[jimmyaz]

Why no 8th seater option for Pacifica Hybrid?

Hi Guys,

Can you guys confirm that there's no option to add the 8th seat? Is the Pacifica Hybrid strictly 7th seater? Went to my local Chrysler deal and was told so, all though they knew almost nothing about the Hyrbid (the sales man doesn't even know how to operate the Gasoline Pacifica... )

Could any confirm? If not, WHY??? I can think of a lot of reason to buy this van, but only one reason is not going to allow me to buy this. We have exactly 8 peoples in our family... can't leave one at home when we are going on a trip?

 

[DCKnight]

As far as a I can tell all of the hybrid Pacificas come with the TRI-PANE PANORAMIC SUNROOF. The 8th seat requires a solid roof for the shoulder part of the safety belt.

 

[jimmyaz]

As far as a I can tell all of the hybrid Pacificas come with the TRI-PANE PANORAMIC SUNROOF. The 8th seat requires a solid roof for the shoulder part of the safety belt.

All? well that's sad. Why would they not make this an option like the gasoline version... A mini van without the option to have 8th seat is just ridiculous. Well, I guess I won't be able to buy one. Can't see why the "PANORAMIC SUNROOF" would be better option than 8th seater consider this is a mini van...

 

[dchock]

All? well that's sad. Why would they not make this an option like the gasoline version... A mini van without the option to have 8th seat is just ridiculous. Well, I guess I won't be able to buy one. Can't see why the "PANORAMIC SUNROOF" would be better option than 8th seater consider this is a mini van...

Sunroof for the hybrid is a $1,795 add-on option.

 

[soontobe]

Another guess is they want to keep the max vehicle weight below some limit. The batteries and hybrid system make it heavier than a gas only van.

 

[generaltso]

Can you guys confirm that there's no option to add the 8th seat? Is the Pacifica Hybrid strictly 7th seater?

Yes, that is correct. The 8th seat is one of many things that Chrysler decided to make unavailable on the Hybrid. We can guess about the reasons, but I don't think we'll ever really know why.

 

[TechnikGirl]

Upon taking a close look at many different Pacificas yesterday, we noticed a few different things, this was the first time we were able to see all the different trim levels side by side... It seems that FCA made the Hybrid 7 seater only, possibly due to the alternative access available through the center to the 3rd row. This would be crucial when there would be two child seats in the 2nd row in both captain's chairs, whereas you cannot get access into the 3rd row easily by just moving the seat forward if a car seat is buckled in. It was an ah ha moment and became very apparent when we started moving things around and getting in and out of the 3rd row area.

Also, the reason why the 2nd row seats can't tilt forward with a child seat in place is due to the mechanical hinges needed for that operation to "swing down" that go under the floor pan, and this is where the Hybrid batteries are located. I imagine there is some way to make that work, although would require a full re-engineering of the seat bracket and hinges assembly.

 

[generaltso]

It seems that FCA made the Hybrid 7 seater only, possibly due to the alternative access available through the center to the 3rd row. This would be crucial when there would be two child seats in the 2nd row in both captain's chairs, whereas you cannot get access into the 3rd row easily by just moving the seat forward if a car seat is buckled in

While I do agree that 3rd row access through the center of the 2nd row is easier when you have 2 car seats in the second row, that's not really a valid reason to NOT offer the 8th seat as an option. Even if you get the 8th seat option, it can be removed. So you could leave it out of the van entirely for the years that car seats are strapped in and add it later when the kids get older. Access to the 3rd row through the center is actually easier with the 8th seat removed than it is in a 7 passenger because there aren't any inboard armrests to get in the way.

 

[jimmyaz]

Well... I have never own a Van, but we have rent a few and all the one we rent have 3 seat in the middle row. We were still able to tilt the two side seat forward for the back passenger to get in no problem.

As for the over weight, I guess this is different for everyone. Say you put 7 peoples into the 7 seater and each wait 200lbs = 1400lbs. But if you put 8 peoples that weight only 150lbs each... 1200lbs... I wouldn't think the seat would weight more than 300lbs. Also, wouldn't the component of adding the Paranomic Sunroof weight more than the 8th seat? I would figure the glass and frame is way heavier than the standard roof.

Anyway... it is what it is and it seem Chrysler already did their study.... I would most likely be wrong, but I feel like I'm not going to be the only one who CAN'T buy this Van because of this reason. But it doesn't matter, it's not like Chrysler is going to read this and do something about it... haha. :frown2:

thanks all for the confirmation. Time to hope some other brand would go for this Hybrid Minivan Plug in fad.

