2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it featured an aggressive nose and a sloping, low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like appearance, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. Even in AMG trim, the GLE struggled to match the visual impact of rivals such as the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

However, the interior of the GLE was a different story. For 2021, Mercedes redesigned the GLE Coupe to match the standard GLE, resulting in a more streamlined and cohesive look. The interior was a masterpiece, featuring high-quality materials, a well-thought-out layout, and a striking red and black color scheme. The twin arching grab handles on the center console, outlined with LED lighting, were a standout feature. Despite some flimsy gear selector and turn signal stalks, the GLE's interior exuded a sense of luxury and pampering, although it required significant options to feel truly opulent.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, while not a visual stunner, offered a unique proposition as a plug-in hybrid minivan. It wasn't cheap, with the base Touring L starting at $49,095 and the Pinnacle version costing $57,645. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim with additional features, had an MSRP of $57,680. Despite its high price, the Pacifica Hybrid's interior was comfortable, featuring black Nappa premium leather and a flowing design that felt somewhat dated compared to more modern, angular interiors. Unlike the Kia Carnival, Chrysler didn't try to disguise the Pacifica's minivan nature.

The Pacifica Hybrid's interior was practical and comfortable, with triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage options were plentiful, from extra shelves in the front door panels to a large floor tray under the center console. The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica's Stow n' Go seats, although they couldn't collapse into the floor. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, and the Pacifica Hybrid offered ample cargo space, with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled in performance, offering a range of engine options and advanced suspension systems. The base GLE 350 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, while the GLE 450 had a 3.0-liter inline-six with 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The AMG GLE 53 took this engine to 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft, thanks to an electric supercharger. The GLE 580 boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft, and the AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft.

The GLE's suspension options were equally impressive, with five configurations available. The base GLE 350 used a coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 featured AIRMATIC self-leveling air springs. The AMG Ride Control+ system on the AMG models included Roll Stabilization and Active Curve systems, which varied the spring rate of the anti-roll bars to improve handling. The E-Active Body Control system could lean the GLE into turns and even bounce the vehicle to free it from sand. Despite its size, the GLE handled like a smaller sedan and could tow up to 7,700 pounds.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered a different kind of performance, focusing on efficiency and practicality. 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 never felt underpowered, even with a full load of passengers, and the transition between electric and gas power was nearly imperceptible.

During testing, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg, thanks to its regenerative braking system and efficient powertrain. While it couldn't match the Toyota Sienna's combined fuel economy of 36 mpg, the Pacifica Hybrid offered the advantage of plug-in capability for sustained electric driving. However, the driving experience was less engaging, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a somewhat unnatural ride quality due to the low-mounted battery pack.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious and versatile interior, with most models featuring two rows of seats and an optional third row for seven-passenger capacity. The second-row seats had power controls for recline, fore-aft adjustment, and headrest positioning, and could slide and fold for easier access to the third row. Cargo capacity was generous, with 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The GLE Coupe, however, was more limited, with 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively, and a sloping roofline that reduced rear passenger space.

The GLE's usability was enhanced by the new MBUX infotainment system, which replaced the clunky rotary/touchpad combo with a single touchpad and a simplified interface. Seat controls on the doors, rocker switches on the center console, and shortcuts for driving modes on the steering wheel were all easy to use. However, the thumbpads on the steering wheel were less intuitive, requiring some setup time before driving.

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

The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica's Stow n' Go seats, with a wider and more comfortable cushion angle. However, they couldn't collapse into the floor, requiring removal to maximize cargo space. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, with cupholders, USB ports, and side window shades. The Pacifica Hybrid offered 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 Mercedes-Benz GLE was packed with advanced technology, starting with a 12-inch touchscreen display equipped with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures. The system included features like seat massage, a Track Pace app for AMG models, and Seat Kinetics, which made small adjustments to the seat as you drove. The head-up display and instrument panel were highly customizable, and the ambient lighting offered 64 colors. The navigation system projected the front camera feed with overlay arrows and street names, and the natural voice assistant responded to the command "Mercedes."

The GLE also featured standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a mood-yoga-zen function called Energizing Comfort, heated armrests, and bolsters that automatically inflated when you steered. The semi-automated functionality could change lanes and slow down for curves by itself, making the GLE one of the most technologically advanced SUVs on the market.

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

The Pacifica Hybrid's 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided decent sound quality, although it required some adjustment to find the right balance. The rear-seat entertainment system, available with Amazon Fire TV, allowed passengers to stream or download content, although our test passengers preferred using their own devices. The surround-view camera system and parking assist system were useful features, although the adaptive cruise control needed refinement.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its top ratings in six crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor, while optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also featured Pre-Safe Sound, which played a "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side, which inflated the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants in a side impact.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid claimed to offer more standard safety and security features than any other vehicle in the industry. New for 2022 was a rear-seat reminder system to prevent leaving children or pets in the vehicle. The Pacifica Hybrid included a complete package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, although 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 departing vehicles and braked too hard 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. The only concern was the four-star rating for frontal-impact protection in the NHTSA crash tests.