2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a significant exterior refresh, featuring new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille that contributed to a more muscular aesthetic. This design shift moved away from the elegance of previous models, yet retained a touch of sophistication as the eye traveled from the front to the sides and rear. The rear showcased an all-LED taillamp spanning the width of the vehicle, 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 stood out from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality with premium touches, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The interior boasted a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and quilted leather seats, creating a luxurious feel. The Pacifica also emphasized sound deadening technology, ensuring a quiet ride.

The 2021 Ford Escape presented a blend of SUV and hatchback characteristics, with a curved snout and sleek roofline that gave it a less truck-like appearance compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for its SE, SEL, and Titanium trims, offering features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with low-quality materials and odd design choices like an angular instrument cluster. Even the top Titanium model did not come with standard leather upholstery. Despite these drawbacks, the Escape's exterior design was more generic than competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 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, delivering 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, reintroduced after 16 years, activated on-demand based on driving conditions, enhancing fuel efficiency by deactivating when not needed. The Pacifica Hybrid boasted an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range exceeding 500 miles, achieving 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 reducing these figures.

The 2021 Ford Escape provided a range of powertrains, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD. An upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, though figures for hybrid models were not specified. Despite the three-cylinder engine's adequacy, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical features. The front seating area provided ample space and a sense of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage options included an under-stack area for personal items. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power windows, and Stow 'n Go seating with in-floor storage bins. The second-row under-console storage offered additional space for passengers. The Pacifica's seats provided sufficient legroom, with Stow 'n Go seats allowing for easy loading. The cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space compared to compact SUVs. First- and second-row headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, with a sliding rear seat that adjusted for legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom, while hybrid models had slightly less due to battery placement. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 65.4 cubic feet with the seat folded. Hybrid models had slightly less space. While the Escape's cargo capacity was decent, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and higher trims. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a user-friendly interface and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available. Audio options included a standard six-speaker system, with upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine system or 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle model introduced FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like a rear-facing child seat view.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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, 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.

The 2021 Ford Escape earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. It received high marks for front-crash prevention but had mixed ratings for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.