Most autos in Consumer Reports' Top 10 emit deadly tailpipe emissions, kill people

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Although the Tesla Model 3 is shown leading the pack on the cover of Consumer Reports' annual Auto Issue, the editors don't pick the upscale all-electric sedan or any other vehicle as the best of the best. 

Editors again ignore impact on climate,

pollution, 58,000 premature deaths a year

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- To Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist writing in The New York Times, "the acceleration of climate change" is "frightening."

But in this year's Auto Issue from Consumer Reports, the only concern is how fast cars, SUVs and pickup trucks accelerate.

As a longtime subscriber, I'm shocked by how the editors of the leading consumer publication in America continue to ignore the impact of Big Oil and millions of gas-engine vehicles on the environment.

Nor do they ever acknowledge that tailpipe emissions cause 58,000 premature deaths annually in the United States alone.

This year's Top 10 picks include only one zero-emissions vehicle -- Tesla's Model 3 -- and no preference is expressed for gas-electric versions of two others on the coveted list, Toyota's  Camry and Avalon, over the conventional gas versions.

First EV in 2018

The first all-electric car that made the magazine's Top 10 list was the Chevy Bolt in the 2018 Auto Issue.

But in 2019, Consumer Reports editors reversed course, trashing Tesla and listing only three gas-electric hybrids in the Top 10 list.

Two years earlier, a 20-plus-year subscriber took the editors to task for ignoring the environment:

"I am writing ... about something troubling that I just realized," Charles Dunn of Fairfield, Conn., said in a 2017 letter.
"Nowhere in the past 10 years have I read anything in CR about climate change and the effects that the products reviewed ..., namely automobiles, among others, have on the environment.
"This bothers me even more because while mileage ratings have gone up in some classes of vehicles, they are still very poor for SUVs and pickups, which a majority of consumer are buying.
"If CR cares about our global climate future, it's imperative that CR hold manufacturers accountable for improving mileage standards and offering more hybrid-electric vehicles."

Climate deniers

Today -- three Auto Issues later -- the editors are campaigning for better gas mileage, but don't mention the environment, the climate crisis or air pollution as their chief concerns.

"A Trump administration plan to lower automotive mileage targets for future model years ... would result in hundreds of dollars in added costs for consumers, according to a new U.S. Senate analysis," CR's Jeff Plungis wrote in January.

On the welcome page of the April 2020 Auto Issue, the editors cite only their "preoccupation with safety and quality," not the environment.

Of course, when you ignore a vehicle's impact on climate, any warmed-over crap with a smelly internal-combustion engine can shine.

OVERALL SCORES: The Tesla Model 3 gets an overall score of 80, but Consumer Reports gives higher marks to other Top 10 picks, notably the Toyota Avalon, a large sedan (93); Kia Telluride, a 3-row SUV (92) that gets only 21 mpg; the Subaru Legacy, a midsize sedan (87); and the Subaru Forester, a small SUV (84).

'Safety and quality' 

The editors call their Top 10 Picks "the most exceptional new cars on the road today," but one look at the gas- mileage figures will have a Prius owner or a EV enthusiast like me howling with laughter at the suckers who fall for CR's hype.

Only 2 out of 10 gas-engine cars get more than 30 mpg: The Toyota Corolla (33 mpg) and Toyota Prius, a hybrid (52 mpg).

Toyota's Avalon, a large sedan, is listed at 42 mpg, but that's for the hybrid version mentioned in the text. 

The editors don't even urge readers to buy the Avalon hybrid over the gas-engine version.

Subaru obsession

Long-time readers of Consumer Reports know how obsessed the editors are with all-wheel-drive Subarus, despite noisy engines, poor gas mileage and the lack of a gas-electric hybrid in the model lineup until recently.

The 2020 Top 10 list includes the Subaru Forester, a small SUV; and the Subaru Legacy, a midsize sedan, both of which get a pathetic 28 mpg.

On the editors' Best + Worst Lists, the best 3 are Porsche, a small manufacturer of very expensive, gas-guzzling sports cars, sports sedans and SUVs; Genesis, a luxury model from Hyundai; and Subaru.

