the whole family’s needs. There are also several practical optional features, such as a mini spare tire and a built-in vacuum cleaner.
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid interiorChrysler
In terms of infotainment, the model is equipped with the Chrysler Uconnect 5 system, controlled by a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The software offers the user the opportunity to reconfigure the home screen with preferred functions. It also includes features such as Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.
A mobile Wi-Fi hotspot keeps everyone connected while on the move, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system is a great way to keep the smallest passengers occupied on long journeys. This system also offers Amazon Fire TV as an option, allowing users to connect their favorite streaming apps. 12 USB ports (a mix of USB-A and USB-C) are located throughout the cabin, keeping everyone’s devices charged during a road trip.
Chrysler And The Minivan’s Journey Through The Decades
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid exteriorChrysler
The Pacifica PHEV’s disappearance is just one symptom of the minivan’s up-and-down fortunes over the years. While the first minivan dates back to the 1930s, the category flourished at the end of the 20th century, then declined in popularity, and is now back in fashion.
The story of the minivan is closely connected to that of Chrysler itself. However, the automaker has a long history that goes back a hundred years; since the 1980s, minivans have been among its most popular products. The Caravan and Voyager, sold under the Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler brands depending on the region, helped usher in the minivan’s golden age. Japanese brands soon followed, introducing several competing models.
2021 – 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid exteriorChrysler
Thanks to their practicality and dimensions, minivans remained among the most popular family vehicles until the turn of the millennium. The rise of SUVs and crossovers made them far less popular, relegating the minivan to a much smaller corner of the market. Chrysler, once king of the minivan and a major brand on the US market, also shrank to a fraction of its former self. It managed to survive with a drastically reduced lineup, while several of its companion marques (such as Plymouth) were axed.
However, in recent years, there has been evidence that the minivan is making a comeback. Last year, sales figures started to climb upwards. However, there are still only a handful of models on the market (including the Pacifica, the Honda Odyssey, and the Toyota Sienna). This is likely to change in the future. Mercedes-Benz has recently expanded this small segment by introducing the VLE-Class. As the minivan picks up momentum with busy families once again, the Pacifica Hybrid might return in some form.
2027: The Refreshed Pacifica… With No PHEV In The Lineup
2027 Chrysler Pacifica Front 3/4 ViewChrysler
While the 2026 model year marked the demise of the PHEV version of the Pacifica, 2027 brings even more changes as the model undergoes a second refresh after the first revisions in 2021. The Pacifica’s styling has been updated across all trim levels, except the entry-level LX, with a refreshed front end featuring a new illuminated badge. There are also new paint color options and new wheel designs on offer.
The Voyager, formerly a standalone model and most recently a trim level in the Pacifica family, has now been killed off for good. A variety of configurations are available, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive available as a $3,345 option across all trims except the LX. Buyers can still choose between a seven- and an eight-passenger layout. The powertrain remains unchanged, with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
2027 Chrysler Pacifica Rear 3/4 ViewChrysler
The model is equipped with Stow ‘n’ Go seats in the second and third row, which fold flat into the floor to create additional cargo space. Cargo loading is also made easier by the adjustable-height power liftgate, a new addition which comes as standard on all trim levels.
The plug-in hybrid Pacifica may be no more, but the model still has plenty to offer for busy families looking for a practical vehicle. And as automakers increasingly embrace electrification, there is a chance we might see a hybrid powertrain return to the Pacifica lineup in the future.
Sources: Chrysler, Kelley Blue Book