2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim did not impress with its new treatment. It lacked a suspension lift and more aggressive tires, which would have made it more convincing. The side steps, while useful for roof rack access, impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle for off-roading. Unless the roof rack was used regularly, the XRT's visual enhancements were not recommended. The XRT trim, priced between the SE/SEL and the turbocharged Limited/Calligraphy trims, included all SEL equipment and the Convenience Package, with a starting price of $34,095. The test vehicle, in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, had an MSRP of $35,940. Despite the lack of visual contrast, the interior's patterns and brightwork made it a pleasant space, though not as upscale as the Limited or Calligraphy trims.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite its minivan image, was a practical choice for efficiently transporting up to seven people. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, provided 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 Limited trim test vehicle, with extra-cost paint, the S Appearance Package, and a Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system, had an MSRP of $57,680. The interior, with black Nappa premium leather, felt and smelled of quality, though the styling appeared soft and dated. The Pacifica Hybrid's powertrain was impressive, but the driving experience was dull, with light steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and an unnatural ride quality due to the low-mounted weight.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. With nearly two tons of curb weight, the engine was adequate for reaching freeway speeds and cruising comfortably. However, for more power, the Limited and Calligraphy trims offered a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, with pushbutton controls for gear selection. The Santa Fe offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the ability to lock the AWD system for maximum traction. The test vehicle averaged 22.3 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 24 mpg. The turbocharged engine in the Limited and Calligraphy trims had the same EPA rating, while the Santa Fe Hybrid models offered 32-34 mpg combined with 226 horsepower.

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, producing 260 horsepower. The 16-kWh battery pack allowed for up to 32 miles of electric-only driving. The Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even with a full load of passengers. The regenerative braking system captured energy to recharge the battery, resulting in an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg on a Los Angeles driving loop. The Pacifica Hybrid's powertrain was seamless, with nearly imperceptible transitions between electric and gasoline power. However, the driving experience was unremarkable, with light steering, occasionally grabby brakes, and a lack of cornering grip. The low-mounted weight produced an unnatural ride quality, making the driving experience dull.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT included a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, dressed in stain-resistant fabric, provided good comfort, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats offered ample space for a family of four, with generous legroom and foot room, rear side-window shades, and USB charging ports. The Santa Fe had 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded down. The hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate" was convenient but could open unintentionally.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, with triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were more comfortable than the standard Stow n’ Go seats, though 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 offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats tumbled into their storage well. Removing the second-row seats increased cargo space to 140.5 cubic feet, though this required lifting the heavy chairs out of the van.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large knobs for volume and tuning, clean graphics, and logical menus. The digital key technology allowed Android-based smartphones to unlock the doors and start the engine. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was useful for notifying drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

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. The system allowed for five user profiles and simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The available FamCam overhead camera system was useful for monitoring rear-seat passengers. The 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system required adjustments for optimal sound quality. The rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV allowed for streaming and downloading content, though teenagers preferred using their own devices. The surround-view camera system and parking assist were useful features.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Junction Turning Detection system and Safe Exit Assist were also standard. The ultrasonic rear occupant alert system monitored the interior for movement and could alert the driver if necessary. Bluelink provided additional safety features, including automatic emergency assistance and vehicle alerts. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid claimed to offer more standard safety and security features than any other vehicle in the industry. It included a rear-seat reminder system and a complete package of driver-assist and collision-avoidance features. However, adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist was not available. The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability needed refinement, as it was slow to recognize lane departures and overly cautious when other vehicles cut in. The Pacifica 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.