2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured a refreshed look with a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. The headlights were bisected by trim pieces extending from the grille, giving it a sleeker appearance. The grille was more upright and flanked by large fake air intakes, making the Equinox look chunkier than its predecessor. Despite these updates, the Equinox maintained its car-based crossover identity, avoiding the rugged styling of competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape, striking a balance for some buyers. However, it lacked distinctive styling features seen in rivals like the Hyundai Tucson.

Inside, the Equinox's dashboard was creatively designed with two petal-like elements, a central touchscreen, and large air vents. The materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range. Most trims came with cloth seats, but perforated leather upholstery was available. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, a black interior with red stitching, and a model-specific shift knob. While the exterior trim added personality, the black interior felt too subdued, reminiscent of a taxi.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, offered a mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package. This package included body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, complemented by 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The front featured a split grille surrounded by standard LED headlamps, while the rear boasted LED tail lamps spanning the entire width. Despite minivans lacking the cool factor of SUVs, the Pacifica Hybrid was a practical choice with sliding doors and ample cargo space.

The Limited trim's interior was dark but sophisticated, with Nappa leather seats and a dash featuring sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were user-friendly, though they could be confused with the transmission selector dial due to their proximity. The driver's seat was comfortable and easily adjustable, with a soft center armrest. Second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. While the third row was roomy, taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The Pacifica Hybrid's cargo space was impressive, though it lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats found in the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. It came with a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). While the Equinox had more torque than most rivals, it lagged in horsepower. For instance, the Honda CR-V's 1.5-liter turbo-four produced 190 hp, and the Nissan Rogue's turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine delivered 201 hp. The Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 had larger naturally aspirated engines with higher horsepower.

In city driving, the Equinox's torque was beneficial, making it easy to scoot away from stops. However, at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive, struggling with highway overtaking. The automatic transmission's shifts were also rough. Despite the RS trim's sporty appearance, the Equinox wasn't designed for sporty handling. It lacked the fun-to-drive factor of the Mazda CX-5 and the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V, though it was comfortable on poorly maintained roads.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors, making it the only plug-in hybrid minivan. The EPA rated it for 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. In real-world testing, it achieved 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range, exceeding EPA estimates. However, to maximize efficiency, the battery needed to be kept topped off. Charging on a Level 2 home charger took about two hours, while a standard outlet required 14 hours.

The Pacifica Hybrid defaulted to all-electric mode before switching to hybrid mode once the EV range was depleted. This was efficient for city driving but less so for highway commutes. Unlike other plug-in hybrids, the Pacifica didn't allow drivers to hold the electric-only mode. The Pacifica Hybrid was FWD only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, which were available on gasoline-only models. Despite these limitations, it offered a smooth driving experience with 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the lower center of gravity improved handling.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox seated five across two rows, offering decent headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good, though some competitors provided more front-seat legroom. The tall seating position and sloping hood offered an unobstructed forward view, though rear visibility was hampered by the small rear window and rear pillars. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed below the touchscreen, making them easy to access. The Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but it lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in competitors.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seats. The camera included a view of rear-facing child seats and a zoom function. The tester had heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable, adjustable driver's seat. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. The Pacifica Hybrid offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down. However, it lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The 8-inch touchscreen was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage. The Equinox also had numerous USB ports and power outlets, though the center-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its ease of use and crisp graphics. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, with games and Amazon Fire TV streaming. However, the cost of this feature was high, and most kids already had phones or tablets. The Pacifica Hybrid had numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging, ensuring no device was left uncharged.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, a Safety Alert Seat, and Chevy’s Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking assist, and adaptive cruise control. The forward collision warning system provided both visual and audible alerts, and the adaptive cruise control system operated smoothly. Optional features included parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star overall safety rating. The IIHS gave it Good marks except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.