2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more adventurous models. Despite its understated appearance, the Santa Fe remained an attractive SUV, with its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights providing a touch of distinction. The Calligraphy AWD trim, in particular, showcased a sophisticated look with its Stormy Sea paint and black-on-black interior. Inside, the Santa Fe's cabin was high-quality but somewhat monotone, with Nappa leather seats offering comfort and style. The interior's dark theme could be offset by opting for a beige or gray interior, providing a more visually appealing contrast.

In contrast, the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid shared its sleek and clean styling with the non-hybrid Pacifica, maintaining a contemporary look despite its long presence in the market. The Pacifica Hybrid's design subtly indicated its plug-in hybrid nature through a charge port and specific badging. Offered in Select and Pinnacle trims, the Pacifica Hybrid featured all-LED exterior lighting and a choice of 17-inch or 18-inch wheels. The Pinnacle trim added luxurious touches like Nappa leather upholstery and small pillows for the second-row seats, although some premium elements clashed with lower-level model features, such as grained plastic door panels.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower. The turbocharged engine, available in the Limited and Calligraphy trims, provided a significant performance boost with 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector allowed customization with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes. The turbocharged model excelled in acceleration and passing power, with smooth handling and minimal body lean. The Santa Fe's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine, though trailer brakes were necessary for maximum capacity.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a two-motor hybrid system, powered by a 16-kWh battery pack, producing a total of 260 horsepower. While this was less than the non-hybrid Pacifica's 287 horsepower, the electric-motor torque compensated for the deficit, providing quick acceleration and efficient highway overtaking. The Pacifica Hybrid operated in front-wheel drive only and was not recommended for towing. The transition from electric to hybrid mode was slightly clunky, and regenerative braking fell short of one-pedal driving. However, the Pacifica Hybrid's ride remained comfortable and quiet, enhancing passenger conversations.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's two-row configuration allowed for ample rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe's interior featured comfortable seating, with SEL and higher trims offering power-adjustable and heated front seats. Convenience features included dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display added to the vehicle's appeal, though the wide center console slightly compromised driver leg space.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered the practicality of a minivan with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Its low step-in height and sliding doors facilitated rear-seat access. The Pacifica Hybrid provided generous cargo space, with 32.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 140.5 cubic feet behind the first row. The absence of Stow 'n Go second-row seats was due to the battery pack, but the Pacifica Hybrid retained above-floor cargo space. The Pinnacle trim featured an Ultra Console with additional storage, though access was somewhat awkward.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, offering a 4.2-inch color LCD display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. Infotainment options included an 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the base trim, while other trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired connectivity, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The voice-recognition system had mixed results, particularly with music requests and temperature adjustments, but overall, the infotainment system was customizable and user-friendly.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and SiriusXM with 360L. Built-in navigation and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were available. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked a fully digital instrument cluster, but the analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display were functional. The Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system added 10.1-inch touchscreens, wireless headphones, and Amazon Fire TV connectivity, enhancing passenger entertainment.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above trims. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid shared safety features with the non-hybrid Pacifica, including blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA awarded the Pacifica Hybrid a five-star overall safety rating, with a five-star side crash-test rating. New for 2024 was the Emergency Vehicle Alert System, providing warnings about nearby emergency vehicles or road hazards.