2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. While it was still an attractive SUV, it didn't have the stand-out looks of other models in the brand's lineup. The 2023 model continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 version, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, featuring Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, with a total MSRP of $45,845.

The Santa Fe's exterior was marked by its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive look. Inside, the Calligraphy trim had a high-quality, albeit dark and monotone, interior. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The second row also featured seat heaters, which we found useful during varying spring weather conditions.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims. Our review focused on the mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package, which added body-colored door handles, exterior mirrors, and black accents. The exterior was completed with 18-inch wheels in a "Foreshadow" finish. The Pacifica Hybrid featured a split grille with standard LED headlamps and LED tail lamps spanning the rear width. Despite being a minivan, it offered practical advantages over SUVs, such as sliding doors and more cargo space.

The Limited trim's interior was dark, with Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design. The HVAC and audio knobs were chunky but could be confused with the transmission selector dial due to their close proximity. 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 offered enough space for adults, though taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine, boosting output to 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, working with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission.

FWD was standard on all trims, with AWD available as an option. The Santa Fe also had a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. Our Calligraphy test vehicle had steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, adding a touch of sportiness. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, making passing and getting up to speed a breeze. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbo version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo could tow 2,000 pounds.

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. Our test saw 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 Hybrid defaulted to all-electric mode first, switching to hybrid mode once the EV range was depleted. This was efficient for city driving but less so for highway commutes. The Pacifica Hybrid was FWD only and couldn't be equipped with a towing package, unlike the gasoline-only models. The hybrid's 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque were sufficient for highway passing, with a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission. The battery's placement in the floor improved handling by lowering the center of gravity.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered ample interior space, with 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded the cargo space to 72.1 cubic feet, with additional underfloor storage. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, while the Limited trim added ventilated front seats, a power driver seat cushion extension, and heated rear seats. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the wide center console limited driver leg and hip space.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The driver’s seat was comfortable and adjustable, with a soft center armrest. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row offered enough space for adults. The Pacifica Hybrid's cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. However, the hybrid model lacked the Stow 'n Go seats, built-in vacuum cleaner, and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though voice-recognition capabilities were mixed.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth. Our tester had the optional rear seat entertainment system, adding two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers with games and streaming capabilities. Devices could be charged through various USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with numerous standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid had standard safety features such as 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 both visual and audible alerts. Adaptive cruise control was smooth and responsive. However, features like parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist required additional packages or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2022 Pacifica Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and Good marks from the IIHS, except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.