2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier trim, equipped with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive (AWD), a power panoramic sunroof, and the Confidence and Convenience II option package, had a price tag of $40,040, including the $1,195 destination charge. Despite its high cost, Chevrolet factored in expected rebates and incentives, such as a $4,500 discount at the time. The Equinox Premier boasted a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing, giving it a sophisticated look. Inside, the Jet Black and Brandy leather, panoramic sunroof, and metallic accents created an upscale appearance, though the hard and shiny plastic detracted from the premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, featuring new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular aesthetic. The rear showcased an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The Pacifica offered six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which included darkened features and black accents. Inside, the Pacifica balanced practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim, which featured quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wood accents, and real metal surrounds made it the poshest new minivan on the market.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided adequate performance, with an AWD rental averaging 24.3 mpg, below the EPA rating of 28 mpg combined. For better performance and towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds, the 2.0-liter turbo engine was the better choice, delivering 252 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This version averaged 22.1 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 24 mpg combined. Both versions had firm ride qualities and more road and wind noise than desirable, but the Premier's 19-inch wheels provided a more athletic and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a V6 hybrid engine with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered AWD or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, new to the Pacifica lineup, activated on-demand based on various conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed. The hybrid powertrain provided an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered a comfortable interior with cloth upholstery in the LS trim and leather in the Premier trim. The Premier trim included an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Both trims could benefit from longer seat cushions for better thigh support. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. Cargo volume measured 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The cabin provided ample storage with a large center console bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies throughout.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, featuring spacious seating and ample storage. The power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Stow ’n Go bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, and a Stow ’n Go third-row bench seat were standard. The under-console storage for second-row passengers included a bin for charging cords, tissues, headphones, and art supplies, as well as cup holders. The second- and third-row seats provided plenty of legroom, with the Stow ’n Go seats allowing for flat loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox featured several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays, Bluetooth pairing for two devices, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Premier trim had the larger high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system, with intuitive and easy-to-use technology. Wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system were also available.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and quick responsiveness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with navigation that rerouted rapidly even in urban settings. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with four new games added to the existing roster. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with 13-speaker Alpine and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options available. The 20-speaker Harman Kardon system provided a high-quality listening experience. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. A reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology were also standard. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it a safe SUV.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lock out, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not yet rated the model at the time of publication.