2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its modern design from the 2022 redesign, maintaining a balance between traditional and futuristic elements. Its exterior featured angular lines and distinctive headlights, ensuring a contemporary look that would remain relevant. Inside, the Pathfinder offered a clean and practical layout, making it both visually appealing and user-friendly. The trims ranged from the basic S with essential features to the luxurious Platinum, which included premium leather and advanced technology. The Rock Creek trim stood out with its rugged design and off-road capabilities, appealing to those seeking adventure.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, particularly in the Limited trim with the S Appearance Package, presented a sleek and practical minivan option. Its exterior was enhanced with black accents and 18-inch wheels, while the interior offered a dark, sophisticated ambiance with Nappa leather seats. The Pacifica Hybrid was praised for its practicality, featuring sliding doors and ample cargo space. However, the interior was noted for its dark tones, and the controls were sometimes confusingly close together. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Pacifica Hybrid provided a comfortable and functional environment for families.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek variant offered a slight power boost, with 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was transmitted through a 9-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim featured off-road enhancements, including a taller suspension and all-terrain tires, which improved trail performance but resulted in a rougher ride on paved roads. The Pathfinder's engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, though the unique shifter design was criticized for being unintuitive. The vehicle offered various drive modes, including an All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek, and had a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds with the right equipment.

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 boasted an EPA-rated 32 miles of all-electric range and 520 miles of total range, with an impressive 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. In real-world testing, the Pacifica Hybrid exceeded these figures, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. Charging the battery took two hours on a Level 2 charger, while a standard outlet required 14 hours. The Pacifica Hybrid defaulted to electric mode first, which was efficient in city driving but less so on highways. It offered 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, with a smooth continuously variable transmission. However, it lacked all-wheel drive and towing capabilities, which were available in the non-hybrid version.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, 45 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. While this was average for midsize SUVs, it fell short of some competitors. The first two rows provided ample space, and the third row was suitable for short trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs facilitated access to the third row. The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders, along with numerous storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim's roof rack was practical for carrying up to 220 pounds, though snow removal could be challenging.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the rear seats. The interior included heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a comfortable driver’s seat. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the third row offered enough space for adults on long trips. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked the Stow ‘n Go seats due to the battery placement, but still provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down. However, it fell short of competitors like the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey in overall space.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 9-inch version available on higher trims. It supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the graphics were considered low-quality. The system was user-friendly, with real buttons and dials. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. Higher trims added features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, and additional USB ports. While not the most advanced, the Pathfinder's tech was sufficient for most needs.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Uconnect 5, praised for its ease of use and crisp graphics. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and dual Bluetooth connectivity. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, though its value was questioned given the prevalence of personal devices. The Pacifica Hybrid offered numerous charging options, including USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, and wireless charging, ensuring devices remained powered.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder included standard driver assistance features such as forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, and blind-spot monitoring. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim introduced front parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Pathfinder's off-road mode provided front- and side-view cameras for obstacle monitoring.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The forward collision warning system was effective, providing both visual and audible alerts. The adaptive cruise control was smooth and responsive. However, features like parallel parking assist required additional packages or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2023 model had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star rating. The IIHS rated it well, except for seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use.