Tesla is listed in 11th place, an 8-place improvement from the 2019 Best + Worst Lists.

The bottom 8 of 33 brands listed are: GMC, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Cadillac, Land Rover, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Fiat.

Under Best Owner Satisfaction, Tesla's Model 3 leads all sedans for $45,000 to $55,000. 

The Tesla Model S leads sedans over $55,000, and the Tesla Model X is 5th on the list of SUVs over $55,000. 

Marketing and hype

In the editors' welcome to the 99-page issue, they write:

"Marketing claims abound, but CR is uniquely qualified to advise you because we never accept advertising, and we anonymously buy every vehicle we test, to the tune of $2 million each year.

"We've also made changes to address the fact that the world is in the midst of an automotive safety revolution," a reference to advance driver-assistance systems that can "automatically brake to avoid hitting another car or a pedestrian."

But when Consumer Reports ignores the tremendous impact of cars, SUVs and pickup trucks on the environment, air pollution and premature deaths, the nonprofit fails readers and makes a mockery of its investigative tradition.

CR is no different than Motor Trend, Car & Driver and other fan-boy magazines or YouTube channels like Redline Reviews, all influenced by free car loans, junkets to exotic locations to see new models and other forms of bribery.

Read: The coziness of auto writers,

 manufacturers and car dealers

Read: Can writers be objective

 when they get a free ride?

LONGEST EV RANGE: Teslas top the list of 2019 and 2020 models.

Crappy food from factory farms, pollution are killing all of us really slowly but surely

BEEF WITH ANTIBIOTICS: This illustration from Consumer Reports accompanied a report that only 2 out of 25 chain restaurants (Chipotle and Panera Bread) got an A for sourcing beef raised without harmful antibiotics.

National, local media fail to warn

about antibiotics, pesticides, more

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- When I look around at the hospital volunteers I work with every week, I see men and women in their 70s and 80s, and even one man who is a couple of years over 90. (I'll be 75 next week.)

Ours is a physical job, involving a lot of walking, pushing and carrying, and everyone appears to be in good health, even though some of those who are overweight can't stop eating cookies, candy and other sugary treats brought in by other volunteers.

At the same time, death is all around us, not to mention disease. 

All too often, we're notified that a longtime volunteer has passed, we learn of the death of a volunteer's spouse or a volunteer we know has an operation.

So, I often wonder, what is killing us? 

My answer: The food we eat, and the air we breathe.

No longer 'Cancer Alley'

New Jersey long ago shed the reputation of being "Cancer Alley," but our air is far from clean, and tailpipe emissions cause hundreds, if not thousands, of premature deaths in the Garden State each year. 

Even though there are fewer chemical companies and refineries lining the New Jersey Turnpike today, the number of dirty, diesel-burning trucks likely has increased, worsening our infamous air pollution.

And the junction of Routes 95 and 4 at the George Washington Bridge is now recognized as the most congested in the metropolitan area, clogged by delivery trucks for Amazon, Fresh Direct and others heading for Manhattan.

Take that, Fort Lee.

It's the food, stupid

Of course, the food we eat is the major factor in causing disease and death.

In March 2009, I launched my first blog with a post on Food bargains.

I had already started buying organic spring mix, organic carrot juice and other organics free of pesticides and genetically modified ingredients.

That blog, Do You Really Know What You're Eating?, called on readers to:

"Celebrate food, life and diversity. Join me in the search for the right ingredients: Food without human antibiotics, growth hormones and other harmful additives that have become commonplace in animals raised on factory farms."

READ: Food shopping for a sustainable diet

EATING CLEAN: When you prepare your own meals, you are in full control of what you eat. Here, I loaded my breakfast plate with organic eggs, organic pasta, organic baby spinach, organic squash and organic parsley. See recipes at Victor' Healthy Kitchen on YouTube

MYSTERY SHRIMP: When you eat out, you have less control over what you're eating. Here, at Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange, the lunch menu didn't say whether the jumbo shrimp in this trio of seafood were wild-caught or farmed. When I asked, the waiter said they were farmed, but not from any of the three countries where shrimp are raised with harmful antibiotics -- Thailand, Vietnam and India.

Emphasis on organics

In 2010, I stopped eating meat and poultry, even those without antibiotics and growth hormones that we were buying, and began a diet of wild-caught seafood, organic eggs, organic produce and as many other organics as we could afford.

My goal was made easier by the Amazon takeover of Whole Foods Market:

That led to lower prices on organics and wild-caught seafood at the Paramus store (where I shop weekly), including special discounts for Amazon Prime members like me, and 5% cash back when I use the Amazon Prime credit card.

ShopRite and Costco Wholesale, where we spend most of our food dollars, both have introduced more and more organics, and both offer antibiotic-free raw chicken.

At ShopRite, they are sold under the Wholesome Pantry label, and at Costco, private-label Kirkland Signature items are increasingly organic.

A glaring exception is Costco's wildly popular but low quality Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken.

Consumer Reports

My longtime subscription to Consumer Reports magazine has helped to educate me.

The non-profit, which doesn't accept advertising, is the nation's leading publication in reporting abuses on the nation's industrial farms, including a three-part series on the widespread use of antibiotics in raising animals. 

"The practice of giving antibiotics to food animals to prevent, rather than treat, illnesses is a main contributor to antibiotic resistance" in humans when they are sick or become infected.

That is the message in an Oct. 31 report on ConsumerReports.org, "Most Fast-Food Chains Still Serve Beef Raised with Antibiotics."

Infected by superbugs

In 2017, Consumer Reports said:

"Overabusing antibiotics accelerates the process of antibiotic resistance. Already, more than 23,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant superbugs."

You won't find reporting like that in The New York Times, where the cooking editor promotes recipe after recipe for preparing mystery meat and poultry, and others filled with artery clogging butter and cream.

Nor will you find much guidance in The Record of Woodland Park and its affiliated (201) magazine, which churn out article after article on the 5, 10 or 15 "best" burgers or hot dogs, usually made with mystery meat raised on harmful antibiotics and growth hormones.

Read: From shit to ritz, are these really

 the best burgers in all of Bergen County?

Advice for diabetics

On Oct. 23, The Record's print edition ignored all of the diabetics in its audience of older readers, urging North Jersey readers to jump into their cars and drive to a "new sweets company" in historic Mullica Hill.

There -- more than 112 miles from Hackensack on the insanely crowded New Jersey Turnpike -- you could buy as many marshmallows as your car could carry.

A second article on the Better Living front that day listed the "7 NJ places to treat yourself" to sugary s'mores, but none of them were in Bergen or Passaic counties, the heart of the circulation area.

I guess the thinking of Esther Davidowitz, the food editor of The Record, is that in consuming s'mores, diabetics can overdose on sugar with a smile on their faces.

Other resources

To learn more about what we're eating and how our food is raised or grown, visit these other non-profits, and consider becoming a monthly contributor to support their work:

Environmental Defense Fund

Food and Water Watch

Institute for Responsible Technology

From shit to ritz, are these really the 'best' hamburgers in all of Bergen County, N.J.?

LESS IS MORE: A Pacific Salmon Burger and a Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burger, both from Costco Wholesale, are all the burger I need. I slipped them into a warm Syrian pocket bread with a slice of reduced fat Swiss Cheese, organic greens, pesto and Dijon mustard, and had Costco's Ultimate Fish Stick and a Campari tomato on the side.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- With few exceptions, newspapers, magazines, morning TV shows and other media have done a great job of hiding the secrets of how food is churned out on America's industrial farms.

One of the darkest chapters involves beef, according to Consumer Reports, The New York Times and a few others.

But that doesn't stop The Record of Woodland Park, its affiliated (201) magazine and others from grinding out article after article on the 5, 10, 15 "best" burgers and hot dogs, usually made with mystery meat raised on harmful antibiotics and growth hormones.

I recall the shock I felt when Consumer Reports magazine reported in 2015:

Unlike grass-fed cattle, "in the feedlot, corn and soy are the primary foods, but conventional cows also may be fed candy, chicken-coop waste [including feces], and the slaughterhouse remains of pigs and chickens."

"They also may be given plastic pellets, which are used as a substitute for the fiber they'd normally get from grazing on grass," the magazine said.

Harmful antibiotics

Why should you be concerned whether the 100% beef hamburger you love came from an industrial farm?

"Many factory farms use and abuse antibiotics," according to Consumers Union, the policy and action division of Consumer Reports magazine.

"Here is why this is so dangerous: 70 percent of the most important antibiotics -- the ones we need to survive deadly illnesses -- are used on animals instead of people in the U.S.

"Overabusing antibiotics accelerates the process of antibiotic resistance. Already, more than 23,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant superbugs," Consumers Union said in 2017.

FREAKY: Blake Horton, described as an "intermittent faster," is the cover model for (201) magazine's April 2019 issue. He was photographed at an Englewood restaurant after he "hadn't eaten in 18 hours." That's weird.

(201) magazine

On more than a dozen pages in the April 2019 issue of (201) magazine, Esther Davidowitz and Rebecca King engage in the hard sell on "BERGEN'S BEST BURGERS" (Page 50).

Davidowitz is the food editor and King a food writer at The Record, my local daily newspaper, and on North Jersey.com, and their constant nagging may have something to do with why readership has plummeted since Gannett Co. took over in 2016.

On Pages 50-58 of the magazine, readers find close-up photos of the 15 so-called best burgers and the places that serve them, including a double cheeseburger from White Manna in Hackensack I don't hesitate to call shit.

I read and searched, but could find no mention of whether any of the 15 are made with grass-fed beef raised without harmful antibiotics and other nasty stuff.

Veggie burgers, more

But just when you think that's all there is, Davidowitz throws a few morsels to people like me who don't eat meat with photos and descriptions of three veggie burgers.

Then, to really confuse matters, that's followed with a two-page feature on "the man behind North Jersey's best burger," Steve Chrisomalis Jr., owner of Steve's Burgers in Garfield.

His burger was shown among the original 15 on Pages 50-58, but not identified as best of the best.

There's more

If you don't have enough heartburn, that's followed by another feature on Chef Peter Loria, identified as the man who makes "Bergen's most gourmet burger," The Matisse Burger (with sirloin, short rib and brisket).

Let's call it the ritz. Still, that burger is omitted on the pages describing the original 15.

And that's not all.

On Pages 92-93, in Travel, Davidowitz describes a baker's dozen of burgers she claims are "worth the drive ... calories ...and grease stains" -- available as close as Hawthorne and as far away as Morristown.

One served in Manhattan is made with sirloin stuffed with foie gras and truffles for $35.

All I can say is I'm glad I long ago stopped eating beef and poultry, and now focus on a diet of wild seafood, whole grains, vegetables and fruit.

I got agita just looking at all that beef, bacon, full-fat cheese and greasy fries.

Consumer Reports no longer recommends Tesla Model S, Honda Odyssey, 10 others

Consumer Reports no longer recommends the all-electric Tesla Model S, a low-slung 5-door hatchback, "largely because of [air] suspension problems reported by CR members."

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of two posts on Consumer Reports' October 2018 issue exploring the reliability of 29 automobile brands.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Consumer Reports magazine no longer recommends 12 models, including the Honda Odyssey minivan and the Tesla Model S luxury hatchback, citing reliability problems experienced by owners.

"Our list of CR-recommended vehicles is determined, in part, by how the vehicles perform in CR's Annual Reliability Survey," according to an online report.

"This year, we collected data from CR members on more than 500,000 vehicles.

"On the flip side, the predicted reliability of 16 models -- from the luxury Cadillac XTS to the Subaru Impreza -- improved enough this year for these cars to gain a recommendation.

"Our reliability scores are especially valuable because we can use the extensive feedback from owners to help predict how well your new car will hold up," says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

"In our survey, we also asked members to identify any problems they've had within the previous 12 months with 17 aspects of their vehicles, such as the suspension, electrical system, and paint and trim.

"New-car predicted reliability is a key element in CR's overall score, which also includes road-test performance, owner satisfaction surveys results, whether a vehicle comes with key safety systems, and results from crash tests, if applicable."

The Honda Odyssey minivan had much-worse-than average reliability, according to Consumer Reports, with such problems as the infotainment display freezing and power sliding doors that wouldn't close.

Tesla Model S

CR members reported suspension problems after Tesla made air suspension and all-wheel drive standard on its 2017 Model S.

"A Teslas spokeswoman told CR that some Model S owners experienced suspension problems primarily in 2017...," but added "the problem was supplier-related and the automaker [had] already addressed it."

Here are brief explanations for why 11 other models that fell to below average reliability lost CR's recommendation:

BMW X1

The X1, a small SUV, had reported suspension problems, premature brake wear and steering wheel vibrations.

BMW X3

BMW's redesigned X3 SUV had climate-system problems, including leaks, and seat controls that required the seatback to be replaced.

Chrysler Pacifica

Top problems were a frozen or blank screen display, navigation and radio problems, and problems with the transmission computer.

Ford Fusion

Problems included the Sync 3 infotainment system screen freezing.

Genesis G90

Reported problems in the Hyundai-made luxury performance sedan were transmission leaks, failed throttle body and warped rotors.

Honda Clarity

Owners of the Clarity -- a sedan available as a plug-in hybrid, all electric or fuel cell -- reported electronic glitches that led to multiple warning lights when there wasn't a problem, faulty cabin sensor and the trunk failing to open.

Honda Odyssey

Problems in the minivan included the infotainment display freezing and losing all functionality, and power sliding doors that wouldn't close.

Kia Cadenza

Owners of the sedan reported faulty thermostat sensors, the automatic climate control failing to work properly and fixes needed for the engine wiring harness.

Lincoln MKZ

Owners had problems with the Sync 3 infotainment system screen freezing.

Mazda CX-3

This SUV had climate-control problems, which included the condenser and refrigerant leaks.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

CR members reported problems with in-car electronics and the engine.

Least reliable vehicles

In another online report, Consumer Reports listed the 10 least reliable vehicles as:

Honda Odyssey minivan, Volkswagen Atlas SUV, Buick Enclave SUV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD pickup truck, Kia Cadenza, Chevrolet Traverse SUV, Honda Clarity, Cadillac ATS performance luxury sedan, all-electric Tesla Model X SUV and Ram 3500 pickup truck.

Most reliable vehicles

Seven of the 10 most reliable vehicles are made by Toyota or its luxury division, Lexus; and the rest are made by Honda, Mazda or Kia:

Lexus GX SUV, gas-electric Toyota Prius C, plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius Prime, Mazda MX-5 Miata two seater, Toyota Corolla sedan, Lexus NX compact SUV, gas-electric Toyota Prius, Honda Fit hatchback, Kia Sedona minivan, Toyota Highlander SUV.

READ: Volvo labeled least reliable of 29 auto brands

World carmakers still are betting the bank on improving mileage of deadly gas engine

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: The long-awaited second-generation Nissan Leaf, a stylish all-electric four-door hatchback, was only a sideshow for the press at the New York International Auto Show in the Javits Center. The show opens to the public on Friday.

ZERO EMISSIONS: Hundreds of auto writers, publicists and advertising executives ignored the zero-emissions 2018 Nissan Leaf, which has a range of 151 miles, as they pushed toward a stage to see the unveiling of a new Nissan Altima with a more efficient internal-combustion engine.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Any hope I had that the global auto industry is quickly developing electric vehicles to ease climate change and cut premature deaths from auto emissions was dashed on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show.

As a Tesla owner and member of the International Motor Press Association, I skipped last year's two-day preview for auto writers and others.

But on Wednesday, I took mass transit to the show and walked through the exhibits at the Javits Center, looking for all-electric production models. 

They were few and far between, as were the cocktail parties and lounges the industry once employed to capture the hearts, minds and stomachs of the auto writers who flock there every year, and write gushing articles about new models with antiquated gas engines.

