2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2022 Subaru Forester was available in several trims: base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. Prices started at $25,195 for the base model, with the top-tier Touring reaching $35,295, plus a $1,125 destination charge. Subaru offered a variety of dealer-installed accessories, and all-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945, including destination. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the total price came to $36,014.

The Forester's exterior, especially in the Wilderness trim, was not universally appealing. The suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding gave it a rugged look, but the matte-black hood decal and copper-colored accents were polarizing. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over aesthetics, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the three display screens could be cumbersome. Overall, the Forester felt well-made, but the Wilderness trim's design elements were not to everyone's taste.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims. The mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, along with 18-inch wheels. The split grille was flanked by standard LED headlamps, and the rear featured LED tail lamps spanning its width. While minivans lacked the cool factor of SUVs, they offered more practicality, with sliding doors and ample cargo space.

The Limited trim's interior was dark, with Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design. The HVAC and audio knobs were chunky but could be confused with the transmission selector dial. The Pacifica Hybrid's interior was comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row was spacious enough for adults. However, the Pacifica Hybrid lacked the Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, though cargo space remained generous at 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. All Foresters had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Wilderness model featured a CVT design that increased initial torque supply by 25%, doubling its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA rated the Forester Wilderness at 26 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 25.9 mpg.

The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT had eight programmed ratios and included SI-Drive for a more responsive Sport mode. Subaru's dual-function X-Mode system, standard on most Foresters, offered improved speed management during hill descents and a new "standby" setting. The Wilderness trim's re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks increased ground clearance to 9.2 inches, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Forester excelled in various environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise above 65 mph.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors, offering 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In testing, it achieved 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range, exceeding EPA estimates. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took two hours, while a standard outlet required 14 hours.

The Pacifica Hybrid defaulted to all-electric mode before switching to hybrid mode, which was efficient in city driving but less so on highways. The plug-in hybrid model lacked AWD, a spare tire, and a towing package, which were available on the non-hybrid Pacifica. The Pacifica Hybrid's 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque were sufficient for highway passing, and the CVT operated smoothly. The battery's placement improved handling by lowering the center of gravity.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent.

The Forester's interior was comfortable, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Storage space was decent, though a dashboard shelf or tray would have been useful. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof) with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The tester 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 was spacious enough for adults. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, but cargo space remained at 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera and PIN Code Access for keyless entry.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and dual phone Bluetooth connectivity. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens with games and Amazon Fire TV streaming. The Pacifica Hybrid had numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with improved camera-based technology and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim added DriverFocus facial recognition technology. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid included 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 5-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.