2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV that many critics noted bore a striking resemblance to a Lexus. Its design, from the grille to the elongated profile, blurred the lines between the Toyota and Lexus brands, making it look more like the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept than any other Toyota SUV. The Venza was available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—and offered a choice of seven paint colors. Standard features included a dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, among other amenities.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, while not a visual stunner, was a practical and efficient minivan. It featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, delivering 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 and well-equipped, with black Nappa premium leather, triple-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. Storage options were plentiful, and the second-row seats were more comfortable than those in the standard Pacifica, though they did not offer the Stow n’ Go feature.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) provided smooth acceleration, though it was not particularly rapid. The Venza’s handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, with a focus on reliability and ease of use. It excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a 3.6-liter V6 engine and 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, and its regenerative braking system helped recharge the battery. During testing, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg. The transition between electric and gasoline power was nearly imperceptible, and the powertrain operated efficiently without requiring driver intervention. However, the driving experience was somewhat dull, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a lack of cornering grip.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered a practical and comfortable interior, with premium appointments in the center stack and a deep center console featuring resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and various buttons and ports. The driver and passenger seats were accommodating, and the rear seats were comfortable for extended drives. The Venza had nearly the same passenger volume as the RAV4 but offered more headroom and slightly less legroom up front. Cargo space was around 60 percent of the RAV4’s, with a maximum of 55.1 cubic feet. The quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy.

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 impressive, with extra shelves, covered bins, and a large floor tray. The second-row seats were more comfortable than those in the standard Pacifica, though they did not offer the Stow n’ Go feature. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, and the Pacifica Hybrid provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. With the third-row seats tumbled and the second-row seats removed, the Pacifica Hybrid offered up to 140.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Entune infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the LE and XLE trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. A nine-speaker JBL premium audio system was available on the XLE and standard on the Limited. Toyota connected services included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, with dynamic navigation available on models with the larger screen.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system allowed for five different user profiles and included the FamCam overhead camera system. A 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system was standard on the Limited trim. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered Amazon Fire TV for its rear-seat entertainment system, though it was not widely used by teenagers during testing.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to similar technology with automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered a comprehensive package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, including a rear-seat reminder system. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist were included, though the adaptive cruise control needed refinement. 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.