No free lunch

In fact, manufacturers asked the New York region auto dealers who stage the annual show for more time to hold press conferences, eliminating the wildly popular box lunch that Subaru has provided in recent years.

As the owner of a Tesla Model S, I was disappointed none of the unveilings on Wednesday were specifically for a new all-electric vehicle that you can buy now.

Of course, Tesla doesn't advertise or take part in the New York show.

And Porsche didn't bother showing the Mission E, saying the all-electric performance sedan still is a prototype that won't go on sale until the end of next year.

Media applause

As a retired newspaper reporter who once covered the industry, I was shocked to hear auto writers from around the world cheering and applauding loudly after Nissan unveiled a new Altima sedan with another dirty engine.

Surely, they weren't cheering the millions of premature deaths from air pollution, including the 58,000 attributed to tailpipe emissions in the United States every year.

Pushing fuel economy

Manufacturers are innovating to produce engines with better fuel economy under government pressure, Consumer Reports says in its 2018 Auto Issue.

Yet, car companies also are seeking relief from even stricter standards, and the Trump administration "is openly skeptical of regulation," the magazine reports.

And Charles Morris, who writes for Tesla aftermarket supplier Evannex, argues:

"Big Oil, supported by its allies in the auto industry and numerous national governments, is fighting the nascent electromobility revolution on several fronts."

"...The media churn out 'EVs are a bust' articles on a daily basis, often employing quotes helpfully provided by auto industry trade groups and oil-friendly think tanks."

See:

When auto riders get a free ride...

 We'll be choking on these cars for years to come

An EV makes Top 10 list at Consumer Reports

CHEAP-LOOKING INTERIOR: Chevrolet displayed the homely Bolt EV (and Volt plug-in hybrid, rear), neither of which have been setting sales records. A Chevrolet spokesman wouldn't comment on why the Bolt EV doesn't appear in its own TV commercial.

THIS EV REALLY STINKS: BMW chose to show the i3s, a sportier version of its funky all-electric car, which has a range of 114 miles, but this one was equipped with a "range extender" -- a 2-cylinder gasoline engine.

Jaguar says the all-electric I-Pace, above and below, is expected to go on sale at the end of the year, and compete with Tesla's Model X. The I-Pace will have an MSRP of $69,500 and a range of 240 miles.

A Jaguar spokesman said the "I" in I-Pace stands for "ion" as in the lithium-ion batteries the four-door hatchback uses.

Hyundai showed the all-electric Kona, above and below, a crossover that also is expected to go on sale at the end of this year. 

The Kona EV will have a range of 250 miles, Hyundai said, a bit more than the Chevy Bolt EV. 

America's only gas-electric hybrid minivan could make those speeding SUVs obsolete

As the most environmentally friendly minivan sold in the United States, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has a lot to offer over competitive vehicles. As a plug-in hybrid, this is the only minivan that qualifies buyers for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The Pacifica is a plug-in gas-electric hybrid with a lithium-ion battery that gives it a nearly silent, all-electric range of 33 miles. The combined city/highway rating of 32 mpg on regular gasoline equals the 4-cylinder, 203 horsepower Toyota Camry, a midsize sedan, and the even smaller Corolla cousin, Consumer Reports says.

Eco-smart Pacifica has lots of room, 

eligible for $7,500 federal tax credit

Editor's note: The gas-electric version isn't subject to the recall of more than 150,000 Chrysler Pacifica minivans in the United States because they may stall in some situations.

-- HACKENSACK, N.J.

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

In a world overrun by enormous SUVs guzzling cheap gas, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is literally a breath of fresh air.

You can buy minivans with more seats and more room for cargo, but why bother?

No other minivan offers the quiet operation of this plug-in, gas-electric hybrid combined with the gas mileage of a smaller Toyota Camry sedan.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles loaned me a fully loaded 2017 Pacifica Hybrid Platinum with a full tank of gas and a long list of active safety features to drive for 6 days at no cost.

I made a roughly 500-mile round trip to State College, Pa., to see my son and bring him a large, heavy electric piano; warehouse-size packages of paper towels and toilet paper; a cooler filled with homemade food, winter clothes and other items.

