The Porsche 911 Reboot is Quicker, Faster and More Evolved
The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid ushers in a new generation of exotically hybridized, voltage-enhanced engines. Dan Neil says don't bring the hybrid hate.
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Motor Trend
6 hours ago
- Motor Trend
The 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Is the Only 3-Row of its Kind: But Is It Good?
No minivan has ever made me feel as special as this one. The 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offers plug-in flexibility and luxury, but faces challenges with safety ratings and infotainment speed. It boasts a solid drive and competitive pricing with tax credits, but has higher insurance costs. Resale value lags behind Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next Sure, it's just a minivan, but you must understand—this one has quilted leather throw pillows inside. Our 2025 Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid represents the fanciest minivan Chrysler offers, so it was only fitting we got a red-carpet welcome during a recent family weekend getaway. The only other cars in the valet parking lot were other Pacificas; five of them awaited our arrival. The Pacifica is one of the oldest cars on the market, yet the plug-in still feels competitive years after its 2017 debut. After a holiday full of urban, suburban, and highway driving, however, we discovered a few ways the Pacifica has fallen behind the three-row family hauler competition. Here's how the top-of-the-line 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid beats rivals and where it needs to be updated. What We Like Plug-In Hybrid Flexibility Plug-in hybrids are great for those who will actually plug in the car at home. Although you can use a faster Level 2 charger at home like an electric car, a standard outlet works, too. The difference with the 2025 Pacifica Hybrid is simply time: You'll get a full 32-mile charge in a little over two hours with the Level 2 charger or about 14 hours with a standard outlet. Like fully electric cars, plug-ins are wonderfully quiet in traffic and at red lights. With no engine idling, you can better hear what's on the radio or what your passengers are saying. Chrysler doesn't let you choose when to use your electric power the way some plug-ins do, but a drive to work will use very little gas unless you drive at a constant 90 mph with the defroster on. In which case, this 1,514-hp Pacifica might be more your speed. Thanks to the Pacifica's plug-in hybrid powertrain, we could quickly fill up with gas anywhere on the drive and benefit from quiet electric motoring at our destination thanks to our hotel's electric car chargers. Even if you don't charge up often, the Pacifica Hybrid still operates as a gas-electric hybrid—and is more efficient in everyday use than the gas-only Pacifica with its 3.6-liter gas V-6. Driving Experience The Pacifica Hybrid is a solid car to drive. We spent time in a 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan shortly beforehand, and it seems to us the Chrysler has more road noise, while the Toyota, a standard gas-electric hybrid you don't plug in, has a smaller four-cylinder engine that frequently whines. We'll take the six-cylinder Chrysler's trade-off here. We didn't have as much of an issue with the Chrysler's brake feel as we reported in the past, but we did think the suspension could be slightly cushier. Perhaps on the base model's smaller wheels, the ride improves a little. Value (Purchase Price) Value is a tricky subject with the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. With so much in flux in the auto industry right now, we strongly suggest buyers look beyond the loaded Pinnacle model's scary $62,275 price tag. As this is written, most 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid trims are eligible for zero percent financing for 72 months as well as a $7,500 federal tax credit; some markets often have manufacturer incentives on the table, as well. Although the EV tax credit may disappear in the future, it's worth noting that it probably won't go away before the end of 2025 and this minivan is the only non-all-electric car to qualify. Pretty cool. Also, the tax credit can be handled by the dealer at the point of sale, meaning you can treat it like a cash incentive if your gross income isn't more than $225,000 as head of household or $300,000 for a married couple. Summed up, you have a plug-in hybrid minivan at the price of a loaded non-PHEV, with far better financing rates than you'll find on a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. Old Van, Old Tricks Convenient second-row captain's chairs are standard on the plug-in hybrid, which can't be optioned with the gas Pacifica's clever Stow 'n Go second-row seats that fold flat into the floor—but the hybrid's chairs (which are removable) are more thickly padded