The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid took one of the top prizes as the Family Car of Texas at the Texas Auto Roundup hosted by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid also received Minivan of Texas, Green Car of Texas and Best Feature (Hybrid powertrain).
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the first electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves 84 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in electric-only mode and 33 miles of all-electric range.
“Several vehicles from FCA US were top performers at the Roundup this year,” said Nic Phillips, President of TAWA. “The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan was the clear leader for one of our top awards, the Family Car of Texas. As the industry’s first electrified hybrid minivan, Chrysler has taken not only this family vehicle but the entire plug-in electric class to a whole new level. The Pacifica is loaded with high-tech features that make it easy to connect, charge and maximize the efficiency of the vehicle, not to mention offering the safety features and technology that every family deserves.”
Phillips continues, “The Jeep brand vehicles also impressed our judges. The 2017 Jeep Compass led the diverse Activity Vehicle category, offering excellent versatility, capability and Jeep’s go-anywhere styling, while the Grand Cherokee SRT continues to demonstrate the incredible package of handling, power and segment value, worthy of our Performance Utility Vehicle award.”
With its 20 turns, 133-foot hill and a coned-slalom segment in the straightaway, the 3.4-mile track at COTA provided a world-class driving experience for evaluating vehicles in side-by-side comparisons unlike any other automotive media event. A total of 52 TAWA journalists attended and drove 42 vehicles during the two-day event.
FCA US won the most awards of any manufacturer with the following honors:
Chrysler Brand
– Family Car of Texas: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
– Minivan of Texas: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
– Green Vehicle of Texas: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
– Best New Feature: Hybrid Powertrain, 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Jeep
– Activity Vehicle: 2017 Jeep Compass
– Performance Utility Vehicle: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
