Towards the end of last year, Stellantis announced the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The brand introduced some minor changes to the MPV, especially in the features department. The additions practically make the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid an excellent family hauler and provide great value to customers looking for a practical and premium MPV without spending a fortune.
The Pacifica is among a few hybrid MPVs in the United States, and its main rival is the Toyota Sienna, which also comes with a hybrid powertrain. However, the Toyota minivan’s hybrid powertrain is a self-charging one, not a rechargeable one like that of the Pacifica. For 2022, Chrysler has rightsized the customization packages; there are fewer options to choose from and more standard features on offer, especially on the lower trims.
Here’s what is new in the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid:
Amazon Fire TV
Long journeys in the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid can be entertaining thanks to Amazon Fire TV. Image: Chrysler/Stellantis
It’s not the first time a brand is boasting about having streaming services inside the vehicle. Brands like Tesla, Rivian, and many others offer this feature. However, Chrysler has gone a step ahead by smartly integrating Amazon Fire TV in the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid’s infotainment; there’s 9 GB of inbuilt storage, owners can use in-vehicle 4G or mobile hotspot for streaming, and content can be streamed individually on each rear screen or simultaneously.
The Fire TV connects to Chrysler’s Unconnect5 infotainment system, which means rear-seat passengers can adjust climate control using the screens and even note the ETA for the destination. Additionally, the package includes two Alexa voice remotes. Like your home device, you can ask Alexa any questions that pop into your mind and command her to give out any information that you wish to gather, like live game scores or the outside temperature.
Visual message on the cluster
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the only plug-in hybrid minivan offering in the United States. Image: Chrysler/Stellantis
Chrysler aims to make the driver aware of what’s going on underneath. Hybrid systems are complex. They are designed to seamlessly alternate power between the electric motor and the petrol engine or run them together. The driver now gets a max regeneration visual message on the cluster, which indicates when there’s a charge going into the battery through regenerative braking or the engine. The Pacifica offers 32 miles of electric-only range.
Improved air filter
An improved version of the air filtration system is now standard on the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Chrysler claims it filters 95% of air particulates, treating airborne matter like dust, smoke, droplets, and aerosols. The brand claims the air filter makes the Pacifica cabin the cleanest ever in a Chrysler vehicle.
Rear door alert
There’s another feather in the Pacifica’s safety hat. Offered as a standard feature, there’s a new rear-seat reminder that senses whether the rear doors are open or closed before ignition. After reaching the destination, the system alerts the driver with an audio alert and a message on the cluster to check the rear seats.
ParkSense Assist
The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will automatically apply the brakes if the system detects a collision. Image: Chrysler/Stellantis
The Pacifica Touring L and Limited versions now come with the Safety Sphere Group as standard. The variants now come with Rear Park Assist that communicates visual and audio messages of the distance between the MPV and the object at the rear. The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will automatically apply the brakes if the system detects a collision. The parallel and perpendicular park assist and 360-degree surround-view camera are also available.
2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid scores big on safety
This one isn’t a feature as much as a confidence-inspiring safety attribute. The 2022 Pacifica Hybrid has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS). IIHS safety ratings were revised in 2020 to emphasize Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Pacifica’s standard feature, which now gets the maximum rating of ‘superior.’
The MPV’s pedestrian AEB performance was rated ‘advanced,’ while the MPV scored the maximum rating in six core crashworthiness tests; small overlap front (driver and passenger), moderate overlap front, side-impact, roof strength, and head restraints and seats.
Unlike EVs with minimalist buttons-free interiors, the Pacifica comes with a raft of physical buttons. Image: Chrysler/Stellantis
2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Price
There are three variants of the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid; Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle. The Touring L and Limited trims retail at USD 46,978 and USD 52,922, respectively. The range-topping Pinnacle variant with all the bells and whistles, including the Amazon Fire TV feature, costs USD 56,176. All prices are MSRP, excluding destination fees and other taxes.
Featured Image Source: Stellantis
Keyword: Top 5 New Features of the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid