2022 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban, with its 2021 redesign, adopted Chevrolet's full-size truck design language, sharing its exterior styling with the Tahoe SUV and Silverado 1500 pickup. This gave the Suburban a supersized appearance, characterized by a tall hood, long proportions, and large wheels. The SUV was available in six trims, allowing for a degree of customization despite its single body style. The RST trim, in particular, stood out with its Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior, 22-inch bright-machined black-painted wheels, and sporty monochromatic black grille with Black Ice accents. Inside, the Suburban offered a spacious cabin ranging from economically comfortable in the base LS trim to plush in the High Country. The RST trim featured 10-way power seats, Jet Black perforated leather with Victory Red stitching, and an optional Luxury package, though the predominantly black interior felt somewhat dark.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, with the Limited trim featuring the S Appearance Package. This package added body-colored door handles and mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, complemented by 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The Pacifica Hybrid's split grille was flanked by standard LED headlamps, and the rear featured LED tail lamps spanning its width. While minivans like the Pacifica Hybrid lacked the cool factor of SUVs, they offered practicality with sliding doors and ample cargo space. The Limited trim's interior was dark but sophisticated, with Nappa leather seats and a few sweeping lines on the dash. The HVAC and audio knobs were chunky, though their proximity to the transmission selector dial could cause confusion.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine choices: a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six, all paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8, standard on the High Country and available on other trims, delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The new 3.0-liter diesel engine offered 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, providing excellent fuel economy and a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Suburban's maximum towing capacity was 8,300 pounds. Our RST test vehicle featured the 6.2-liter V8, part of the Sport Performance package, which included Magnetic Ride Control and dual exhaust tips. The extra power was appreciated during an 80-mile tow test, where the Suburban effortlessly pulled a Chevrolet Impala sedan on a trailer.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors, making it the only plug-in hybrid minivan available. The EPA rated it for 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In testing, the Pacifica Hybrid exceeded these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took two hours, while a standard outlet would take 14 hours. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode before switching to hybrid mode, which was efficient in city driving but less so on highways. The Pacifica Hybrid was FWD only and lacked a spare tire and towing package. It offered 260 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque, with a smooth continuously variable transmission and a lower center of gravity for better handling.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in space, accommodating up to nine occupants with the optional front-row bench seat. Most models offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with a livable third row providing adequate headroom, knee room, and legroom. The Suburban boasted 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat. The second-row seats slid forward or backward up to 5.5 inches, and both rows folded flat with ease. The optional power-sliding center console added storage space, though the Suburban's size made it challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces. The switch to electronic push-button transmission controls was a notable change from the traditional column-mounted shifter.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The Limited trim offered heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable driver's seat. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, while the third row provided enough space for adults, though competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna offered more legroom. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked the Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, but cargo space remained at 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The plug-in hybrid also missed out on features like the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban offered a surprising level of technology, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster standard on LT trims and above. Google built-in, including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store access, was also standard on these trims. The Suburban featured 13 available camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touchscreen was standard on the LS, while a 10.2-inch system with Google built-in was standard on the LT and above. Wireless device charging and a WiFi hotspot were standard on the LT and above. The LS came with a six-speaker audio system, while the LT featured a nine-speaker Bose system. The Premier and High Country trims offered a premium Bose 10-speaker Surround with CenterPoint audio system.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with 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. Our tester had the optional rear seat entertainment system, adding two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers with games and streaming capabilities. However, the cost of this feature was high, considering most kids already have devices. The Pacifica Hybrid offered numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging, ensuring devices remained charged.

The 2022 Chevrolet Suburban included the Chevy Safety Assist suite, featuring automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, rear park assist, following distance indicator, automatic high-beam headlights, and an HD rear-vision camera. For 2022, front park assist, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-departure warning were added as standard features. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, reverse automatic braking, lane-changing assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display. The Suburban received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered standard safety features such as 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, while the adaptive cruise control system offered smooth braking and quick acceleration. Optional features included parallel parking assistance and front and rear parking assist. The 2022 Pacifica Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with Good marks from the IIHS except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.