Compare the2023 Kia Sorento HybridVS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Both the Sorento Hybrid and Pacifica have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento Hybrid has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Pacifica’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sorento Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pacifica doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Sorento Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento Hybrid and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento Hybrid is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sorento Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pacifica is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The Sorento Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Pacifica’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the Pacifica. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Pacifica ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sorento Hybrid’s reliability 19 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica and 47 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 34th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 95 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 27th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Sorento Hybrid is faster than the Pacifica Hybrid 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Hybrid gets better mileage than the Pacifica running its gasoline engine:

The Sorento Hybrid has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.7 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sorento Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Chrysler Pacifica (5 to 7). This means the Sorento Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pacifica every 15,000 miles.

The Sorento Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pacifica are solid, not vented.

The Sorento Hybrid stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

The Sorento Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sorento Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Pacifica 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Sorento Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (37.9 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento Hybrid has a 1.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (6.85 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Sorento Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sorento Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Sorento Hybrid is 1 foot, 2.9 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the Sorento Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento Hybrid has .2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Pacifica.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Sorento Hybrid can tow a minimum of 2000 pounds.

Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Sorento Hybrid, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Pacifica and isn’t available on the PacificaHybrid/Touring.

The Sorento Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. A locking fuel/charge port door is only offered on the Pacifica Hybrid.

Consumer Reports rated the Sorento Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Pacifica’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sorento Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sorento Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sorento Hybrid will be $4638 to $15285 less than for the Chrysler Pacifica.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sorento Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chrysler Pacifica isn't recommended.