2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, resulting in 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 sophistication of the original design remained evident as the eye moved from the front to the sides and rear, where a new all-LED taillamp spanned the width of the model, featuring the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Chrysler also introduced six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which included darkened features and black accents.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality with premium touches. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim, in particular, aimed at luxury customers, featured comfort-focused design elements such as 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 minivan available. The Pacifica also excelled in sound deadening, with new windows, seals, and insulation keeping road and engine noise at bay.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar look with minor tweaks for the new model year. The grille and front bumper were updated, and all trim levels received standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. A new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretched the width of the taillights, and new wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels. These changes modernized the Odyssey by reducing brightwork.

The Odyssey offered five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820. The Elite trim, tested in Lunar Silver Metallic, included perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces. These updates brought the Odyssey closer to serving as the Acura of minivans, with a more luxurious interior and toned-down chrome.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine combined with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, while the upmarket Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, automatically activating on-demand based on various conditions 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 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, producing 280 horsepower. The transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, along with paddle shifters. The V6 engine's variable cylinder management technology conserved fuel, with the EPA rating the Odyssey at 22 mpg combined. During testing, it averaged 21.8 mpg.

The Odyssey lacked AWD, putting it at a disadvantage in regions with snow and ice. However, it featured a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Odyssey's ride and handling qualities contributed to a pleasurable driving experience, with well-weighted steering and firm but comfortable ride. However, the brakes struggled under heavy use, heating up and vibrating during a Southern California heatwave.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The front seats provided a sense of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, 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.

Second-row passengers benefited from under-console storage that slid outward, providing space for charging cords, tissues, headphones, and art supplies. The second- and third-row seats offered plenty of legroom, with Stow 'n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle boasted best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured legible instrumentation, logical controls, and abundant storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard in all but the base LX trim, was comfortable and included inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster.

Storage space was excellent, with the Elite's wireless smartphone charger taking up some room on the center console's top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating modes, including Wide Mode, Buddy Mode, and Super Mode. The second-row seats offered plenty of support, though the armrests were not adjustable for height. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults with ease.

Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled into the cargo well. The maximum volume was 144.9 cubic feet. However, the second-row seats had to be physically removed to use the maximum cargo volume, which was not particularly enjoyable.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured hands-free sliding doors in mid-grade and above models, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was graphically appealing, responsive, and easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with four new games added. The sound system options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. 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 Honda Odyssey, starting with EX trim, included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging.

Touring and Elite trims offered HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans, with various features such as automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, safe teen driver functions, and Key by Amazon in-vehicle package delivery service. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, wireless headphones, and streaming apps. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks.

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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with the standard Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a Honda Sensing menu button. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning was available starting with EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey received top five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for rollover resistance, which earned a four-star score.