Chrysler is describing many aspects of its 2017 Pacifica minivan as “class-leading,” but the family hauler has just barely missed that designation when it comes to EPA fuel economy. Although its 28-mpg highway and 22-mpg combined figures match those of the current EPA top dog, the Honda Odyssey, the Chrysler falls just 1 mpg short of the Honda with its city EPA rating of 18 mpg.
Even still, the new Pacifica represents a big improvement over its Town & Country predecessor, which achieved just 17/25/20 mpg (city/highway/combined) in the EPA’s testing. The uptick is thanks to a number of upgrades, including a sleeker aerodynamic profile, an updated 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and a nine-speed automatic transmission to replace the outgoing model’s six-speed.
Chrysler should sit at the top of the minivan efficiency heap with the plug-in-hybrid version of the Pacifica [pictured above] that was announced alongside the gas model. The EPA hasn’t yet released official numbers. The electrified Pacifica uses a 3.6-liter V-6 combined with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors to provide an estimated 80 MPGe city and 30 miles of electric-only range on a full charge.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica: Meet the New Town & Country
Honda Confirms New Odyssey Is Coming in 2016
Chrysler Pacifica Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More

Of course, the minivan efficiency wars will rage on later this year when Honda unveils its next-generation Odyssey, lik...