Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came in three available trims: Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle. For this comparison, we evaluated the mid-trim Limited, featuring the S Appearance Package. This package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black surround on the grille, and black accents scattered throughout the vehicle, enhancing its sleek look. The minivan was equipped with 18-inch wheels described by Chrysler as having a “Foreshadow” finish, but they appeared black to the eye. The Pacifica Hybrid showcased a split grille surrounded by standard LED headlamps upfront, and LED tail lamps spanning the entire rear width. While it lacked the cool factor of an SUV, its practicality stood out. With helpful sliding doors and more cargo space, it provided functionalities that rivaled SUVs. The Limited trim offered a predominantly black interior unless one upgraded to the top trim. Even then, the interior featured sophisticated Nappa leather seats and sweeping lines on the dash. Chunky HVAC and audio knobs were a nice touch, though they were slightly confusing given their proximity to the transmission selector dial. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid had been redesigned in 2019, shifting to a more substantial and blocky appearance from its previous softer crossover styling. The trapezoidal grille, adapted from Toyota's truck line, added a robust demeanor, framed by beveled and angled bodywork around the headlights. This redesign influenced the market, with other automakers like Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 adopting similar angular themes. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid featured a multi-tiered dashboard with beveled cutouts, enhancing visual interest on an otherwise standard surface. The layout included a mounted infotainment touchscreen atop the dash with ample physical buttons and knobs for primary feature control. Material quality was average, with a mix of hard plastics and light padding on contact surfaces. Curiously, the base model and new Woodland trim omitted the leather-wrapped steering wheel, opting for a urethane wheel that felt rubbery and uncomfortable. Fortunately, other trims included leather coverings, and overall, the build quality was strong, with no detectable creaks or squeaks over rough pavement.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors, standing out as the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid. Official EPA ratings reflected 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. Testing surpassed these numbers, achieving 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles total range, with combined mpg exceeding EPA estimates. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger only took two hours, while a standard outlet predicted 14 hours, which was feasible overnight but more convenient with a Level 2 charger installed at home. However, the delivery of electric power was a drawback. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode before switching to hybrid, making it efficient in city driving but quickly depleting electric power on highways. The Pacifica Hybrid lacked some features available on non-hybrid models, such as AWD, a spare tire, and a towing package. These limitations might steer buyers toward the standard Pacifica. Despite these shortcomings, the Pacifica Hybrid offered a smooth ride with 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable automatic transmission worked unobtrusively, and while the steering was light, it was appropriate for a minivan of this kind. The lower center of gravity due to the battery placement contributed to better-than-expected handling. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid ran on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor/generator, combined to a CVT that powered the front wheels, with a second electric motor between the rear axle providing AWD. Together, this setup produced 219 horsepower, propelling the RAV4 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. It was quicker than standard RAV4 models by about half a second, with the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime achieving an impressive 5.5 seconds. This placed the RAV4 Hybrid in direct competition with the Kia Sportage hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid in terms of acceleration. The braking system, involving regenerative braking, operated seamlessly, and the suspension offered a smooth ride over moderate bumps and potholes, while delivering confident cornering. The RAV4 Hybrid provided calm and effortless driving dynamics, without standing out in any particular area, similar to its rivals.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was parent-friendly with features like the FamCam interior camera, allowing drivers to monitor second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seats, including rear-facing child seats. Heated and cooled front seats, along with a heated steering wheel, ensured driver comfort. The center armrest provided extra space, and the second-row seats, though a bit low, were comfortable. The third-row was spacious, but taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Cargo space in the Pacifica Hybrid remained considerable even without the flat-fold Stow ‘n Go seats (sacrificed for battery placement). It offered 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 with the seats down, and maxing out at 140.5 cubic feet. Although spacious, this was slightly less than the offerings from Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey. Additional features like the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats were absent in the hybrid model. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided ample space upfront for larger passengers, with rear seats accommodating average-sized adults comfortably. The slightly higher rear headroom compared to Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage was offset by marginally less legroom. Folding rear seatbacks flush with the cargo floor offered practicality but was hard to reach for shorter individuals. The cargo capacity was an impressive 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, close to that of non-hybrid RAV4 models and competitive with Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage hybrids. Toyota excelled in interior storage, offering a wide dashboard shelf for the front passenger and a phone tray in front of the center console. Despite the ongoing chip shortage, these storage options remained useful, including large cupholders that could accommodate Super Big Gulp cups and a large center armrest bin. Door pockets were appropriately sized, adding to the overall practicality.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, irrespective of the trim level, featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5. This system was user-friendly, offering crisp graphics and functionalities like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, with the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth. An optional rear-seat entertainment system for an additional $2,795 included two 10-inch screens, various games, and streaming content options from Amazon Fire TV. Despite this setup, the feature seemed superfluous when most children already had phones or tablets. The vehicle was well-equipped with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging, ensuring no device stayed uncharged. For 2023, the RAV4 Hybrid received a major infotainment upgrade, vastly improving from previous versions. The new touchscreen graphics were modern and sharp, and the menus were logically arranged. Screen placement on top of the dashboard minimized driver distraction. While most trim levels came with an 8.0-inch display, higher trims offered a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The base display had small on-screen buttons, requiring more effort for accurate pressing. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though a wireless charging pad remained optional due to the chip shortage. The system supported over-the-air software updates to maintain current features, with a Wi-Fi hotspot and remote vehicle monitoring capabilities. Higher trims also featured a fully digital instrument panel. The standard audio system included six speakers, providing decent clarity and power, with an optional 11-speaker JBL system available on top trims.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with an extensive list of standard safety features, including 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. In practical scenarios, the forward collision warning system was effective, and the adaptive cruise control system smoothly managed braking and acceleration. However, additional safety features like parallel parking assist and front/rear parking assist were only available as part of a package or on the top Pinnacle trim. While not rated by the NHTSA for 2023 yet, the nearly identical 2022 version received five stars overall. The IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories but gave it "Marginal" for seat belt reminders and "Average" for headlights and LATCH ease of use. Similarly, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid also earned high safety ratings. It received five stars from NHTSA for overall and side crash protection and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS gave it "Good" marks in most tests, with an "Acceptable" rating for moderate overlap frontal and side-impact tests, earning it the Top Safety Pick honor. All models included Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, with features like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alerts, while the Limited trim featured front/rear parking sensors and optional surround-view cameras and digital rearview mirror.