2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV, bridging the gap between subcompact and compact crossovers. It came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with a single engine option and choices between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive. Prices ranged from $22,995 to $33,045, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The Taos featured a Basecamp package for off-pavement adventures and various factory options. The 4Motion AWD version included a dual-clutch automated manual transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension, enhancing its driving character. The Taos's exterior styling was consistent with Volkswagen's lineup, featuring 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. However, the interior had hard, shiny plastics, though the SEL trim offered two-tone perforated leather and upscale materials.

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, gloss black grille surround, and 18-inch wheels. The Pacifica Hybrid featured a split grille with standard LED headlamps and tail lamps spanning the rear width. While minivans lacked the cool factor of SUVs, they offered practicality with sliding doors and more cargo space. The Limited trim's interior was dark but featured 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 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. The Taos felt powerful but had delayed throttle response due to turbo lag. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with 4Motion AWD offered rousing performance but had erratic shifting. The standard eight-speed automatic with front-wheel drive provided smoother driving but lacked the sophistication of the DCT. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode improved drivability but didn't completely eliminate the powertrain's herky-jerky nature. The Taos had a light, compliant character with responsive steering, effective brakes, and taut handling. However, its 6.6-inch ground clearance was less than competitors like the Jeep Compass and Subaru Crosstrek. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg combined, but it averaged 27.1 mpg during testing.

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. Testing showed better numbers, with 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took two hours, while a standard outlet predicted a 14-hour charge time. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode before switching to hybrid, which was efficient in the city but less so on the highway. The Pacifica Hybrid was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package. It had 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, with a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission. The battery's placement improved handling, but the steering was light.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos had a roomy cabin, with deeply bolstered front seats offering plenty of adjustment options. The SEL 4Motion included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was spacious with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by drive system, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded down in front-wheel-drive models. The 4Motion version had 24.9 cubic feet and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for ski trips.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered the FamCam interior camera, heated and cooled front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The driver's seat was comfortable and adjustable, with a soft center armrest. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. Cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. However, the plug-in hybrid lacked Stow 'n Go seats, a built-in vacuum cleaner, and heated second-row seats.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SE and SEL trims had 8-inch touchscreens with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim included navigation and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the voice-recognition technology and user experience needed improvement.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering ease of use and crisp graphics. It included 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 for second-row passengers, with games and streaming content from Amazon Fire TV. 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 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies, standard or available for all trims. The Taos S had an optional $995 IQ Drive package, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The SE trim had these features standard, with Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. The Taos SEL included all these technologies, plus rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and low-speed Travel Assist. The reverse automatic braking could be turned off. The Taos had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid had 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 visual and audible alerts, and the adaptive cruise control system was smooth. Parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist were optional. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not been rated by NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star rating. IIHS gave it Good marks, except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.