2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 had a design that fell somewhere between the Cyberpunk angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional styling of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It featured Cadillac’s trademark design cues, such as a bold grille, daytime running lights that extended past the headlights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, this combination created an odd mix with the XT5’s compact footprint and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, but an ungainly one.

The Premium Luxury and Sport models of the XT5 had slightly different exterior styling cues to give each trim level more personality. The Premium Luxury model had plenty of bright chrome, making it look more like a traditional Cadillac, while the Sport model featured darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury models came with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Sport models had 20-inch wheels as standard equipment. The interior of our test car felt luxurious, but most of the standout features were part of the optional Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped instrument panel and door trim, a microfiber sueded headliner, and a heated steering wheel. Without this package, it was unclear if the XT5 met luxury-car standards.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite being a minivan, offered a unique package for efficiently transporting up to seven people. Its plug-in hybrid drivetrain was based on Chrysler’s 3.6-liter V6 engine, paired with a dual-motor electric drive system. One electric motor served as an electrically variable transmission, while the other drove the van’s front wheels. A 16-kWh battery pack under the second-row seating area provided an electric-only driving range of up to 32 miles. The total system output was 260 horsepower, and the electric drive system’s torque was available immediately.

From the driver’s seat, the Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even with a full load of passengers. It could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The gas engine would assist when needed, and the regenerative braking system captured energy to feed back into the battery. During a test drive in Los Angeles, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg. The Pacifica Hybrid’s powertrain was impressive, but the driving experience was dull, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a sometimes unnatural ride quality due to the weight mounted low in the platform.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the XT5 Sport and optional on the XT5 Premium Luxury, delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine provided a reasonably quick performance, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, which offered a comfortable and controlled ride. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, making the XT5 feel nimble without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

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. The total system output was 260 horsepower, with immediate torque from the electric drive system. 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 to feed back into the battery, and the transition between electric and gasoline power was nearly imperceptible. The Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg during a test drive in Los Angeles. However, the driving experience was dull, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a sometimes unnatural ride quality due to the weight mounted low in the platform.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but less than the BMW X3. It also trailed all three German vehicles in rear headroom. However, the XT5 had more legroom in both rows, although less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 63 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC, but not the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen provided additional storage.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and as much cargo space as some full-size SUVs. 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 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 chairs, but 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 seat, 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display were available as part of the optional Technology Package. The infotainment system was easy to navigate, but the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not ideally placed and lacked physical feedback. An eight-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with an optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system providing excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, appealing graphics, and a simple user interface. It 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 voice recognition technology was hit-and-miss, but the 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided good sound quality with some adjustments. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered Amazon Fire TV for its dual 10.1-inch touchscreen rear-seat entertainment system, allowing passengers to stream or download content. A surround-view camera system and parking assist were also available.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package added a rear pedestrian alert function, surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered a comprehensive package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, including a rear-seat reminder system. However, it did not offer adaptive cruise control paired with lane-centering assist. The Pacifica Hybrid had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist, but 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.