 

[toelke]

My guess is that an 8 seat option would require more parts on hand (4 different second-row seat styles instead of the 3 styles that they have now. Of course that's also multiplied by different color schemes)
And additional complexity for the body (2 possible floors for the hybrid instead of just one)

And an 8-seat option on the hybrid would likely wind up with less comfortable seats in the 2nd row than what they have now.

I predict that they'll add 8-seat option to the hybrid some year in the future.

 

[generaltso]

And an 8-seat option on the hybrid would likely wind up with less comfortable seats in the 2nd row than what they have now.

Why would that be?

 

[toelke]

Why would that be?

I am assuming that to do 3-across in that row you'd have a more flat seat - and it'd be less comfortable than the hybrid 2nd row seats.
I'm guessing that it'd be more like the non-hybrid seats which (according to reviews) aren't as nice as the hybrid 2nd row seats.

 

[generaltso]

I am assuming that to do 3-across in that row you'd have a more flat seat - and it'd be less comfortable than the hybrid 2nd row seats.
I'm guessing that it'd be more like the non-hybrid seats which (according to reviews) aren't as nice as the hybrid 2nd row seats.

I don't think they would have to change the outboard seats at all except for removing the inboard armrests.

 

[toelke]

I don't think they would have to change the outboard seats at all except for removing the inboard armrests.

I think the existing 2nd row seats would need to have less bolstering for the middle seat to work.

At least the impression I got from the reviews was that the non-hybrid seats were much flatter than the hybrid ones.

Perhaps I'll be proven wrong - but that's what I think. Obviously you don't agree, and that's OK. But I don't think there's any way we can really come to a definite conclusion.

 

[generaltso]

I think the existing 2nd row seats would need to have less bolstering for the middle seat to work.

At least the impression I got from the reviews was that the non-hybrid seats were much flatter than the hybrid ones.

Perhaps I'll be proven wrong - but that's what I think. Obviously you don't agree, and that's OK. But I don't think there's any way we can really come to a definite conclusion.

That's okay, we certainly don't need to agree I will say though that the non-hybrid seats are flatter because of Stow-N-Go, not because of the middle seat. I do think that a middle seat in the hybrid would have less bolstering, but I don't think that necessarily means the outboard seats would have to have less bolstering as well. I know the Sienna, Odyssey, and Sedona all have thicker 2nd row seats than the gas-only Pacifica, and I don't think bolstering in those is reduced with their 8 passenger versions. It's all hypothetical unless Chrysler decides to add an 8th seat option to the hybrid anyway.

 

[jimmyaz]

Anyway, none of this matter and wouldn't change anything. But I would think the comfortable or not, shouldn't that be determine by the buyer? If they want the extra 3rd seat, then surely it will be less comfortable? The gasoline have this option. Also, not sure why they would make all of the Hybrid with sunroof and not an option?

 

[generaltso]

Anyway, none of this matter and wouldn't change anything. But I would think the comfortable or not, shouldn't that be determine by the buyer? If they want the extra 3rd seat, then surely it will be less comfortable? The gasoline have this option. Also, not sure why they would make all of the Hybrid with sunroof and not an option?

The 8th seat is just one of several options that are available on the gas-only model, but Chrysler has chosen not to offer as options on the hybrid.

The sunroof IS an option on the Hybrid Platinum. You can choose to get the sunroof for $1795 or get one without the sunroof.

 

[snorth]

Could it be that the 2nd-row captain's chairs are wider, which adds to the comfort vs jump seats, but removes the feasibility of a middle seat there?

 

[generaltso]

Could it be that the 2nd-row captain's chairs are wider, which adds to the comfort vs jump seats, but removes the feasibility of a middle seat there?

Could be. But even if they're wider, I don't think it would prohibit a middle section that simply fills in whatever gap there is between them. I don't think the lack of 8th seat is for a technical reason any more than the omission of the memory driver's seat is. In my opinion, all of these little things that aren't available is simply to get the "fully loaded" price of the hybrid to specific target.

 

[jimmyaz]

Could be. But even if they're wider, I don't think it would prohibit a middle section that simply fills in whatever gap there is between them. I don't think the lack of 8th seat is for a technical reason any more than the omission of the memory driver's seat is. In my opinion, all of these little things that aren't available is simply to get the "fully loaded" price of the hybrid to specific target.

I think I agree with you.

When I first saw this van, instantaneously I knew this is the van I am going to buy. (Both of my house have solar and I work from home at one house... ) This would be the perfect van for our family. All I can say is I would had bought this van for 1-2k more just to get the 8th seat. My wife said, well, maybe Chrysler did that because most American family doesn't need 8th seats. My reply, well, our does, so can't buy this van. We only need all 8th seats when we go on long trips.... But I'm not going to buy a van, then rent another van when we go on long trip and leave a big gap in the 2nd row. Just doesn't make sense.