and therefore more comfortable. We appreciated the driver display and steering-wheel controls even more. These features haven't changed for years, yet they make a big impression. Chrysler puts volume and track-forward controls on the back of the steering wheel in a location that's out of the way yet never requires a huge stretch of the hand to reach. Good job. Then there's the 7.0-inch driver display, which is surrounded by old-style analog gauges. A fully digital driver display isn't available, but take it from someone who spent a year in a car with a cluttered 7.0-inch driver display, this one is clean and easy to customize. The Biggest Pacifica Pinnacle Surprise of All Picture it: There we were in a tourist-filled coastal town, desperately searching for a parking space on narrow streets in a 204.3-inch van. Our delight at finding an open spot was doubled when I used the parking assist system. Called ParkSense parallel/perpendicular park assist on the spec sheet, the system was intuitive—important when you're on a small busy street. I quickly activated the system, which found the space we wanted. As I adjusted from drive to reverse and controlled the throttle, the car controlled the steering angle. The end result was a decent parking job. On the hybrid, the feature is standard on Pinnacle and available on the other trims. What Needs Improvement Safety Test Results This is where the 2025 Pacifica shows its age most. The Chrysler simply can't compete with newer-engineered minivans in crash tests. With IIHS, the Chrysler's last safety award was a 2023 Top Safety Pick, but the awards get harder to earn every year. That's why we acknowledge the better performance of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna; they earned a 2024 Top Safety Pick. With NHTSA testing, the Pacifica Hybrid earns five stars overall—which is good. The frontal crash test result is four stars to the non-hybrid model's five, however. What this all boils down to is that you are safe in the Pacifica, but the Toyota Sienna specifically does better with IIHS' tough crash tests. The Drifting Minivan We don't mean the fun kind of drifting, but the disconcerting variety that happens when your car rolls backward a little on hills. It happens occasionally with the 2025 Pacifica Hybrid, and we'd like it to not do that. Quicker Infotainment The 10.1-inch screen is a decent size, but its responses could be quicker. No Digital Rearview Mirror on Higher Trims As I enjoyed the beautiful rolling hills alongside the highway on our drive home, a passenger in the second-row captain's chair watched a movie via Amazon Fire TV on one of the two entertainment screens. I knew she wasn't looking at me, but every time I checked my rearview mirror, it awkwardly felt like she was. For hours. A digital rearview mirror can help in these situations, as your passengers disappear and you have an unobstructed view behind the car. The feature isn't offered on the Pacifica. Value: Higher Insurance Costs The average annual premium for a Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid is higher than what you'll find with the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, tells us. Yes, the Chrysler is pricier than those rivals, but the federal tax credit brings down the price considerably. The data in this table is based on 2024 models Predicted Resale Value Resale value is another key part of many new car purchases, so we asked the experts at Black Book for some help determining where the Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid stands. What we found was that the 2025 Pacifica performs OK in resale value. That's not bad for a car that's sometimes sold with huge financing and cash incentives. In this case, the high-end Toyota Sienna trims have the best resale value of our threesome—we know, what a shock. The high-end Honda Odyssey trims also slip in ahead of the Pacifica Hybrid. The percentages below reflect Black Book data with a June 2025 effective date What Does It All Mean? We like the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, even though it's gone so long without a full redesign. With the awesome flexibility of the plug-in hybrid powertrain, it's clear why the van won a comparison in 2024. So, although we'd really love for the Chrysler brand to rank higher in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability study, the Pacifica Hybrid remains an interesting option for anyone looking for a green-minded three-row family hauler and isn't ready to go fully electric and jump into, say, Volkswagen's new ID Buzz minivan.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lexus unveils plans for new model with incredible features: 'It's a big deal'
