2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stood out with its elevated stance, offering 9.5 inches of ground clearance, which was 0.8 inches higher than other Outback models. This gave it a more rugged appearance, akin to a Jeep, rather than a traditional station wagon. The vehicle featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection trim, and restyled front and rear bumpers that improved its approach and departure angles. Additional design elements included a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal. The roof rack and rail system were new, supporting a 700-pound static load, and the exclusive Geyser Blue paint hue added to its distinctiveness.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness had a dark gray and black cabin with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which looked like leather but wasn't. While ventilated seats were absent, heated seats were standard. The interior also featured a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. The rear seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, enhancing its practicality. Collectively, these modifications injected personality and purpose into the Outback's styling, setting it apart from standard versions. The Outback Wilderness was priced at $36,995 plus a $1,125 destination charge, positioning it between the Onyx XT and Limited XT trims.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, offered a mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package for this review. This package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, complemented by 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The front featured a split grille with standard LED headlamps, while the rear boasted LED tail lamps spanning its width. Despite minivans lacking the cool factor of SUVs, the Pacifica Hybrid was a practical choice, offering sliding doors and ample cargo space.

The Limited trim's interior was predominantly black, with Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design featuring sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were user-friendly, though their proximity to the transmission selector dial could cause confusion. 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 center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. However, taller passengers might find more legroom in competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The Pacifica Hybrid's cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down, though it lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine, shared with the turbo Outback XT models, provided ample power for the 3,896-pound crossover SUV, allowing a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA estimated its fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing on a mountainous route yielded an average of 21.3 mpg.

While the engine was strong, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) detracted from the driving experience with its droning and soft simulated gear changes. The Outback Wilderness featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and was equipped with 17-inch gloss-black wheels and 225/65R17 Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The vehicle's 9.5 inches of ground clearance, combined with improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, made it the most capable Outback ever. The dual function X-Mode traction system, hill descent control, and revised final-drive ratios further enhanced its off-road performance. On pavement, the Outback Wilderness felt quick but was limited by its tires, while off-road, it excelled on challenging trails.

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, exceeding EPA estimates. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took about two hours, while a standard outlet required approximately 14 hours.

The Pacifica Hybrid defaulted to all-electric mode before 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 (FWD) only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, which were available on gasoline-only models. The hybrid's 260 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque provided sufficient power for highway passing, though it lacked the acceleration of the non-hybrid Pacifica. The continuously variable automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the vehicle's lower center of gravity improved handling.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant simulated leather that prevented water and sweat from soaking into the seats. While heated front seats were standard, ventilated seats were not available, making the interior uncomfortable in hot weather. The dual-zone automatic climate control effectively cooled the front half of the cabin, and the driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat had 8-way power adjustment.

The rear seat provided generous space for two adults or three children, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. However, the StarTex upholstery caused discomfort in hot weather. The cargo area offered 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. The seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, and LED lighting illuminated the cargo area. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 220-pound dynamic load rating and a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid's interior 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 tester had 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. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. Taller passengers might prefer the legroom in competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The Pacifica Hybrid's cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding 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 Stow 'n Go seats, built-in vacuum cleaner, and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica. Despite these omissions, the Pacifica Hybrid offered ample cargo space and a comfortable interior.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for volume, tuning, temperature control, and defogger systems, most functions required the use of the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not very responsive to natural voice commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for their superior voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims, but it did feature PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle during outdoor activities.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its ease of use and crisp graphics. The system 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 cost of this feature might be hard to justify given the prevalence of personal devices. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging, ensuring devices remained charged throughout the journey.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness aimed to preserve the efficacy of the standard EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The Outback Wilderness also featured steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology, available only in higher trims. The EyeSight technology proved effective during testing, maintaining safe distances and keeping the vehicle centered. The 2022 Outback Wilderness had not been crash-tested, but the 2021 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with standard safety features, including 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 operated smoothly. However, features like parallel parking assistance and front and rear parking assist required additional packages or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 model received a 5-star overall rating. The IIHS gave it Good marks in most categories, with Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.