2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, balanced the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved front and sleek roofline made it resemble an enlarged Focus, yet it maintained the tall ride height typical of an SUV. This design gave the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, but it also resulted in a more generic look than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package, featuring upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels.

Inside, the Escape's design choices were less cohesive. The angular instrument cluster clashed with the exterior's smooth lines, and the materials felt low-rent. Even the top-tier Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery, though it did offer ambient lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite its minivan stigma, offered a unique package for efficiently transporting up to seven people. Its plug-in hybrid drivetrain combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a dual-motor electric drive system, producing a total of 260 horsepower. The 16-kWh battery pack allowed for up to 32 miles of electric-only driving, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The Pacifica Hybrid's transition between electric and gasoline power was nearly imperceptible, and it achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg on a mixed driving loop.

However, the Pacifica Hybrid's driving experience was less engaging. The steering was light and uncommunicative, the regenerative brakes occasionally felt too grabby, and the tires lacked cornering grip. Despite these drawbacks, the Pacifica Hybrid excelled in efficiency and practicality, making it a strong contender for families seeking a versatile and eco-friendly vehicle.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including two gasoline engines, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could opt for front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, generating a combined 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving, though it was FWD only.

The Escape's three-cylinder engine proved adequate for an SUV, and the hybrid's transition between electric and gasoline power was smooth. However, the chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter engine models could tow up to 3,500 pounds with the optional Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, but towing figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid were not provided.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, producing a total of 260 horsepower. The 16-kWh battery pack allowed for up to 32 miles of electric-only driving, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The Pacifica Hybrid's transition between electric and gasoline power was nearly imperceptible, and it achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg on a mixed driving loop.

The Pacifica Hybrid's driving experience was less engaging, with light and uncommunicative steering, occasionally grabby regenerative brakes, and limited cornering grip. However, its powertrain was impressive, offering a seamless blend of electric and gasoline power. The Pacifica Hybrid's ability to take speed humps at 35 mph without trouble was a standout feature, though the overall driving experience was more akin to a four-wheeled appliance.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space compared to more traditionally-styled compact SUVs. First-row and second-row headroom and legroom were near the top of the segment, with a standard sliding rear seat that could be adjusted to expand legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom, second only to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. However, the battery pack in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced legroom.

Cargo space in the gasoline Escape was 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the rear seat forward. Folding the rear seat increased cargo space to 65.4 cubic feet. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offered slightly less cargo space, with 30.7 cubic feet with the rear seat up, 34.4 cubic feet with the rear seat forward, and 60.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more cargo space, exceeding 70 cubic feet with their rear seats folded.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The Pacifica Hybrid Limited featured triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage options were plentiful, including extra shelves in the front door panels, a large floor tray under the center console, and a long storage bin behind the center console.

Second-row passengers enjoyed comfortable seats with adjustable legroom, though the seats did not collapse into the floor like the standard Pacifica's Stow n' Go seats. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, with cupholders, USB ports, and side window shades. The Pacifica Hybrid provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded. Removing the second-row seats increased cargo capacity to 140.5 cubic feet, surpassing the Chevy Tahoe's capacity.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, it lacked the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Uconnect 5 offered appealing graphics, a simple user interface, and quick response times. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to monitor rear-seat passengers.

The Pacifica Hybrid's Uconnect 5 system had some voice recognition issues, but overall, it was a robust infotainment system. The 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, standard on Limited trim and higher, required some adjustment for optimal sound quality. The rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV allowed for streaming and gaming, though teenagers in our test vehicle preferred their own devices. The Pacifica Hybrid also featured a surround-view camera system and a parking assist system, both standard on Touring L trim and higher.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The Escape also earned high marks for front-crash prevention technology but received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests.

Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

Chrysler claimed that the 2022 Pacifica Hybrid offered more standard safety and security features than any other vehicle in the industry. New for 2022 was a rear-seat reminder system to prevent accidentally leaving a child, pet, or important item inside the vehicle. The Pacifica Hybrid included a comprehensive package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, though it lacked adaptive cruise control paired with lane-centering assist.

The Pacifica Hybrid's adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist needed refinement, particularly in recognizing departing vehicles and moderating speed when other motorists cut into the gap ahead. The Pacifica Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the only concern being a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection.