2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2024 Honda Passport

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, particularly in the mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package, presented a sleek and modern aesthetic. This package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, all complemented by 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The split grille was flanked by standard LED headlamps, and the LED tail lamps spanned the rear width, enhancing its visual appeal. While minivans like the Pacifica Hybrid might lack the trendy allure of SUVs, they offered practicality with features like sliding doors and ample cargo space. Inside, the Limited trim's interior was predominantly dark, with handsome Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design. However, the proximity of the HVAC and audio knobs to the transmission selector dial could cause some confusion.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport maintained a familiar design, despite Honda's recent updates to other models. The Passport's design, with its upright grille and squared-off corners, remained consistent with previous generations. Available in EX-L, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, the Passport offered leather seats, a power moonroof, and AWD as standard across all trims. The TrailSport trim, tested for this review, was the most rugged, featuring all-terrain tires, roof rails, and LED fog lights. However, its rugged appearance was more aesthetic than functional, with plastic skid plates and no recovery points. Inside, the Passport featured a simple and unassuming design, with black leather upholstery accented by orange stitching. The interior was practical, with large air vents, simple controls, and ample storage space.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors, making it the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid. It boasted an EPA rating of 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In practice, the Pacifica Hybrid exceeded these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took just two hours, while a standard outlet would require 14 hours. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode, which was efficient in city driving but quickly depleted on highways. The hybrid model was FWD only, lacked a spare tire, and couldn't be equipped with a towing package. With 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, the Pacifica Hybrid offered sufficient power for highway passing, though it didn't match the non-hybrid's 287 hp and 262 lb-ft. The CVT operated smoothly, and the vehicle's handling was improved by the battery's low center of gravity.

The 2024 Honda Passport, on the other hand, featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered smooth acceleration and unobtrusive gear shifts. The absence of turbochargers meant peak torque arrived at 4,700 RPM, requiring higher revs for quick starts. The Passport's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The TrailSport trim included mechanical changes for off-road capability, such as wider tracks, 18-inch wheels with A/T tires, and a tuned suspension. All Passports came with Honda's iVTM4 AWD system and a traction-management system with various settings. While road and wind noise were noticeable at highway speeds, the Passport's steering was well-balanced and accurate. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered family-friendly features like the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor rear passengers. The test model included heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel, with a comfortable and adjustable driver's seat. The 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 competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked the flat-fold Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, but it still offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down. It also missed out on features like a built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, offering 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, with additional underfloor storage. This surpassed competitors like the Outback, Santa Fe, Grand Cherokee, and Edge. With the 60/40-split folding rear seats, cargo space expanded to 77.7 cubic feet, and the seats folded flush with the trunk floor for easy loading. The Passport comfortably accommodated five adults, with rear-seat legroom comparable to most of the segment. The front featured a redesigned center console bin, offering more storage but reducing the airy feel. Cupholders were abundant, with six in the back seat alone.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its user-friendly interface 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 streaming capabilities and games, though its value was questionable given the prevalence of personal devices. The Pacifica Hybrid offered numerous charging options, including USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen, which felt small given the cabin's size. It included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a wireless charging pad. While the screen offered sharp resolution and quick response, it had some drawbacks. The navigation system's turn-by-turn directions dominated the driver's display in city driving, which could be annoying. The TrailSport trim's seven-speaker audio system was underwhelming compared to upgraded systems in competitors, making it less appealing to audiophiles.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was equipped with a comprehensive suite of 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 was particularly effective, providing both visual and audible alerts. However, features like parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist required additional packages or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2023 model hadn't been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star overall 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.

The 2024 Honda Passport also offered a robust set of standard safety features under the "Honda Sensing" umbrella, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Despite these features, the Passport's crash test ratings were less impressive. The IIHS rated it "Acceptable" in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and "Marginal" in the updated side-impact crash tests, excluding it from the Top Safety Picks list. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but gave it four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests.