Chrysler Pacifica vs Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold and polarizing design that divided opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted noticeably with different color and trim options, with lighter colors making the body-colored vertical strakes more prominent, while darker shades allowed them to blend in. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, which some found unnecessary. The rear view adopted a different style with rounded corners and vertical taillights, reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was difficult to read. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, were somewhat firm, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica received a new face that not everyone appreciated, with a lit-up logo and sharper lighting signature on trims above the base LX. The base LX retained a more reserved fascia, appealing to styling purists. The side profile remained unchanged, with new two-tone wheels adding visual interest. The rear featured a clean and modern light bar across the tailgate, considered the Pacifica's best angle. The Pacifica maintained its handsome minivan appearance, sleeker than competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Inside, the cabin largely retained its previous design, with comfortable seats featuring clean white piping and individual armrests. The materials were soft where hands and knees regularly landed, but lower areas had more plastic. The Pacifica's interior was practical, with thoughtful storage solutions and a focus on comfort.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid version added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a smooth and quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided comfort despite its lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, though not particularly sporty, and the brake pedal effort was soft but responsive in panic stops.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica featured a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered more power than the Toyota Sienna's four-cylinder hybrid setup but lacked refinement in exhaust note and noise insulation. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on most trims. The Pacifica handled corners with composure but struggled on rough pavement, with road and wind noise affecting overall refinement. The discontinuation of the plug-in hybrid left the V6 as the sole powertrain, with EPA estimates of 19 city, 28 highway, and 22 combined for FWD. Real-world fuel economy fell short of these numbers, highlighting the Pacifica's disadvantage compared to hybrid minivans.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers due to low seat cushions. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, though they took longer to slide and tilt forward for third-row access. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or legroom as needed. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cu-ft of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum capacity of 89.3 cu-ft with seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride also offered thoughtful storage solutions for smaller items.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica's cargo space was shaped to accommodate strollers, coolers, and luggage effectively, despite offering 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row. The Pacifica's advantage lay in its Stow 'n Go seating, allowing the second-row seats to fold flat into the floor without lifting or storing. This feature made the Pacifica versatile for switching between passenger and cargo duties. The Pinnacle trim, however, lost this feature due to power-adjustable middle seats. The Pacifica's sliding side doors were a practical advantage in tight parking spaces. The cabin offered thoughtful storage solutions, with a ventilated wireless charging pad, concealed storage shelf, and multiple USB-C ports. The center console and door panels provided ample storage options for a family van.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The system was user-friendly, though some delays and hard taps were required for screen responsiveness. The middle climate control screen was challenging to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable infotainment themes and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system on higher trims.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica retained fully analog gauges, which felt outdated compared to rivals with digital displays. The main touchscreen was a 10.1-inch unit running Uconnect 5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The graphics lacked polish, but the system was functional. The blind-spot camera system activated with the turn signal, providing a live view on the center screen. Physical climate controls were a highlight, with buttons for temperature and fan adjustments. Heated seats were standard, with ventilated seats available on higher trims.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, and the blind-spot cameras were considered distracting. The highway driving assist was praised for its effectiveness on longer trips.

The 2027 Chrysler Pacifica offered standard safety features like forward-collision warning, ParkSense rear park-assist, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Enhanced Safety Sphere Package added a blind-spot camera and front camera. The Pacifica received a five-star rating from NHTSA in 2026, but IIHS ratings were mixed, with a Marginal score in the moderate-overlap front test. Despite this, no minivan outperformed the Pacifica in that test.