2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E surprised many with its blend of classic Mustang styling and modern electric SUV design. Despite its unconventional dimensions, the Mach-E's galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and bold rear fender haunches gave it a distinctive look that resonated with fans of the legendary pony car. Since its debut in 2021, Ford produced over 150,000 units, making it a popular choice worldwide. The Mach-E GT, with its Cyber Orange paint and aggressive styling, stood out with unique 20-inch wheels and a dark front panel. Inside, the Mach-E GT offered a luxurious feel with artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance, blending past and future in a compelling package.

In contrast, the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, offered a more practical approach with its minivan design. The Limited trim with the S Appearance Package added stylish touches like body-colored door handles and gloss black accents. The Pacifica's split grille and LED headlamps provided a modern look, while the interior featured Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dashboard. Despite its dark interior, the Pacifica offered comfort with heated and cooled front seats and a spacious third row. However, the plug-in hybrid model lacked some features like Stow 'n Go seats and a built-in vacuum cleaner, which were available in the gasoline-only version.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of configurations with standard-range and extended-range battery packs, and single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD systems. Horsepower varied from 266 to 480, with torque ranging from 317 to 634 lb-ft, and driving range between 224 to 312 miles. The Mach-E GT, with its extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a 270-mile range. The GT Performance Edition increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and improved handling with adaptive damping suspension and larger brakes. The Mach-E GT featured driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. Despite its firm suspension, the Mach-E GT impressed with its driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 37 kWh per 100 miles in 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 total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In testing, the Pacifica exceeded these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles total. Charging the battery took two hours on a Level 2 charger, while a standard outlet required 14 hours. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode, switching to hybrid once the EV range depleted, which was efficient in city driving but less so on highways. The Pacifica Hybrid, with 260 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque, provided adequate performance for highway passing, though it lacked the AWD and towing capabilities of the gasoline model.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered seating for five and 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a 4.7 cu-ft front trunk. The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable heated front seats wrapped in black ActiveX leather and Miko suede. A tiered center console provided ample storage, while the rear seats accommodated three children or two adults comfortably. The panoramic glass roof added an airy feel, and the cargo area expanded to 59.7 cu-ft with rear seats folded.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The Pacifica offered heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a spacious third row accessible via a center pathway. However, the plug-in hybrid lacked Stow 'n Go seats due to the battery placement, offering 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 140.5 cu-ft with seats folded. Despite this, competitors like the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey offered more overall space.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen with Ford's Sync 4A infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and FordPass Connect services. The system included a navigation system, wireless charging, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 4A supported natural voice recognition and provided detailed energy usage data. The Mach-E also featured Phone As A Key technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens with Amazon Fire TV streaming. The Pacifica included numerous charging ports, ensuring devices remained powered throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E included Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 with BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. BlueCruise 1.2 added lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. The Mach-E received top safety marks from the IIHS and was a 2022 Top Safety Pick, though NHTSA ratings were incomplete.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The 2022 model received a five-star NHTSA rating, and the IIHS gave it Good marks, except for Marginal seat belt reminders and Average headlights and LATCH ease of use.