2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have described as frog-like. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite being a minivan, offered a unique proposition with its plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It wasn’t a looker, even with the S Appearance Package, and it wasn’t cheap, with the base Touring L starting at $49,095. The Limited trim cost $54,095, and the Pinnacle version was priced at $57,645. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim with extra-cost paint, the S Appearance Package, and a Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system, had an MSRP of $57,680. Despite its rounded, flowing exterior and interior styling, which appeared soft and dated, the Pacifica Hybrid was a practical and efficient vehicle for transporting up to seven people.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. All Sportages had a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw a slight dip. The turbocharged models had lower fuel economy, with the FWD version achieving 20/28/23 and the AWD version 19/24/21. The Sportage’s suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left something to be desired. Overall, the Sportage was a rewarding crossover to drive, especially in the SX Turbo trim.

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. One motor served as an electrically variable transmission, while the other drove the front wheels. A 16-kWh battery pack under the second-row seating area provided up to 32 miles of electric-only driving range. The total system output was 260 horsepower. The Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even when fully loaded. It could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, and the regenerative braking system helped recharge the battery. On a Los Angeles driving loop, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg. The powertrain seamlessly switched between electric and gasoline modes, and the vehicle was easy to drive, though it lacked excitement. The steering was light, the regenerative brakes occasionally felt grabby, and the ride quality could be unnatural due to the low-mounted weight.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for the driver and passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited. The Sportage provided 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, which was not competitive with other compact crossovers.

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 impressive, with extra shelves, a large floor tray, and multiple bins. The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica’s Stow n’ Go seats, 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, 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs, though it wasn’t the most cutting-edge.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, appealing graphics, and a simple user interface. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to check on rear-seat passengers. The voice recognition technology was hit-and-miss, but the 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided good sound quality with some adjustments. The rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV was available, though teenagers preferred their own devices. The Pacifica Hybrid also had a surround-view camera system and a parking assist system.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was strong in safety, with standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and performed well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests.

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 and a complete package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features. The Pacifica Hybrid had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist, though the adaptive cruise control needed refinement. The Pacifica 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.