2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Honda Passport

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 some sophistication as seen in the new all-LED taillamp and Chrysler wing badge at the rear. 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 offering a premium feel, especially in the Pinnacle trim. This top-tier model boasted a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and quilted leather seats, providing a luxurious experience. The Pacifica also excelled in sound deadening, ensuring a quiet ride.

The 2021 Honda Passport shared many design elements with the Honda Pilot, featuring a similar dash layout and the same "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials. It came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding more features like leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and advanced audio systems. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with ample headroom and legroom, reclining and sliding rear seats, and deep in-door pockets. The cargo space was generous, offering 100.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with them in use, plus an additional 2.5 cubic feet in an under-floor storage tray.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid version with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission, delivering 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The Pacifica's AWD system, available for the first time in 16 years, activated on-demand based on driving conditions, enhancing fuel efficiency by deactivating when not needed. The hybrid model 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 offered 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models seeing a slight decrease in efficiency.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered FWD as standard and AWD as an option. The Passport's ride was comfortable and refined, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Intelligent Traction Management for AWD models, including Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and 5,000 pounds with AWD, making it a versatile choice for those needing towing capabilities.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The removal of armrests in favor of a padded center console lid allowed for a sense of togetherness in the front seats, while still providing storage options like an under-stack area. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seating with in-floor storage bins. The Pacifica's cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with them in use. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the center console provided a deep bin and open cargo tray. The rear seats were spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom, and could recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable experience with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system was responsive and easy to use, though it lacked a head-up display. The second row's in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available. Audio options ranged from a standard six-speaker system to a premium 20-speaker Harman Kardon system. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like a rear-facing child seat view.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, along with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While these features were a welcome addition, the system's graphics and menu layout were dated, and the volume dial felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of smartphone connectivity was a significant advantage over the Honda Pilot.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came with 97 standard safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, 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 it.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.