2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban presented a bold and somewhat polarizing design, borrowing elements from the Camaro's design language. Its front end featured small headlights and a large, busy grille, which did not appeal to everyone. Despite the exterior's divisive appearance, the interior maintained a familiar layout with controls in their expected places, ensuring ease of use. The Suburban offered various trim levels, with the High Country being the top-tier option, providing features like adaptive air suspension and a rear-seat media system. However, the interior materials, while upscale, did not match the luxury found in some competitors.

In contrast, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, resulting in a more muscular aesthetic with new LED headlights and a hexagonal grille. The design retained some of its original sophistication, especially noticeable from the sides and rear. The Pacifica's interior was designed with family life in mind, offering a premium feel in higher trims like the Pinnacle. It featured a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, quilted leather seats, and sound-deadening technology, providing a quiet and comfortable ride. The Pacifica's design emphasized practicality and luxury, making it a standout in the minivan segment.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engine options, starting with a standard 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more robust 6.2-liter V8 was available, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Suburban also introduced a 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine, generating 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive optional. The Suburban excelled in towing capacity, with the 5.3-liter V8 capable of towing up to 8,300 pounds. Its independent rear suspension improved ride comfort, though it still exhibited some truck-like handling characteristics.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid powertrain combining a V6 engine with dual electric motors, achieving 260 horsepower. The hybrid model provided an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range exceeding 500 miles, with an impressive 82 MPGe. The Pacifica introduced all-wheel drive as an option, enhancing its versatility. The AWD system activated automatically based on driving conditions, improving traction without compromising fuel efficiency. The Pacifica's hybrid model offered excellent fuel economy, while the traditional V6 delivered respectable mileage for a minivan.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted impressive cargo space, with 144.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it offered 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, making it ideal for road trips. The Suburban provided ample head- and legroom for passengers, with spacious second-row captain's chairs. The control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks, though the button shifter design was less intuitive. The power-sliding center console was a unique feature, though its functionality was somewhat cumbersome.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering a spacious and practical interior. The front seating area was roomy, with a padded center console lid replacing traditional armrests. The Pacifica featured power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seating, allowing for flexible cargo and passenger configurations. The second- and third-row seats provided ample legroom, and the Stow 'n Go feature allowed for easy storage. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making it a top choice for families needing ample cargo space.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM's intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's layout was user-friendly, with a helpful home button for easy navigation. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system, and a head-up display, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable interface. The system was responsive and easy to use, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Pacifica offered an optional in-seat entertainment system for the second row, with a variety of games and ports for external devices. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like a rear-facing child seat view and zoom-to-seat functionality. The Pacifica's sound system options ranged from a standard six-speaker setup to a premium 20-speaker Harman Kardon system, providing a high-quality audio experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. The Teen Driver system allowed parents to set speed and volume limitations for younger drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera system. Unique options like the rear-view camera mirror and Safety Alert Seat provided additional safety enhancements.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered an extensive array of safety features, with 97 standard features and 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), highlighting its commitment to safety.