2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, offered a sleek appearance with the S Appearance Package on the mid-trim Limited. This package included body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents, all complemented by 18-inch wheels with a "Foreshadow" finish. The split grille was flanked by standard LED headlamps, and the rear featured LED tail lamps spanning its width. While minivans like the Pacifica Hybrid lacked the trendy appeal of SUVs, they provided practicality with sliding doors and ample cargo space. The interior of the Limited trim was predominantly black, with Nappa leather seats and a sophisticated dash design. However, the proximity of the HVAC and audio knobs to the transmission selector dial could cause confusion.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh, enhancing its original design with new lighting elements, including light-up VW logos and a front light bar connecting to the daytime running lights. These changes gave the Atlas a more Americanized look, moving away from its European roots. The taillights blended into a full-width light bar, housing the illuminated logo. All trim levels received new wheel designs, with the SEL Premium R-Line boasting 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition introduced an outdoorsy vibe with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique colors. Inside, the infotainment touchscreen was repositioned, and the shifter was reduced to a toggle, creating more functional space. The interior aimed for an upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and new weaved plastic trim. Leatherette seats were standard, with leather upholstery available on higher trims, though some stitching appeared less premium.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two electric motors, making it the only plug-in hybrid minivan available. It boasted an EPA rating of 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined. In practice, it achieved 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took just two hours, while a standard outlet required 14 hours. The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode, switching to hybrid once the EV range was depleted, which was efficient for city driving but less so on highways. The plug-in hybrid model was front-wheel drive only and lacked a spare tire and towing package. With 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, it offered sufficient highway passing power, though acceleration wasn't blistering. The battery's placement improved handling, and the continuously variable automatic transmission operated smoothly.

For 2024, the Volkswagen Atlas streamlined its powertrain options, eliminating the VR6 in favor of a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, offering improved performance over the previous VR6 and turbo-four engines. The Atlas featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The new engine provided quicker acceleration, with FWD models reaching 60 mph in eight seconds and AWD models in 8.3 seconds. While the driving experience remained focused on comfort, the four-cylinder engine delivered smooth power delivery. The Atlas maintained a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE trim, which was rated for 2,000 pounds. The 4Motion AWD system was designed for pavement, lacking low range and underbody protection for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor second-row captain’s chairs and third-row seats. The driver’s seat was comfortable and adjustable, with heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. Cargo space was 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 140.5 cubic feet with all seats down. However, the plug-in hybrid lacked the flat-fold Stow ‘n Go seats, built-in vacuum cleaner, and heated second-row seats.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats on the base SE trim. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while the SEL included leather upholstery and heated second-row seats. The Atlas accommodated seven passengers with a three-seat second-row bench, which could be replaced by captain's chairs on higher trims. The third-row bench was standard, and the Atlas provided competitive headroom and legroom across all rows. Cargo space was 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 96.6 cubic feet with both rows down, offering more space than most rivals.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, known for its user-friendly interface and crisp graphics. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, with the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth. The optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers, offering games and streaming content from Amazon Fire TV. The vehicle featured numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas introduced more standard tech features, including a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with six USB-C ports available. A dash cam port was included on higher trims, and a head-up display was standard on SEL and above. The Atlas switched to a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system for premium audio. The upgraded infotainment system was user-friendly, with sharp graphics and a map view in the digital instrument cluster. However, haptic touchpads for controls like audio volume and headlights were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid offered standard safety features such as 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 both visual and audible alerts, while the adaptive cruise control system offered smooth braking and acceleration. The 2023 model had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2022 version received a five-star overall safety rating. The IIHS gave it Good marks, except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS had not released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received Good scores in most crash tests. The Atlas included more standard driver-assist features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The SEL and higher trims featured predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system. The Atlas also had emergency features like automatic post-collision braking and a crash response system.