The well documented backlogs in processing travel documents during the summer of 2022 led to a last-minute change of plan for our main vacation. Goodbye four economy tickets on WestJet, hello four international seats in Pacifica Hybrid Limited class and a new plan to drive from Calgary to San Diego.
Our previous BC adventure had been the furthest we’d taken the PacHy to date, but Baymax would now face a journey of more than double that length – and its first trip over the border into the States. A prior commitment meant no sightseeing stops on the way down, just long days of 10 or more hours on the road, plus stops for fuel and food.
Our previous BC adventure had been the furthest we’d taken the PacHy to date, but Baymax would now face a journey of more than double that length – and its first trip over the border into the States. A prior commitment meant no sightseeing stops on the way down, just long days of 10 or more hours on the road, plus stops for fuel and food.
After an early start from Calgary, we descended through Montana to break the journey in Pocatello, Idaho. From there we stayed on the I-15 into Utah, cut the corner of Arizona, waved to Vegas as we traversed Nevada and motored on into California. We paused for a second time in Barstow before completing the final few hours into San Diego, just 20 miles (32km) short of a full, top-to-bottom navigation of the western USA.
Coming home, we strayed from the ever-present I-15 to see the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and meander through Utah’s spectacular canyon country, including the incredible Scenic Byway 12. We can’t recommend that road enough, regardless of what you’re driving.
Coming home, we strayed from the ever-present I-15 to see the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and meander through Utah’s spectacular canyon country, including the incredible Scenic Byway 12. We can’t recommend that road enough, regardless of what you’re driving.
Along the way, the fully laden Pacifica shrugged off steep grades in Montana and sweated in 42+°C (108°F) as we skirted Death Valley. Long days in hot sunshine pushed the AC to the edge of its effectiveness, but the only lasting damage was to a front wheel when I carelessly clipped a curb while turning.
The frequent fill-ups and differing state fuel standards gave me the chance to experiment with different grades of gasoline, but with accompanying changes in temperature and terrain, I couldn’t prove conclusively that one delivered better economy than the next. We recorded 7.1L/100km (33mpg) overall, which is what we’ve come to expect from hybrid-running on the highway – very welcome during a period of unusually high gas prices and even more impressive considering the car cruised for thousands of miles at 70mph/113km/h or above, full of people and gear. I’m sure there are other vehicles out there that could do the same job just as efficiently, but not many.
The frequent fill-ups and differing state fuel standards gave me the chance to experiment with different grades of gasoline, but with accompanying changes in temperature and terrain, I couldn’t prove conclusively that one delivered better economy than the next. We recorded 7.1L/100km (33mpg) overall, which is what we’ve come to expect from hybrid-running on the highway – very welcome during a period of unusually high gas prices and even more impressive considering the car cruised for thousands of miles at 70mph/113km/h or above, full of people and gear. I’m sure there are other vehicles out there that could do the same job just as efficiently, but not many.
We didn’t go out of our way to find hotels with chargers every night, mostly because with such long distances involved – we racked up 4,063 miles (6,539km) over the course of the near three-week trip – 30 gas-free miles here and there didn’t make a lot of difference. However, the short runs and lower-speed driving around San Diego and Oceanside were perfectly suited to electric running and a couple of strategic charges from the area’s comprehensive public network gave the ICE a well-deserved break.
In Southern California especially, it was great to again spend time in a region where plug-ins and pure-EVs are much more prevalent and better supported than here in Calgary. In other ways too, Baymax seemed right at home on US roads: a quick switch in the settings to imperial units set us up for the local traffic signs while the navigation system switched more frequently than usual to the colourful, detailed view of upcoming highway intersections.
A couple of weeks after our return, we booked the PacHy in for an oil change, brake service (always good to keep the underused friction braking system clean), new air and cabin filters and a general once-over. It seemed the least it deserved for facilitating such a memorable trip. More next time!