2022 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2022 Kia Sportage featured Kia's tiger-nose grille styling, which worked well on other models like the Stinger and Sorento but seemed out of place on the Sportage. The grille, positioned under oversized headlights and above a chrome trim, resembled a fake mustache plastered to the SUV's front. Despite this, Kia nailed other design details, from the four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan to the Volkswagen-style symmetry of the back door shut line and rear fascia seam. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels pushed out to the corners gave it proper proportions and a planted stance.

Inside, the Sportage adopted Germanic design cues with a black dashboard featuring polished metallic accents and plain white markings on a black background for instrumentation. The SX Turbo included metal pedal covers and offered interior colors in black, gray, and beige, adding a rich, high-contrast look. Buttons and knobs made it easy to adjust the stereo, change the cabin temperature, and access the infotainment system's main menus. The upscale feel was complemented by the solid and fluid operation of the transmission shifter.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, showcased a sophisticated exterior with the S Appearance Package on the Limited trim. This package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, topped off with 18-inch wheels in 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, the Pacifica Hybrid offered practical sliding doors and more cargo space.

Inside, the Limited trim featured a dark interior with handsome Nappa leather seats and a dash with sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were user-friendly, though they were close to the transmission selector dial, which could cause confusion. The driver’s seat was comfortable and easily adjustable, with a center armrest that could swivel up for more room. Second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. However, taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, forming a competitive but unremarkable powertrain. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, was equipped with a robust 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it ideal for those living at higher elevations. Both engines used a six-speed automatic transmission, with Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system available as an option, including a locking center differential for equal power distribution at low speeds.

The SX Turbo's acceleration was quick, with maximum torque arriving at a low 1,450 rpm and remaining available until 3,500 rpm. This sudden surge of torque could surprise drivers, especially in Sport mode, where the SUV adopted a frenetic personality. The Sportage featured a MacPherson strut front suspension with gas shocks and an independent multi-link rear suspension with high-performance dampers. The SX Turbo had upgraded brakes with larger ventilated front discs and exclusive 19-inch wheels with 245/45 tires. The ride was smooth and compliant, with a hint of body roll and lateral rocking over pavement undulations. The Sportage felt athletic and sporty in turns, though the steering could be quicker and the tires could offer a higher threshold before howling.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small 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 fuel economy. In real-world testing, it achieved 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range, with combined mpg exceeding EPA estimates. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took about two hours, while a standard outlet predicted a 14-hour charge time.

The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode first, switching to hybrid mode once the EV range was depleted. This was efficient for city driving but less so for highway commutes. Unlike other plug-in hybrids, the Pacifica did not allow drivers to hold the electric-only mode. The Pacifica Hybrid was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, which were available on gasoline-only models. Despite these limitations, the Pacifica Hybrid offered a smooth driving experience with 260 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque, sufficient for highway passing. The continuously variable automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the lower center of gravity improved handling.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller side of the compact crossover SUV scale, offered a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim provided perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, a ten-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard. Rear seat legroom was generous, and the seat was comfortable, with air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers.

Interior storage space was generous, but maximum cargo volume was limited. With the second-row seats folded down, the Sportage offered 60.1 cubic feet of cargo space, falling short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat was sufficient for four full-sized suitcases. The Sportage featured Kia's smart liftgate technology, which opened the liftgate hands-free by standing near the back of the vehicle for a few seconds.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The camera included a view of rear-facing child seats and a zoom function. The Limited trim offered heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable, easily adjustable driver's seat. The center armrest was soft and could swivel up for more room. Second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. Taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The Pacifica Hybrid did not have the flat-fold Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, but cargo space remained the same with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. With all seats folded, the Pacifica offered 140.5 cubic feet of space, though the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey provided more overall space. The plug-in hybrid model also lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats available on the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trim levels included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo featured wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system with Clari-Fi digital music restoration technology. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system lacked technological sophistication, with an 8-inch screen, no WiFi hotspot, hit-and-miss voice-recognition technology, and wired smartphone mirroring.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured 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. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, with games and streaming content from Amazon Fire TV. However, the extra cost for this feature might be hard to justify when most kids already have phones or tablets. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2022 Kia Sportage included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system as standard. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available with the LX Value Edition Package or higher trims. The SX Turbo also featured adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with standard 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, and the adaptive cruise control system offered smooth braking and quick acceleration. However, features like parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist required an additional package or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star overall safety rating. The IIHS gave it Good marks except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.