2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2023 Dodge Hornet

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite being a minivan, offered practical advantages that many three-row midsize crossover SUVs lacked. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children in tight parking spaces, and its plug-in hybrid drivetrain was unique among mainstream brands. However, its rounded, flowing exterior and interior styling appeared soft and dated compared to the more architectural motifs popular at the time. The Pacifica Hybrid was not cheap, with the base Touring L starting at $49,095 and the Limited trim costing $54,095. The interior featured quality black Nappa premium leather, but Chrysler did not attempt to disguise the minivan's true nature.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Hornet displayed unmistakable Dodge DNA with its muscle-car styling cues, including a wide, mean "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, and dual extractors. The rear end resembled a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, giving it a more premium feel. The Hornet's standard silver 17-inch wheels looked cheap from afar, but the available Blacktop and Track Pack packages offered more appealing options. Dodge continued its "High Impact Paint" tradition with seven fun exterior color options. Inside, the Hornet featured standard red stitching accents and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, emphasizing its performance-inspired roots.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, producing a total system output of 260 horsepower. The Pacifica Hybrid could travel up to 32 miles on electric power alone, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The regenerative braking system helped capture energy and feed it back to the battery, resulting in an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg during testing. However, the Pacifica Hybrid's driving experience was described as boring, with light and uncommunicative steering, unremarkable regenerative brakes, and a lack of cornering grip.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted "best-in-class performance" with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Hornet's Sport mode sharpened throttle responses, tightened steering, and optimized upshifts, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 6.5 seconds. The base Hornet GT was peppy and responsive, though there was a noticeable lag when accelerating from cruising speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain improved pickup pace. Overall, the Hornet's performance was impressive, especially compared to its competitors.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The minivan featured triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage options were plentiful, including extra shelves, a large floor tray, and a long storage bin behind the center console. The second-row seats were more comfortable than the standard Pacifica's Stow n' Go chairs, though they did not collapse into the floor. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, and the Pacifica Hybrid provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats tumbled and 140.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim featured leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment and two memory settings, providing superior comfort compared to the base GT's cloth seats. The cockpit's layout was driver-oriented, with the screen and controls angled toward the driver. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed the view of traffic from the right. The Hornet's interior design emphasized performance, with features like a flat-bottomed steering wheel and red stitching accents.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was equipped with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, appealing graphics, and a simple user interface. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to monitor rear-seat passengers. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered a 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system and an Amazon Fire TV-enabled rear-seat entertainment system. However, the voice recognition technology was hit-and-miss, and the sound quality of the Harman Kardon system required adjustment for optimal performance.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, both angled toward the driver. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, dual-phone Bluetooth connectivity, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system and navigation. The navigation system worked well, though it occasionally continued giving verbal instructions after ending the route.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a comprehensive package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features, including a rear-seat reminder system. However, it lacked adaptive cruise control paired with a lane-centering assist function. The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist needed refinement, as it was slow to recognize departing vehicles and braked too hard when other motorists cut in. The Pacifica earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet included standard advanced driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, a rear backup camera, and a rear park-assist system. The Tech Pack added front, side, and rear park-assist, driver-attention monitoring, a 360 "ParkView" surround-view camera, and Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. The Hornet had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA.