Hybrid/Electric Minivans: Chrylser Pacifica vs Toyota Sienna?

[Anonymous]

Title says it all. Anyone compared the two and have a strong opinion either way? What led you to choose one or the other? Any other options I'm overlooking in the category?

[Anonymous]

We have the plug in Pacifica. We love that we only get gas for road trips. Around town we basically get by with the battery. We dislike the car's software. It's clunky. But the van was a great deal with the tax credit and is a great option if you care about climate change.

[Anonymous]

They hybrid Sienna wasn't available when I was shopping 2 years ago so I can't directly compare (the 2019 Sienna felt like a 3rd row of my old RAV4).

I got the PHEV Pacifica and love it. Uconnect is not my first love but it's fine. I use electric 99% of the time but it has gas for longer errands and trips. The tax credit is great. I got the "high end" finishes so it's really comfortable and my family loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They hybrid Sienna wasn't available when I was shopping 2 years ago so I can't directly compare (the 2019 Sienna felt like a 3rd row of my old RAV4).

I got the PHEV Pacifica and love it. Uconnect is not my first love but it's fine. I use electric 99% of the time but it has gas for longer errands and trips. The tax credit is great. I got the "high end" finishes so it's really comfortable and my family loves it.

I think this is where I'm getting hung up. It's pretty new for the Sienna, from what I understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They hybrid Sienna wasn't available when I was shopping 2 years ago so I can't directly compare (the 2019 Sienna felt like a 3rd row of my old RAV4).

I got the PHEV Pacifica and love it. Uconnect is not my first love but it's fine. I use electric 99% of the time but it has gas for longer errands and trips. The tax credit is great. I got the "high end" finishes so it's really comfortable and my family loves it.

I think this is where I'm getting hung up. It's pretty new for the Sienna, from what I understand.

It is but Toyota has has hybrids for over a decade.

[Anonymous]

We have been debating a minivan and comparing the two. I highly recommend driving both. On paper, the primary difference is that the Pacifica can be 100% electric (first 30ish miles), plugs in and qualifies for the tax credit; the Sienna is like the Prius and combines electric and gas; no plugging in but also not 100% electric and no tax credit. My husband liked the Pacifica bc he thought it didn’t feel like a minivan; but I thought the stow and go seats were uncomfortable and honestly couldn’t stomach paying that price for anChrysler. I read reviews that it becomes “rattly” inside after a year or two, so we decided to wait and see. I prefer the ride of the Toyota - top of the line Toyota rides much nicer (my husband agreed). Also, nitpicks, but I want 360 degree cameras and I like that on the Toyota you press a button; Pacifica you had to navigate through the touch screen, which is a pain when you just want to park or pull out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been debating a minivan and comparing the two. I highly recommend driving both. On paper, the primary difference is that the Pacifica can be 100% electric (first 30ish miles), plugs in and qualifies for the tax credit; the Sienna is like the Prius and combines electric and gas; no plugging in but also not 100% electric and no tax credit. My husband liked the Pacifica bc he thought it didn’t feel like a minivan; but I thought the stow and go seats were uncomfortable and honestly couldn’t stomach paying that price for anChrysler. I read reviews that it becomes “rattly” inside after a year or two, so we decided to wait and see. I prefer the ride of the Toyota - top of the line Toyota rides much nicer (my husband agreed). Also, nitpicks, but I want 360 degree cameras and I like that on the Toyota you press a button; Pacifica you had to navigate through the touch screen, which is a pain when you just want to park or pull out.

Fyi, the plug in Pacifica doesn't have stow and go seats. They use that space for the battery.

[Anonymous]

Pacifica! We really like the infotainment & handling (plus the tax credit!). The Sienna is not a terrible car, but the Pacifica won in every category we cared about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been debating a minivan and comparing the two. I highly recommend driving both. On paper, the primary difference is that the Pacifica can be 100% electric (first 30ish miles), plugs in and qualifies for the tax credit; the Sienna is like the Prius and combines electric and gas; no plugging in but also not 100% electric and no tax credit. My husband liked the Pacifica bc he thought it didn’t feel like a minivan; but I thought the stow and go seats were uncomfortable and honestly couldn’t stomach paying that price for anChrysler. I read reviews that it becomes “rattly” inside after a year or two, so we decided to wait and see. I prefer the ride of the Toyota - top of the line Toyota rides much nicer (my husband agreed). Also, nitpicks, but I want 360 degree cameras and I like that on the Toyota you press a button; Pacifica you had to navigate through the touch screen, which is a pain when you just want to park or pull out.

Fyi, the plug in Pacifica doesn't have stow and go seats. They use that space for the battery.

Oh, that's a bummer. But it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been debating a minivan and comparing the two. I highly recommend driving both. On paper, the primary difference is that the Pacifica can be 100% electric (first 30ish miles), plugs in and qualifies for the tax credit; the Sienna is like the Prius and combines electric and gas; no plugging in but also not 100% electric and no tax credit. My husband liked the Pacifica bc he thought it didn’t feel like a minivan; but I thought the stow and go seats were uncomfortable and honestly couldn’t stomach paying that price for anChrysler. I read reviews that it becomes “rattly” inside after a year or two, so we decided to wait and see. I prefer the ride of the Toyota - top of the line Toyota rides much nicer (my husband agreed). Also, nitpicks, but I want 360 degree cameras and I like that on the Toyota you press a button; Pacifica you had to navigate through the touch screen, which is a pain when you just want to park or pull out.

Fyi, the plug in Pacifica doesn't have stow and go seats. They use that space for the battery.

Oh, that's a bummer. But it makes sense.

Those that have the plug in Pacifica... how do you find the cargo space without having stow n go available?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been debating a minivan and comparing the two. I highly recommend driving both. On paper, the primary difference is that the Pacifica can be 100% electric (first 30ish miles), plugs in and qualifies for the tax credit; the Sienna is like the Prius and combines electric and gas; no plugging in but also not 100% electric and no tax credit. My husband liked the Pacifica bc he thought it didn’t feel like a minivan; but I thought the stow and go seats were uncomfortable and honestly couldn’t stomach paying that price for anChrysler. I read reviews that it becomes “rattly” inside after a year or two, so we decided to wait and see. I prefer the ride of the Toyota - top of the line Toyota rides much nicer (my husband agreed). Also, nitpicks, but I want 360 degree cameras and I like that on the Toyota you press a button; Pacifica you had to navigate through the touch screen, which is a pain when you just want to park or pull out.

Fyi, the plug in Pacifica doesn't have stow and go seats. They use that space for the battery.

Oh, that's a bummer. But it makes sense.

Those that have the plug in Pacifica... how do you find the cargo space without having stow n go available?

I have a plug in Pacifica and the 3rd row does fold flat. I have a 2018 so assume it hasn’t changed. It’s super easy and makes for a huge flat surface for large items. I have car seats installed in the second row and try to never ever ever take them out, so having the option to fold those would have been useless to me. I believe you can remove the seats fully but have never tried. The third row is very uncomfortable, but my main beef is with its seat belts which are too high for a grown adult as myself. They’re fine if using with a belt positioning booster. The space behind the third row when the seats are up is also very deep and spacious. We also have a higher trim model and find it very luxurious and comfortable and I’ve experienced no rattling 3 years in. I’m really really upset that I think it’s going to be totaled and/or 100% overhauled because of an accident (it was unoccupied fortunately and hit by someone fleeing police).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They hybrid Sienna wasn't available when I was shopping 2 years ago so I can't directly compare (the 2019 Sienna felt like a 3rd row of my old RAV4).

I got the PHEV Pacifica and love it. Uconnect is not my first love but it's fine. I use electric 99% of the time but it has gas for longer errands and trips. The tax credit is great. I got the "high end" finishes so it's really comfortable and my family loves it.

I think this is where I'm getting hung up. It's pretty new for the Sienna, from what I understand.

It is but Toyota has has hybrids for over a decade.

The hybrid Highlander is among the 10 ten most likely vehicles to make it beyond 200k miles. It beat out the V6! You can trust Toyota’s hybrid. They don’t adopt things until they know they work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They hybrid Sienna wasn't available when I was shopping 2 years ago so I can't directly compare (the 2019 Sienna felt like a 3rd row of my old RAV4).

I got the PHEV Pacifica and love it. Uconnect is not my first love but it's fine. I use electric 99% of the time but it has gas for longer errands and trips. The tax credit is great. I got the "high end" finishes so it's really comfortable and my family loves it.

I think this is where I'm getting hung up. It's pretty new for the Sienna, from what I understand.

It is but Toyota has has hybrids for over a decade.

The hybrid Highlander is among the 10 ten most likely vehicles to make it beyond 200k miles. It beat out the V6! You can trust Toyota’s hybrid. They don’t adopt things until they know they work.

https://santanderconsumerusa.com/blog/longest-lasting-vehicles-in-2021-iseecars-com-study

[Anonymous]

Besides Toyota’s overall prioritizing of reliability, their hybrids are so reliable because of their clever design. The hybrid system isn’t an addition to a regular drivetrain. Rather, the hybrid drive is in place of the transmission, and it’s mechanically simpler than an automatic transmission. Also, Toyota hybrids don’t have a starter, because one of the hybrid system motors doubles as a starter.