2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Dodge Hornet

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s front end showcased unmistakable Dodge DNA with its wide, aggressive “raccoon mask” face, bulging hood, dual extractors, and the signature Dodge “mail slot” beneath the illuminated Rhombi logo. From the rear, the Hornet bore a resemblance to the Porsche Macan or Cayenne, with upward-pointing windows giving it a premium feel. This design choice, derived from its Alfa Romeo Tonale roots, might have been a departure for Dodge loyalists but added a touch of sophistication. The standard silver 17-inch wheels appeared cheap from afar, though the design had its merits up close. The Blacktop package offered 18-inch black alloy wheels and other black accents, while the Track Pack provided 20-inch wheels and performance enhancements. The Hornet came in seven vibrant colors, continuing Dodge’s tradition of “High Impact Paint.”

Inside, the Hornet featured standard red stitching accents and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, emphasizing its performance roots. The base GT trim had six-way manual-adjust black cloth seats, while the GT Plus offered eight-way power-adjustable black or red perforated leather seats. The red seats were particularly striking, and the Track Pack’s Alcantara seats with red accents were the raciest option. The sunroof was available only on the GT Plus trim.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, featured a mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package, adding body-colored door handles, gloss black grille surround, and black accents. The exterior was completed with 18-inch wheels in a “Foreshadow” finish. The split grille was flanked by standard LED headlamps, and the rear featured LED tail lamps spanning the vehicle’s 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 sophisticated, with Nappa leather seats and sweeping lines on the dash. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were user-friendly, though they were close to the transmission selector dial, which could cause confusion. The top trim offered a non-black interior option. 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, though taller passengers might prefer the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna for more legroom. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked the Stow ‘n Go seats due to the battery placement but still offered ample cargo space.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted “best-in-class performance” with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This outperformed competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona, with only the Mazda CX-30 coming close at 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. The Hornet’s engine emitted a low, menacing rumble, drawing attention from passersby. Sport mode enhanced throttle response, steering, and upshifts, reducing the zero-to-60 time to 6.5 seconds, outperforming its competition. The base Hornet GT was peppy from a standstill but exhibited a lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T’s hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors, offering 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. 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 defaulted to all-electric mode first, which was efficient in city driving but less so on the highway. The Pacifica Hybrid was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, unlike the gasoline-only models. It offered 260 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque, with a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission and light steering. The battery’s placement improved handling.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s GT Plus-trim leather seats were more comfortable than the base GT’s cloth seats, with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings. The Track Pack offered Alcantara seats with similar features. The front passenger seat matched the driver’s for adjustability but lacked memory function. Both seats were heated and ventilated in the GT Plus trim, with heated seats available in the Cold Weather package for the GT. The driver-oriented cockpit layout favored the driver, with screen positioning and control placements feeling natural. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed the view of traffic from the right.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows, with a zoom function for specific seats. The tester had heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable, 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 third row was spacious enough for adults, though taller passengers might prefer the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna for more legroom. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked Stow ‘n Go seats due to the battery placement but offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey offered more overall space. The plug-in hybrid also lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet’s cockpit featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, larger than the 10.25-inch center display. The center stack and physical controls were angled toward the driver, with advanced features accessible through the touchscreen. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless charging pad, and navigation. The navigation system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving instructions after ending the route.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its ease of use and crisp graphics. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, with games and Amazon Fire TV streaming. Devices could be charged through numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came standard with advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, a rear backup camera, and rear park-assist. The Tech Pack added front, side, and rear park-assist, driver-attention monitoring, a 360 “ParkView” surround-view camera, and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid included standard safety features like 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 offered smooth braking and quick acceleration. Optional features included parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not yet 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.