Gas mileage

I set the cruise control at or a little above the speed limit, averaging more than 35 mpg in both directions. 

The Pacifica Hybrid gets a combined 32 mpg on gasoline in city and highway driving, and has a total gasoline and electric range of about 570 miles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

You'd save more than $2,500 in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the "average new vehicle," the EPA says.

Minivan v. SUV

Compare that to a land barge like the ungainly Cadillac Escalade, which gets "up to" 15 mpg in city driving and barely eeks out 22 mpg on the highway when driven sanely, which is rarely the case.

Drivers of the biggest SUVs usually are bullies in traffic and on highways, and their oversized vehicles take up more space on roads, aggravating traffic congestion.

Mall parking lot spaces are too small for them, but many owners think nothing of opening their vault-like doors and dinging or denting the cars parked next to them.

The Pacifica Hybrid gets an astounding 84 mpge (miles per gasoline gallon equivalent) in electric-only mode, and 33 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions range.

"Vehicle emissions are a significant cause of climate change and smog," according to the EPA portion of the vehicle sticker, not to mention premature deaths.

The Pacifica Hybrid comes with lots of dials and switches, above and below, including a large dial to change gears electronically. Owners of Chrysler's Uconnect entertainment and navigation system with an 8.4-inch screen, like the one in the test vehicle, are "very satisfied," according to Consumer Reports magazine.

The Uconnect Theater Package on the test vehicle included Alpine speakers and a Blue Ray/DVD Player.

The hybrid experience

Like other so-called full hybrids, the Pacifica starts quietly and accelerates initially on its electric motors before the gasoline engine kicks in. 

The gas engine goes off when you stop at a light, and restarts seamlessly when you put your foot on the accelerator, unlike the clunky, noisy stop-start systems in some German luxury vehicles. The gas engine also goes off when the minivan is coasting.

The V-6 gasoline engine and electric motors generate a total of 260 horsepower, and the hybrid powertrain uses a 9-speed electrically variable transmission.

The minivan accelerates briskly, and is as maneuverable as a large sedan, in contrast to the awkward, truck-like ride of a big SUV.

Plus, the Pacifica Hybrid has 4-wheel disc regenerative brakes. 

When the 16-kwH lithium ion battery is full charged, the Pacifica Hybrid operates quietly in full-electric mode. 

The back row of seats folds easily into a storage bin, providing a flat floor, above and below.

The test vehicle came only with a cable and plug for a standard 120-volt household outlet, extending the charging time of the hybrid battery pack to 14 hours, instead of 2 hours with the 240-volt outlet that charges my Tesla Model S.

Other views

"A frugal, family friendly ride," is how Consumer Reports describes the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

"But the hybrid version has seating for seven vs. eight in the conventional version...." and "the second-row seats don't fold into the floor (that space is taken up by the hybrid's battery pack)."

Consumer Reports also rates the Pacifica the most reliable vehicle Chrysler sells.

AutoWeek.com says the Pacifica Hybrid is a "nearly flawless people mover, not just a nod to greenies."

BusinessInsider.com lists "suave styling, scads of space for people, pets, and stuff; robust drivetrain, fuel economy" as pros for the Pacifica Hybrid.

Cons? "Apart from being a minivan, none really," but "doesn't have all-wheel drive."

USNews.com says the Pacifica Hybrid "checks all the boxes that matter to most families."

"It has a hushed, upscale cabin, a long list of family friendly features, a smooth ride, and impressive handling."

Bottom line

Base price of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Platinum I tested is $44,995.

A long list of active safety features -- including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and a 360-degree camera system -- were part of a package of options for $1,795.

That option included the Uconnect Theater Package.

A destination charge of $1,095 brought the total MSRP to $47,885. 

Still, the price dips to about $40,000, if you can use all of the $7,500 federal tax credit you get with purchase of the plug-in hybrid.

In New Jersey, the sales tax exemption only applies to zero-emissions vehicles like the all-electric Tesla Model S and Model X, Nissan Leaf and BMW i3.