2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer, Jeep’s largest SUV, followed the design cues of the smaller Grand Cherokee models, featuring a high-mounted grille, LED headlights, a boxy profile, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It lacked the retro styling of the original Wagoneer, opting instead for a look that resembled an enlarged Grand Cherokee. At launch, it came with standard 20-inch wheels, which appeared small on its 123-inch wheelbase, while higher trims offered 22-inch wheels. The Wagoneer’s new body-on-frame architecture, designed for its independent front and rear suspension, included an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight.

Inside, the Wagoneer had some interesting design elements, such as a centrally framed touchscreen and a two-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel. However, the overall material quality was disappointing for a premium vehicle, with glossy plastic and heavily-lacquered wood trim that felt artificial. Despite leather upholstery, the interior seemed a step down from the Grand Wagoneer, suggesting that Jeep cut corners to differentiate the Wagoneer from its luxury sibling.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, despite its minivan image, offered a practical and efficient package for transporting up to seven people. Its plug-in hybrid drivetrain, based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, provided a total system output of 260 horsepower. The 16-kWh battery pack under the second-row floor allowed for up to 32 miles of electric-only driving, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even when fully loaded, and could be recharged overnight using a standard household outlet.

The Pacifica Hybrid’s interior featured quality materials, including black Nappa premium leather, and a design that, while soft and dated, was functional. The minivan offered ample storage, with various bins and trays, and comfortable seating across all three rows. The second-row seats, though not collapsible like in the standard Pacifica, were more comfortable and adjustable. The third-row seats provided reasonable comfort and additional features like cupholders and USB ports. With the third row in place, the Pacifica Hybrid offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second row removed.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer featured a V8 mild-hybrid powertrain similar to the Ram 1500, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 392 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. The eTorque mild-hybrid system, using a 48-volt electrical architecture, improved fuel economy but did not allow for electric-only driving. It enabled a robust engine start/stop system and provided up to 130 lb-ft of torque on initial throttle tip-in. The Wagoneer had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive systems, including Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II, each offering varying levels of off-road capability.

On the road, the Wagoneer impressed with its quiet cabin and responsive V8 engine. The air suspension provided a comfortable ride but exhibited bounce and head toss over severe bumps. The body-on-frame construction caused shuddering over bigger bumps, and the steering lacked precision, making the vehicle feel as large as it looked. Off-road, the Wagoneer performed well on a short course, but its size and throttle modulation posed challenges on tighter trails.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain, based on a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system, provided a total system output of 260 horsepower. The 16-kWh battery pack allowed for up to 32 miles of electric-only driving, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The Pacifica Hybrid never felt underpowered, even when fully loaded, and could be recharged overnight using a standard household outlet. The regenerative braking system captured energy to recharge the battery, contributing to an average fuel economy of 37.1 mpg on a Los Angeles driving loop.

The Pacifica Hybrid’s powertrain operated seamlessly, with nearly imperceptible transitions between electric and gasoline power. The vehicle lacked various driving modes, simplifying operation to just shifting into Drive and going. While the Pacifica Hybrid’s driving dynamics were unremarkable, with light and uncommunicative steering, grabby brakes, and limited cornering grip, the powertrain’s efficiency and smooth operation were impressive.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer could seat up to eight people with the standard second-row bench or seven with optional captain’s chairs. Jeep prioritized second- and third-row space, offering more legroom than other full-size SUVs, but the Wagoneer had the least front-seat legroom among its competitors. It provided 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in place, 70.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 116.7 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Wagoneer’s towing capacity of 10,000 pounds was a standout feature, surpassing its competitors.

The interior featured large storage bins in the first and second rows, a covered storage cubby below the touchscreen, and a digital rearview mirror and 360-degree camera system for easier maneuvering. However, forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood, and the large mirrors created blind spots when turning.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The interior featured quality materials, including black Nappa premium leather, and a design that, while soft and dated, was functional. The minivan offered ample storage, with various bins and trays, and comfortable seating across all three rows. The second-row seats, though not collapsible like in the standard Pacifica, were more comfortable and adjustable. The third-row seats provided reasonable comfort and additional features like cupholders and USB ports. With the third row in place, the Pacifica Hybrid offered 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 140.5 cubic feet with the second row removed.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer was packed with tech, including a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a McIntosh audio system, up to 11 USB ports, a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, Amazon Alexa connectivity, Fire TV for Auto, and a 10-inch head-up display. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, was user-friendly but had a slow touchscreen and plain graphics for the digital gauge cluster.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, appealing graphics, a simple user interface, and speedy response to inputs. It included simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, 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 check on rear-seat passengers. The voice recognition technology was hit-and-miss, but the system’s overall operation and offerings were impressive.

The Pacifica Hybrid also offered a 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, Amazon Fire TV for the rear-seat entertainment system, and a surround-view camera system. The parking assist system could steer the minivan into parking spaces, but the reverse tilt-down side mirror functionality was more useful for parallel parking.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard driver-assist tech included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a surround-view camera system, digital rearview mirror, traffic-sign recognition, a driver attention monitor, and night vision.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid claimed to offer more standard safety and security features than any other vehicle in the industry. It included a rear-seat reminder system and a complete package of standard driver-assist and collision-avoidance features. However, it lacked adaptive cruise control paired with lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist needed refinement, as it was slow to recognize lane departures and inept at moderating speed 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, with a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection.