2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Mazda CX-30

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Riding on the same platform as the Mazda3, it was essentially a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. However, the slight curve at eye level for taller drivers distorted the road view, which could be distracting.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays artfully. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its steep learning curve was a downside. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements, with the Turbo Premium Plus offering front-and-rear parking sensors and advanced driver assistance features.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims. The mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, topped off with 18-inch wheels. The split grille was surrounded by standard LED headlamps, and the LED tail lamps spanned the entire rear width. Despite lacking the cool cachet of an SUV, the Pacifica Hybrid was a practical choice with sliding doors and more cargo space.

The Limited’s interior was dark but featured handsome Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash with sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were a nice touch, though they were close to the transmission selector dial, which could cause confusion. The 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 was spacious enough for adults, though taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in our test model delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel. Power was routed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, and the Sport mode enhanced throttle response and shift mapping, making the CX-30 lively and more active in downshifting when braking.

The CX-30 featured a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. The manual mode pattern was similar to race cars, enhancing its performance credibility. The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, the downside was a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads, where nearly every crack and imperfection could be felt.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors, making it the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid. The EPA rated it for 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. In our tests, we saw 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range, exceeding the EPA estimates. However, keeping the battery topped off was essential for maximum efficiency.

Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took about two hours, while a standard outlet predicted a 14-hour charge time. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode first, which was efficient in the city but quickly depleted on the highway. This could be inconvenient for commutes starting on the highway and ending in the city. The Pacifica Hybrid was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package, which were available on gasoline-only models. Despite these limitations, the Pacifica Hybrid offered a smooth driving experience with 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, sufficient for highway passing. The continuously variable automatic transmission worked smoothly, and the lower center of gravity improved handling.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the seats in use, which was average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. However, the center console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. The rear seats provided solid headroom for short-to-medium trips but lacked the rear-seat headroom of the larger CX-5, making longer drives a tight fit.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor the second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seats. The technology included a view of the rear-facing child seat and a zoom function. Our tester had 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 center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. While the third row was roomy enough for adults, taller passengers might prefer the extra legroom in competitors.

The Pacifica Hybrid did not have the flat-fold Stow ‘n Go seats due to the battery placement, but cargo space remained the same with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with everything folded. However, the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey offered more overall space. The plug-in hybrid also lacked the built-in vacuum cleaner and heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. This setup, inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive, lacked touch functionality, making it less user-friendly. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was frustrating. Even after setting up presets, the system remained challenging to use, and it could be distracting for anyone borrowing the car.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its ease of use and crisp graphics. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, 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 content from Amazon Fire TV. However, the extra cost for this feature might be hard to justify when most kids already have phones or tablets. 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 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. The adaptive front headlights and 360-degree parking camera were helpful features. The CX-30 earned five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid had standard safety features like 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 visual and audible alerts, and the adaptive cruise control system offered smooth braking and quick acceleration. However, features like parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist required additional packages or the top Pinnacle trim. The 2023 Pacifica Hybrid had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received five stars. The IIHS gave it Good marks except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.