2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid arrived with a bold new design, featuring sharp, angular cues across its fascia and sides. It was longer and wider than its predecessor, making it unmistakable from the 2021 model. The Tucson's grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, creating a dramatic, futuristic look. The base Blue trim had 17-inch wheels, while the SEL Convenience trim added a panoramic sunroof and a hands-free smart tailgate. Inside, the Tucson offered heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat on the Blue trim. The SEL Convenience trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited trim upgraded to 64-color ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite its minivan image, was a practical and efficient vehicle for transporting up to seven people. It featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with 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, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The interior boasted black Nappa premium leather, triple-zone automatic climate control, and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica's Stow n' Go chairs, and the third-row seat offered reasonable comfort for two adults or three kids. The Pacifica Hybrid provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Tucson Hybrid's steering was responsive and direct, and its six-speed automatic transmission managed everything admirably. The suspension soaked up road imperfections while keeping the vehicle balanced through corners. The Tucson Hybrid delivered good fuel economy, with the EPA rating it at 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined. The upcoming plug-in hybrid Tucson promised even better efficiency with an 80 MPGe rating and 33 miles of all-electric range.

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 a total of 260 horsepower. The Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even with a full load of passengers. It could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, and the regenerative braking system helped recharge the battery. During testing, the Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg. The Pacifica Hybrid's powertrain operated smoothly, with the transition between electric and gasoline power nearly imperceptible. However, the driving experience was unremarkable, with light and uncommunicative steering, grabby regenerative brakes, and a dull overall feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space, with 38.8 cubic feet in the trunk and 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. It provided excellent front and rear legroom, with over 41 inches each, and the rear seats reclined for added comfort. The cargo floor had a dual-level system, and the doors featured angled bottle holders. The Limited trim's ambient lighting system added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The interior featured triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage options included 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, and the third-row seat offered reasonable comfort. The Pacifica Hybrid provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, but it only utilized about 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating to use, but the steering-wheel controls helped mitigate this issue. The Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, appealing graphics, and a simple user interface. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to check on rear-seat passengers. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered a 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which required some adjustment for optimal sound quality. The rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV was available but not essential if passengers had their own devices. The Pacifica Hybrid also featured a surround-view camera system and a parking assist system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The Tucson Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid boasted a complete package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, including a rear-seat reminder system. It had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist, 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.