2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a significant exterior refresh, featuring new standard LED headlights flanking a hexagonal grille, which contributed to a more muscular appearance compared to its predecessors. The rear of the Pacifica showcased an all-LED taillamp spanning the vehicle's width, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The S Appearance Package, available since 2017, added darkened features and black accents, enhancing the van's aesthetic. Inside, the Pacifica distinguished itself 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, quilted leather seats, and upscale materials, providing a luxurious experience without compromising practicality.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, maintained the iconic Wrangler look with minimal exterior differences, such as a "4xe" badge and blue accents. The power port at the windshield base was a subtle nod to its hybrid nature. Inside, the Wrangler 4xe retained the classic Wrangler feel, with a high seating position and clear visibility. The interior featured blue stitching, charging indicator lights, and PHEV-specific gauges. Despite its rugged design, the Wrangler 4xe offered more soft-touch materials than expected, with leather seats and padded door panels. The center console housed essential controls, and the interior maintained its legendary simplicity while offering improved outfitting compared to previous models.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a hybrid powertrain combining a V6 engine 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 Pacifica Hybrid boasted an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range exceeding 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 reducing these figures.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, two electric motors, and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, producing a total of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The Wrangler 4xe offered an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving with a 49 MPGe combined efficiency rating. In hybrid mode, the EPA rated its fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with a total driving range of 370 miles. The Wrangler 4xe's powertrain modes included Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save, allowing drivers to optimize power and efficiency based on their needs. The vehicle accelerated to 60 mph in six seconds, showcasing its impressive performance capabilities.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats provided ample space and a sense of togetherness, 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 arrangements. The second-row under-console storage and Stow 'n Go third-row bench seat added to its practicality. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making it ideal for family travel.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's interior was designed for comfort and functionality, with high door sills and grab handles aiding entry and exit. The driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seating position and clear visibility. The center console offered limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever, but rear-seat passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents, USB ports, and MOLLE-style storage straps. The Wrangler's cargo area measured 27.7 cubic feet, with a swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window. Despite its charm, accessing cargo could be challenging in tight spaces.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The system offered a modern, customizable interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Pacifica's second-row in-seat entertainment system included games and various ports for personal entertainment. Audio options ranged from a standard six-speaker system to a 20-speaker Harman Kardon system. 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 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon's technology focused on its plug-in hybrid powertrain and 4WD system, with an 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation. The system included a WiFi connection and an Alpine sound system. While intuitive, the Uconnect system showed signs of aging in terms of load time and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard offered a quick view of the battery's status.

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, 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 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems in the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Wrangler's LED headlights received a Marginal rating from the IIHS, while the standard headlights were rated Poor. The Wrangler earned a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.