2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

Jeep's 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe continued the brand's tradition of blending heritage with modernity. The iconic seven-slot grille returned, now with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trim levels including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, in particular, featured leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats, though it also had a noticeable amount of hard plastic materials.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, offered a more practical design with sliding doors and ample cargo space. The Limited trim with the S Appearance Package added stylish black accents and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Pacifica Hybrid featured Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dashboard, though the interior was predominantly dark. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row provided enough space for adults, albeit with slightly less legroom than competitors.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's standout feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the company's 5.7-liter V8. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a total driving range of 470 miles and 25 miles of all-electric range, with an EPA rating of 56 MPGe. However, once the battery was depleted, the fuel efficiency dropped to 23 mpg. The vehicle featured two off-road systems, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, and a maximum ground clearance of 10.9 inches in the Trailhawk trim. Despite its fuel efficiency, the 4xe's towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors, offering 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. 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, the Pacifica Hybrid exceeded these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. The vehicle's battery could be charged in two hours using a Level 2 home charger. However, the Pacifica Hybrid defaulted to all-electric mode first, which was less efficient on highways. The hybrid model was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, limiting its versatility compared to the non-hybrid Pacifica.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, was not available as an L model with a third row. However, it offered ample space for passengers, with 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 70.8 cubic feet. The air suspension's quick-down function facilitated easy loading and unloading. Despite the hot Texas weather during testing, the vehicle's standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder climates.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The vehicle had heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable driver's seat. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row provided adequate space for adults. The Pacifica Hybrid's cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down. However, the plug-in hybrid model lacked the flat-fold Stow 'n Go seats, built-in vacuum cleaner, and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like My Pages. The vehicle included a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, a frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display, and optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens with Amazon Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, was highly praised for its audio quality.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, 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 with games and streaming capabilities. The vehicle also featured multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a mix of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware and was not available to early buyers. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with 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. Optional features included parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist. The 2022 Pacifica Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and Good marks from the IIHS, except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.