2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, particularly in the mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package, presented a sleek and modern exterior. This package added body-colored door handles and 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. Despite its minivan status, the Pacifica Hybrid offered practicality akin to an SUV, with sliding doors and ample cargo space. Inside, the Limited trim featured a dark interior with Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design. However, the proximity of the HVAC and audio knobs to the transmission selector dial could cause confusion.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern touches like angular headlights, aligning it with other Land Rover models. Its interior, however, was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with softer materials. Offered in three body styles—two-door 90, four-door 110, and extended-wheelbase 130—the Defender catered to various preferences. Our test model, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, embracing a retro aesthetic. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments, though the multifunctional climate control dials required an extra button press for adjustments.

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 plug-in hybrid minivan available. It offered an EPA-rated 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In practice, it exceeded these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles total. Charging on a Level 2 home charger took just two hours, while a standard outlet required 14 hours. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode, which was efficient in city driving but quickly depleted on highways. The hybrid model was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, unlike its gasoline-only counterpart. With 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, it provided adequate highway passing power, though acceleration wasn't brisk.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, offered 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender could tow up to 7,716 pounds with the six- and eight-cylinder engines, while the four-cylinder towed up to 5,500 pounds. The V8-powered Defender 110 Carpathian Edition accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. The P400 model provided ample power for highway speeds, though there was a slight lurch at low speeds.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered family-friendly features like the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. Heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable driver's seat added to its appeal. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row was spacious enough for adults on long trips. However, the Pacifica Hybrid lacked the flat-fold Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, though it still offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. It missed out on features like a built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats, available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and practicality with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row best suited for children. The Defender 130 provided more space but still limited adult-friendly seating. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 76.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Defender 110's two-row version offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row, while the three-row configuration had 10.7 cubic feet behind the third row. The two-door Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 58.3 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, known for its user-friendly interface and crisp graphics. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity. Our test model included an optional rear seat entertainment system with two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, offering games and streaming content from Amazon Fire TV. Charging options were plentiful, with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited its utilitarian nature. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup blended refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation of features like Apple CarPlay.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid boasted numerous 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 effective, and the adaptive cruise control provided smooth braking and acceleration. However, features like parallel 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 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.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive but could be deactivated. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2024 Defender.