2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a small SUV that combined a playful and unique exterior with a more subdued rear design. Its front featured a busy array of lighting elements, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on certain trims. This quirky design appealed to younger buyers seeking a fun vehicle. Inside, the Kona maintained its playful attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with options for leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring a high-mounted infotainment touchscreen and intuitive controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

In contrast, the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was a minivan that embraced its identity without trying to disguise it as something else. While not particularly stylish, even with the S Appearance Package, it offered practicality and efficiency. The Pacifica Hybrid's interior was comfortable, with black Nappa leather and a flowing design that some found dated. Despite its higher price, the Pacifica Hybrid provided a unique plug-in hybrid option in the minivan segment, offering a federal EV rebate to make it more affordable in certain regions. Its practicality and efficiency made it a compelling choice for families.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The base engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The Kona's engines provided sufficient power for city and highway driving, though the dual-clutch transmission could be less smooth at low speeds. The Kona's handling was surprisingly agile, offering a fun and engaging driving experience. Fuel consumption ratings varied depending on the engine and drivetrain, with the base engine and FWD achieving 8.6/7.0/7.9 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a dual-motor electric drive system. This setup delivered a total system output of 260 horsepower, with immediate torque from the electric drive system. The Pacifica Hybrid could travel up to 51 kilometres on electric power alone, making it ideal for short commutes and errands. The regenerative braking system helped recharge the battery, and the transition between electric and gasoline power was seamless. The Pacifica Hybrid achieved an average fuel economy of 6.3 L/100 km, outperforming its rival, the Toyota Sienna. While the Pacifica Hybrid's powertrain was impressive, its driving experience was less engaging, with light steering and unremarkable regenerative brakes.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with a simple and intuitive layout for controls and displays. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom, and the large rear door openings facilitated child seat installation. However, the Kona's cargo space was limited compared to competitors, though small-item storage was generous and well-placed.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid excelled in comfort and utility, offering three comfortable rows of seats and ample cargo space. The interior featured triple-zone automatic climate control, quality leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats. Storage options were abundant, with extra shelves, a large floor tray, and a long storage bin behind the centre console. The second-row seats were more comfortable than standard Pacifica seats, though they required removal to maximize cargo space. The third-row seat was reasonably comfortable, with cupholders and USB ports. The Pacifica Hybrid offered 914 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,477 litres with the third-row seats folded, and up to 3,978 litres with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Optional features included SiriusXM radio, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a colourful and responsive interface. Wireless smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage, though the larger touchscreen did not support it.

The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. It offered appealing graphics, a simple user interface, and quick response times. The system supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The available FamCam overhead camera system allowed parents to monitor rear-seat passengers. While the voice recognition technology had limitations, the optional 20-speaker Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality. The Pacifica Hybrid also offered Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat entertainment, though personal devices were often preferred by passengers.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on AWD models, with optional upgrades for lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

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 to prevent leaving important items inside the vehicle. While adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-keeping assist were standard on Pinnacle in Canada, the adaptive cruise control system required refinement. 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.