1. 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid
Price Range: $50,795-$60,345
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid comes with the latest technology and has the minivan features to carry huge amounts of passenger and cargo space. But its secret weapon is its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which gives smooth and tricky acceleration plus an EPA-estimated 32 miles of range without burning a drop of gasoline.
Charge up the hybrid batteries often, and you are unable to see the gas station for months. The fuel savings plus the available tax benefit make the Pacifica Hybrid potentially the ultimate value in its class.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Pacifica Hybrid drive?
As a plug-in hybrid, this Pacifica is the only minivan that has the ability to run on electric propulsion. When it is in EV mode, quick torque moves the van sharply and softly, though a heavy foot can rapidly deplete the battery of its potential range.
When hybrid mode is preferred, working on both gas and electricity, the transmission result can get out of step with your inputs if asked multiple times at once. It likes moderate acceleration but will cooperate if you require a little midrange punch.
Braking is progressive and predictable. The brake quirks we feel in the Toyota Sienna Hybrid are not applicable to this van. It’s not as small as the Honda Odyssey or the Sienna, and the turning radius feels larger.
Comfort
8.0/10
How comfortable is the Pacifica Hybrid?
The front seat is soft, but it was found that the seats were comfortable for long tours. The available heating and cooling for the front seats work well. The Hybrid’s 2nd-row seats give super comfort and legroom compared to the Stow ‘n Go seats that come in the standard Pacifica. Third-row comfort is acceptable.
The ride is smooth across varying road surfaces. There is body lean when the road starts to curve, but in this respect, it’s pretty comparable to other modern minivans. The V6 engine is found to be noisy once it fires up.
Interior
9.0/10
How’s the interior?
It’s easy to use control in Pacifica. The knobs for the radio and weather control are properly placed and within simple reach of the driver.
It’s simple to step in and out of the Pacifica Hybrid and admire the low door sills, large door openings, tall roofline, and well-positioned seats. There’s a lot of manageable range from the driver’s seat and steering wheel.
The second and third rows are comfortable and offer enough legroom. 2nd-row captain’s chairs slide and recline far enough to adjust to the requirements of their occupants. Even adults should be able to manage the third row for shorter drives.
Technology
8.5/10
How’s the tech?
The Pacifica Hybrid Isn’t Connected infotainment system excels in simple use, features, and smartphone integration. It’s popped up by a big touchscreen with crunch graphics and touch and voice results. It provides Bluetooth and wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration systems. Many USB ports are also handy for these devices. Available mobile web connections consist of Alexa pairing and the Uconnect app, which permit you to control some van functions with your phone. A seatback video system can stream media to the van very well.
Advanced driver aids are normal and plentiful, carrying forward collision warning with pedestrian determination, adaptive cruise, and lane keeping, to name a few. The optional 360-degree camera is a worthy plus.
Storage
9.0/10
How’s the storage?
It is said by Alexander Pope, “Utility is a minivan.” Erm, or something like that. The Pacifica PHEV, like its peers, has a deep well for storage behind the third-row seat. The third row intentionally folds into the floor when unused. The second-row seats slide forward or can be removed completely, requiring external storage, for a maximum cargo space of 140.5 cubic feet. There are also pockets, cupholders, and cubbies for every cherished keepsake your kids find on the ground.
Speaking of junior humans, car seat accommodation in the Pacifica Hybrid is great. The LATCH anchors are easily accessed. Sliding 2nd-row chairs permits extra space for rear-facing child seats and parent access. And buckles are child-friendly for those in boosters.
Fuel Economy
10.0/10
How economical is the Pacific Hybrid?
The EPA estimates the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid can drive 32 miles using all-electric power. After that, the gas V6 switches on, and you can expect to get 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Fully recharging a depleted battery takes about two hours using a Level 2-style 220-volt power source.
The Pacifica Hybrid works wonderfully when you increase the electric battery. Take the experience on the 115-mile evaluation route, for example. We returned a whopping 44.1 mpg on our route, a figure matched only by the 2021 Sienna Hybrid. But there is a caveat. That included a full battery charge. But even if you ignore the electric range, the Pacifica still returned a remarkable 31.9 mpg as a traditional hybrid.
Value
8.0/10
Is the Pacifica Hybrid a good value?
The Pacific Hybrid is a strong value. It costs more to start than the regular Pacifica, but potential federal and state tax credits or incentives can perfectly blunt that starting hit and make the Pacifica Hybrid a rather intriguing value.
On the downside, the van’s interior isn’t quite as nice in person as it looks in photos. Overall fit and finish weren’t especially impressive, and our test van had some electrical gremlins. But Chrysler does provide a lengthy warranty on hybrid components and the battery, as well as 5 years of roadside assistance.
2. 2024 Honda Odyssey
Price Range: $38,240-$50,370
Some cringe at driving a minivan or owning it. But this is the best acceptable way to move people and cargo in just about any preference. The Honda Odyssey offers handling, modern technology, internal space, and excellent levels of luxury and convenience. Performance
8.0/10
How does the Odyssey drive?
The Odyssey gives “minivan” and “fun” in the same line or completes the sentence. Its V6 engine gives sufficient power for your merging and passing requirements, even when you’ve got the cabin full of passengers. In the testing, the Odyssey Elite accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, which is an average time for a V6-powered minivan.
Squeezed steering and stable braking offer the Odyssey a wonderful presence both on the highway and along tighter roads. Is the Odyssey sporty? Actually not. But it is well organised and wonderful to drive. Everything feels cohesive.
A smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission selects the proper gear for the situation. Standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are decent if you want to switch for yourself. If we had to nitpick, it’d be that the engine stop-start system is a bit unrefined, but it can be unabled.
Comfort
8.0/10
How comfortable is the Odyssey?
The Odyssey’s front seats are best for logging miles on long drives. The second-row seats are equally okay for kids or adults. 3-row legroom is bounded, but two adults can survive back there for short distances. Our Odyssey Elite’s 19-inch wheels likely gave it a firmer ride than the smaller available wheel options. But generally speaking, there aren’t many bumps the Honda can’t absorb with ease.
The wind and road voices in the Odyssey don’t seem intrusive. The available cabin intercom system is pretty cool. A microphone receives your voice and broadcasts it to the rear of the van via the speakers or through the rear entertainment system’s headsets.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior?
A minivan should make your life so much easier, just as Odysseus does. Sliding rear doors will beat the custom doors of a crossover SUV when it comes to getting kids in and out. The height of the first two rows of seats makes them easy to slide right into. The 2nd-row seats recline and also slide sideways with only medium effort, allowing superior access to the last third row.
The driver’s seat and the steering column both give a wide range of adjustment, and searching for a natural driving position is a cinch. Those with long legs might wish for extended thigh support from the lower cushion. Our biggest gripe is the availability of both visibility up front and over the shoulder. The windscreen, roof pillars, and side mirrors are in bulk. And while the rearview cameras are decent, a surround-view camera would be optimal.
Technology
7.5/10
How’s the tech?
Honda’s infotainment system has large virtual buttons and snap responses. You can customize, according to your choice, the layout of the screen’s virtual buttons. The Garmin navigation based on navigation graphics and menus, though, seems archaic compared to the trending systems. And some operations, such as carrying voice commands, are a little hard to find out. It is preferred to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps during testing.
The tech in the Odyssey is pass or fail. The rear cabin camera monitor and cabin intercom are certainly beneficial. But some of the professional driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, respond sluggishly and are prone to false positives. It’s better to avoid them.
Storage
9.0/10
How’s the storage?
Few vehicles can hit a minivan here. The storage well behind the third row is good enough for grocery bags. The 3rd-row seats are lifted and lowered manually, which requires less muscle, but the strap handle system is simple enough to use. The Odyssey has an impressive highest capacity of 144.9 cubic feet of storage, with the 3rd row lowered and the 2nd-row seats withdrawn out. The second-row seats are heavy and hard to remove, yet their side-to-side adjustability is a beneficial storage solution if you don’t require a fully flat floor.
When it comes to introducing car seats, the Odyssey fixes the bar. Not only are the lowercase car seat anchors extremely present, but booster-age kids will also find it simple to put on their own belts.
Fuel Economy
6.0/10
How’s the fuel economy?
The EPA idea is that the Odyssey Elite, which is what is tested, gets 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s normal for a minivan. On our real-world evaluation route, which was previously highway driving, we observed 21 mpg. This shows the Odyssey might underperform with respect to the EPA’s ideas.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Odyssey a good value?
The Odyssey Elite trim level that it is tested on is pricey, no statement. But the Odyssey is available for much less. Even the base trim stores the Odyssey’s best features: smooth power, decent seating, and an open, airy cabin. Warranty-wise, Honda is on par with competitors—most offer 3 years/36,000 miles of basic and 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance is also typical and given for the length of the normal warranty.
2024 Toyota Sienna
Price Range:$37,685-$53,905
Minivans are so good now that being wonderful means doing all of the tiny things right. The Sienna generate covers the comfort, space, safety, and technology basics well. You also get the best fuel economy. But an inaccurate driving experience holds the Sienna back from clinching the top minivan spot.
Performance
7.0/10
How does the Sienna drive?
The Sienna’s hybrid-only powertrain means it’s very smooth to run but also a lot slower than its peers, taking a second to reach 60 mph compared to most other vans. This slower acceleration isn’t proof when you’re just cruising around town. But you’ll get to know it when you’re merging onto the going-up grades.
The Sienna holds its own. More than an SUV, it drives like a car. The steering has enough weight to cruise for hours down the highway. It’s also light and simple to turn during low-speed manoeuvres.
Emergency braking performance is good, but the bigger deal is the pedal’s sometimes awkward feel. That can make it hard to continuously stop smoothly.
Comfort
7.0/10
How comfortable is the Sienna?
There are no issues after spending hours in the driver’s seat. Its wide range of adjustability gets much of the credit or advantage, though this is a normal feature in the class. Optional ottoman-style that gives foot rest in the 2nd row plus a large variety of fore-aft sliding gives a feel like business class and gives the Sienna an edge in 2nd-row comfort. Optional 4-zone weather control is one more zone than competitors have, and it’s unique at keeping the cabin cosy, hot or cold.
Harsh noise is an area of concern. So long as the engine isn’t in hard mode, the cabin is quiet, even serene. When you question power, the whole cabin will know. The engine and continuously variable automatic transmission drone, preferably. Optional in-car voice projection, which transfers front passenger voices through the rear speakers and headsets, is supported as a workaround. Shouting can be saved when you require it.
Interior
9.0/10
How’s the interior?
The Sienna stretched ahead of the pack in this area. It sits in a position that makes it simple to slide in and out of. The driving position is super versatile. We are all fans of the large central touchscreen, with two exceptions: the glare that it throws off in the midday sun and some far-side buttons that feel a bit out of reach. All other primary controls are placed logically and function as required.
Outside the cabin, there is good visibility. An optional surround-view camera system can permit you to see the view of the Sienna, making things more simple and hurdle-free. There’s also a digital rearview mirror that gives a solution to the issue of seeing past high-piled cargo in the back. The sliding doors and rear hatch contents touch open, and the closing feature doesn’t require any touch. Only use swipes to operate.
Technology
8.0/10
How’s the tech?
The infotainment system prefers a combo of an instant-responding touchscreen and physical buttons. The redundancy lets you select your requirements for menu access. The navigation is accurate and simple to read, and the system’s voice commands respond well to simple language. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration is also normal.
Interior tech features include a handy cabin intercom system, Wi-Fi connection, and a large number of USB ports for three rows. If it is found, the advanced driver’s aids will be wonderful too. Adaptive cruise control is tuned well to avoid the heavy and sudden brake applications we see from different brands.
Storage
8.5/10
How’s the storage?
All minivans are superior in terms of utility, and the Sienna is no exception. There’s sufficient space behind the third row, which also has hooks on the seat back for storage. The 3rd row can be manually folded and stows almost flat into the floor, and the 2nd-row seats slide far forward, giving a good cargo solution. One big disadvantage is that the second-row seats aren’t removable as they are in other minivans, which greatly minimizes the maximum cargo capacity.
Storage for personal items is equally decent. It consists of 16 cup holders, multi-level door pockets, and a high shelf between the front passengers that is excellent for a handbag. For car seats, the attachment joints are extremely simple to grab. There are 4 passengers in the 7-passenger Sienna and 5 in the 8-passenger. Buckles are simple for booster-age children to use.
Fuel Economy
10.0/10
How’s the fuel economy?
Chrysler provided us with the first plug-in minivan. If you get out of EV charge, its hybrid mode is still back to an EPA-ideal 30 mpg. That was mind-blowing minivan fuel economy at the time. But the new hybrid Sienna includes an EPA estimate of 36 mpg combined.
It is nearly 500 miles with a front-wheel-drive Sienna, and we vastly outperformed the EPA estimates. It averaged 42.7 mpg overall, including 44.8 mpg on our mixed-driving analysis route of just over 115 miles. It’s impatient to wait to see if the all-wheel-drive version works as well.
Value
8.5/10
Is the Sienna a good value?
The Sienna test was free of squeaks and rattles. Surfaces that are frequently touched—the steering wheel, armrests, etc.—are soft-touch and properly padded. All these points add to the general upscale sense you get from this interior.
Though a base Sienna starts a little higher than other base models, it’s comparably priced when its peers are equipped with features to match. The top trim is a feature that is more expensive but gives value, such as all-wheel drive, that some competitors don’t have. It has a solid warranty for hybrid components and roadside guidance, and it’s the only one to give 2 years of free scheduled maintenance.
Read More: What Is a Hybrid Car, and How Do They Work