Lexus is going electric with its new luxury sedan. At the Shanghai auto show, the Japanese automaker revealed its plans for the 2026 Lexus ES, according to a report by InsideEVs. The 2026 Lexus ES will offer both a fully electric and hybrid model in the U.S., and according to InsideEVs, "it's a big deal." However, what makes this announcement especially exciting is the sedan's competitive range. The fully electric model "targets an Environmental Protection Agency-rated range of 300 miles," notes InsideEVs, "which is impressive." Another important feature of Lexus' new ES is its charging port. As the electric vehicle industry transitions to the Tesla-style charging port, the new ES will have that port, known as the North American Charging Standard. As a result, Lexus ES drivers will be able to take advantage of adapter-free charging at thousands of Tesla Supercharger stalls. In terms of charging statistics, Lexus announced it takes 30 minutes for the ES to go from 10% to 80% charged when utilizing a sufficiently powerful DC fast charger. While other EVs offer better charging turnaround times, InsideEVs noted that it's still "solid" for drivers. Switching to an EV is a great way to save money on both car maintenance and gas. In fact, you'll save $1,500 a year on gas and maintenance. Plus, some EV models qualify for a $7,500 tax credit. You'll also be making an environmental difference by driving an EV. Although the manufacturing of electric vehicles does require digging up minerals for battery production, that amount of mining is nowhere near the billions of dirty energy dug up each year. When compared to gas-powered vehicles, EVs have a much lower carbon footprint. A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that cars with internal combustion engines create an average of 350 grams of carbon air pollution per mile driven over their lifetimes. On the other hand, this value was only 200 for EVs that operate on batteries charging on the average U.S. power grid. To maximize your savings further, consider installing solar panels in your home after going electric. With solar panels, you can greatly reduce your charging costs while also decreasing your home's environmental footprint. To learn more about different solar options and quotes, check out EnergySage's free resources and save up to $10,000 on installations. Palmetto's LightReach solar panel leasing program will also install panels on your home for no down payment, allowing you to benefit from solar even if you cannot afford the upfront costs. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Car and Driver
a day ago
- Car and Driver
Audi Isn't Abandoning Gas Engines for EVs by 2033 Like It Planned
Audi is removing its planned 2033 all-EV deadline, according to a report by Autocar. Last year, the company decided to put more funding into developing hybrid technology. Sure to please Audi performance fans, there's the potential for future gas-powered RS models. Last year, Audi softened its plans to wind down a transition to an entirely electrified lineup, suggesting that plug-in hybrid technology was worth developing as a bridge to EVs. Still, the company's official stated plan was a full EV range by 2033, so no more internal-combustion-powered Audis. Now, as reported by Autocar, that deadline is off the table. The EV Deadline Is Dead Citing an interview with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, Autocar notes that the decision to continue developing combustion engines is part of keeping the company's lineup "flexible." The new short-term plans include a new lineup of gas-powered vehicles, hybridized or not, to be rolled out by next year. There's no new deadline for full electrification, but Döllner said he expects Audi to still be producing gas-powered cars past 2033. View Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver These plans are likely dependent on the market, as EU laws have a set target date of full electrification by 2035. On this side of the Atlantic, about 12 percent of Audis sold in the United States were EVs. Globally, that percentage rises to 30 percent, with total figures slightly ahead of Mercedes but lagging BMW. Audi will still be putting R&D money towards its all-electric vehicles and no doubt benefiting from the Volkswagen Group's broader strategy. However, there's perhaps a little hope here for those who weren't quite ready to throw in the towel on gas-powered performance Audis. View Photos audi New Gas-Fed RS Models? Indications are that RS versions of gas-powered Audis will still be on the table. Audi's performance division has delivered some hugely characterful motors over the years, from the RS6's twin-turbo V-10 to the TT RS's snorty turbocharged inline-five. Speaking of the Audi TT, Döllner didn't entirely close the door on speculation that it might return, perhaps accompanied by its big brother, the R8. He said it was too early to talk about such things, but that there might be a chance to be surprised in the future. Don't hold your breath, but the gas-powered four-ring circus hasn't left town yet. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
