2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. New standard LED headlights flanked the Pacifica’s new hexagonal grille, giving the front end a more muscular aesthetic compared to the previous three years. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality with premium touches. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim, in particular, offered a luxurious experience with features like a flat dashboard anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, and quilted leather seats. The minivan also boasted sound-deadening technology, ensuring a quiet ride.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. The Tucson’s front end featured a parametric grille that hid the standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra’s design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear had toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, and high-end models featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails, body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgraded trims offered heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, and a sunroof.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was powered by either a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, or a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, automatically activating on-demand based on various driving conditions. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models seeing a slight decrease in fuel efficiency.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine with 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The ICE engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid got a six-speed.

The Tucson Hybrid was more powerful and fuel-efficient, achieving 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The ICE engine models achieved 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined, with AWD models seeing a slight decrease in fuel efficiency. A plug-in hybrid version with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque was also announced, promising around 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were spacious and featured a padded center console lid for added comfort. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power first- and second-row windows, and Stow ’n Go seats with in-floor storage bins.

The second- and third-row seats provided ample legroom, and the Stow ’n Go seats tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a budget-friendly yet well-appointed interior. Standard features included a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated and ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available.

The new Tucson platform provided more room for passengers and cargo, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area comparable to competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The rear seats offered two inches more legroom than the RAV4, and the cabin had plenty of space for a family of four. A 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor were standard, with a hands-free liftgate available on mid-grade models and up.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable experience. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an optional second-row in-seat entertainment system. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with 13-speaker Alpine and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options available. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The larger screen required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the touchpoints on the center console were less intuitive to use while driving.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 on the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or NHTSA at the time of publication. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a comprehensive warranty package, including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.