2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that gave it a more muscular aesthetic with new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille. This change moved away from the elegance of previous models, but the sophistication remained evident as the eye moved to the sides and rear. The back featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The S Appearance Package, with darkened features and black accents, added a sporty touch.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality and luxury. The Pinnacle trim, in particular, offered premium features such as quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, combined with Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and real metal surrounds, made it the poshest minivan on the market. The well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology further enhanced the premium feel.

The 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. Despite some design quirks, such as the headlights and intricate wheels, the Seltos presented an appealing small SUV package.

Inside, the Seltos showcased a stylish interior with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from the overall quality. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for commonly adjusted features. The infotainment system, though intuitive, had an odd purple theme color. Despite these nitpicks, the Seltos stood out for its larger size, utility, and refinement compared to rivals like the Toyota Corolla Cross.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either AWD or the hybrid powertrain.

The AWD system, reintroduced after 16 years, activated on-demand based on various conditions, improving fuel efficiency by deactivating when not needed. The hybrid model boasted an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 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 slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine, available in the Nightfall Edition and SX trims, provided a more engaging driving experience with its early torque delivery.

The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the transmission's tendency to upshift quickly in Smart mode led to uneven acceleration. Sport mode improved the powertrain's responsiveness but sometimes struggled to find the right gear. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, but the Seltos' ground clearance of 7.3 inches limited its off-road capabilities.

The Seltos' suspension tuning was less appealing, with the vehicle struggling over speed humps and bumps, and exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement. Despite these issues, the Seltos felt lively in urban environments, with excellent outward visibility and easy parking. The steering was secure on the highway, but not particularly engaging or communicative. The test car returned 27 mpg in combined driving, matching its EPA rating.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats provided a sense of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power-adjustable driver's seat, Stow 'n Go bucket seats, and a Stow 'n Go third-row bench seat.

The second-row passengers benefited from under-console storage that slid outward, providing space for charging cords, tissues, headphones, and art supplies. The second and third rows offered ample legroom, with the Stow 'n Go seats allowing for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle boasted best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access thanks to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. However, the hard plastic upper door panel trim was unkind to elbows.

The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. The seatback angle was slightly too reclined for comfort. The Seltos provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf, and offered 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Uconnect 5 was graphically appealing, responsive, and customizable, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available.

The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine system and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to the S trim level, with standard inclusion on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. The system featured Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen in the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity.

The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons and knobs for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services. The Seltos' system provided accurate directions to hospitals but struggled with other voice commands.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in 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, third-row lockout, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist.

The Seltos' connected services platform provided safety-related functions such as 911 Connect and programmable alerts for parents of teen drivers. The Seltos SX received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, while other versions did not qualify due to inferior headlight performance. The NHTSA awarded the Seltos an overall rating of four stars.