2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 had a bold and angular appearance, a significant departure from its traditionally cute and compact design. This redesign, which began in 2019, aimed to reflect the SUV's proven durability. The Adventure trim, introduced the previous year, enhanced off-roading capabilities with a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, multiple driving modes, and downhill assist control. The new TRD Off-Road trim for 2020 took these features further with smaller, lighter matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a special TRD suspension setup. The TRD Off-Road trim also featured unique interior touches like TRD logos, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat, contrasting with the otherwise high-quality cabin materials.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica received a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior with new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular look. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model. The Pacifica offered six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents. Inside, the Pacifica balanced practicality and luxury, especially in the new Pinnacle trim, which featured quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard design, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and the well-weighted doors added to the premium feel.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid model delivered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving but was not available in the TRD Off-Road trim. The non-turbo, non-hybrid powertrain in the test vehicle felt energetic, especially in Sport mode, though a turbocharged engine would have been preferable for high-altitude driving. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well but occasionally struggled with gear selection. The TRD Off-Road model featured a torque-vectoring AWD system with multiple terrain settings and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, making it capable on various surfaces. The test vehicle averaged 23.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired 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 for 2021, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed. The Pacifica Hybrid had 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 in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with slightly lower numbers for the AWD version.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 offered easy entry and exit with well-placed seating hip points. The driver's seat was 8-way adjustable, while the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but still provided good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat on hot days, but the Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided generous legroom, and the interior had ample storage, including a dashboard shelf. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 69.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The test vehicle also had a robust roof rack and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, featuring spacious seating and ample storage. The front seats allowed for a feeling of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin. Standard features included 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. The second-row storage console slid outward, providing additional storage and cup holders. The second and third rows offered plenty of legroom, with Stow 'n Go seats available even on AWD models. The cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 featured a user-friendly infotainment system with a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display, depending on the trim level. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple connected services packages. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months or 2GB of data usage. The TRD Off-Road trim had an 8-inch display with menu shortcut buttons and knobs for volume and tuning, making it easy to use. The optional Technology Package added wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror with adjustable camera height and angle.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, featuring a clean design and quick responsiveness. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with four new games added to the existing roster. The sound system options ranged from a standard six-speaker system to 13- and 19-speaker Alpine systems and a 20-speaker Harman Kardon system. The Pinnacle trim included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included advanced driving assist features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert. Toyota also offered a free one-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, but only for models with full LED, curve adaptive headlights.

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.