2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD), with prices ranging from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding a $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails, with an MSRP of $28,045, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap. The build quality was excellent, and the controls were logically arranged with a collection of knobs and buttons. Despite some nitpicks, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals, making it easy to forget it competed against the Toyota Corolla Cross rather than the Toyota RAV4.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims. Our test vehicle was the mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package, which added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents. The exterior was topped off with 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The split grille was surrounded by standard LED headlamps, and the LED tail lamps spanned the entire width of the rear. While minivans lacked the cool cachet of SUVs, they were a more practical choice, offering helpful sliding doors and more cargo space.

The Limited’s interior was dark but featured handsome Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash with sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were appreciated, though they were situated close to the transmission selector dial, which could cause confusion. The driver’s seat was comfortable and easily adjustable, and the center armrest was exceptionally soft. The second-row seats were comfortable but a bit low, and the center pathway was big enough for an adult to maneuver into the spacious third row. However, taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom available in the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The LX and EX included standard AWD, while the S offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo-DCT combination made the Seltos more engaging to drive than some rivals.

The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes. Smart mode balanced fuel efficiency with responsiveness but could be unpredictable. Sport mode quickened the powertrain’s pulse but sometimes struggled to find the right gear. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and ground clearance was 7.3 inches. The Seltos was suitable for light off-roading and snowstorms but not for more challenging terrain. The multi-link rear suspension improved ride and handling, but the suspension tuning was the least appealing aspect of driving the Seltos.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors, offering 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. It was the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid, with EPA ratings of 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. Our test saw better numbers, with 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode first, which was efficient in the city but quickly depleted on the highway.

The Pacifica Hybrid was FWD only and lacked a spare tire and towing package. Despite these limitations, it was a nice-driving minivan with smooth transmission operation and light steering. The battery’s placement in the floor improved handling, but the non-hybrid Pacifica offered more horsepower and torque.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, 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 center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked the Stow ‘n Go seats due to the battery placement but offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. However, the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey offered more overall space.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was intuitive to use, with volume and tuning knobs and physical buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating, and the infotainment system’s purple theme color was odd.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering 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 with two 10-inch screens, games, and Amazon Fire TV streaming. The Pacifica Hybrid also featured numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2022 Kia Seltos included forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured 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. Additional features like parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist were available in higher trims. 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.