2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that blended mild and wild styling. Its front grille was flanked by lighting features, with additional lights above and fog lights beneath on some trims. This busy look leaned more toward playful than business, appealing to younger buyers. The rear design was more subdued, featuring a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude without being too whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, with an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making the layout simple and intuitive.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite its minivan image, was a practical and efficient vehicle for transporting up to seven people. It 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 Pacifica Hybrid could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The interior was comfortable, with black Nappa premium leather and a rounded, flowing design. However, it appeared soft and dated compared to more modern designs. The Pacifica Hybrid was not a looker, even with the S Appearance Package, and it was not cheap, with the base Touring L starting at $49,095 and the Pinnacle version costing $57,645.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available for an additional $1,400. The Kona handled and drove with confidence, feeling agile and engaging, though not particularly powerful. Fuel economy varied, with the base engine and FWD returning an EPA-estimated 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and the turbo engine with FWD delivering 28/32/30 mpg.

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 Pacifica Hybrid could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The regenerative braking system captured energy and fed it back to the battery, allowing for efficient driving. On a Los Angeles driving loop, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg. The powertrain was smooth and nearly imperceptible when switching between electric and gasoline modes. However, the driving experience was dull, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a lack of cornering grip.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with a simple and intuitive layout. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom. The Kona's cargo space was near the bottom of its segment, though the rear seats could fold to expand the space. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The interior featured triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage was impressive, with extra shelves, a large floor tray, and a long storage bin behind the center console. The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica's Stow n’ Go chairs, though they did not collapse into the floor. 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, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded and 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system. The infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and access features.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. It offered appealing graphics, a simple user interface, and a speedy response to inputs. Uconnect 5 included simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services, including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to check on rear-seat passengers. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered a 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system and an Amazon Fire TV rear-seat entertainment system. However, the voice recognition technology was hit-and-miss, and the sound quality of the Harman Kardon system required adjustment for satisfaction.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid claimed to offer more standard safety and security features than any other vehicle in the industry. It included a rear-seat reminder system to prevent leaving children or pets inside the vehicle. The Pacifica Hybrid had a complete package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, though it lacked adaptive cruise control paired with lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist needed refinement, as it was slow to recognize lane departures and inept at moderating speed when other motorists cut in. The Pacifica Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection.