2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. The new standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, giving the Pacifica a more muscular look compared to its previous elegant design. The rear featured an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by offering a blend of practicality and premium touches. The Pinnacle trim, in particular, stood out with its quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, combined with Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and real metal surrounds, made it the poshest new minivan on the market. The Pacifica also featured well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology for a quieter ride.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, on the other hand, was praised for its striking exterior styling. Its wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, and aggressive front end with thin lights and a tall, black grille gave it a Lamborghini Urus-like appearance. The Blazer's design was inspired by the Camaro, featuring a snarling face, chopped roof, and muscled body. The taillights had a 3D effect, and the Blazer's low shoulder height and short tail added to its sporty look. Customization options included three grille designs, a Redline package with black and red accents, and various wheel sizes up to 21 inches.

However, the Blazer's interior was a letdown. It was mostly all-black unless paired with specific exterior colors, and the materials felt cheap for its price point. The seats were unsupportive, and the central screen was undersized. Competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy and Toyota Venza Limited offered better interior quality and design for a similar or lower price. The Blazer's interior felt dated and lacked the refinement expected in this segment.

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 a dual-motor electrically variable transmission, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, new for 2021, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated automatically to improve fuel efficiency.

The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of more than 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 AWD models slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options: a 2.5-liter inline-four with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine, standard on the RS trim and optional on others, provided the best performance, especially with the RS's sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering. The Blazer's AWD system required manual activation, unlike the Pacifica's automatic system.

The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 achieving 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The AWD turbo inline-four was slightly better at 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The base inline-four engine was underpowered and noisy, making it a poor choice for the Blazer's sporty persona.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were comfortable and allowed for a feeling of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage options included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. The low roof height was offset by seats mounted lower into the floor, making entry and exit easy. However, sightlines were poor due to the Blazer's sporty design. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 30 cubic feet with them raised. The trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine allowed the Blazer to tow up to 4,500 pounds, while the base configuration could only handle 1,500 pounds. The Blazer featured simple controls, a hands-free power tailgate, and a heated steering wheel and seats that activated automatically based on exterior temperature.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was graphically appealing, responsive, and easy to use. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with options for a second-row in-seat entertainment system and a 20-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. 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 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, which included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added wireless phone charging, a rear camera washer, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. The "Plus" version of the infotainment system offered navigation, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Standard driver assists included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

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, lane-departure warning, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer also received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in all crash tests. However, it received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking, but it lacked an inboard side airbag and rear emergency braking.