2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. New standard LED headlights flanked the Pacifica’s new hexagonal grille, giving the front end a more muscular aesthetic compared to the elegance of previous years. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Chrysler also introduced six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by offering a blend of practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle featured a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, and real metal surrounds. Quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats added to the upscale feel. The Pacifica also excelled in sound deadening, with new windows, seals, and insulation keeping road and engine noise at bay.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. The Wrangler's interior was functional but not as comfortable as car-based SUVs. It featured upright seating, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments.

The Wrangler offered various trims, including the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, as well as special editions like the Willys and 80th Anniversary. The Sport was basic, with manual door locks and a 5-inch audio display, while the Sport S added power windows and locks, air conditioning, and remote keyless entry. The Sahara was more street-oriented, with dual-zone climate control and a 7-inch touchscreen. The Rubicon was ideal for off-roading, with beefed-up suspension and running gear, and the Rubicon 392 featured a powerful Hemi V8 engine.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, 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 was new for 2021 and activated on-demand based on various driving conditions.

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 getting slightly lower fuel economy.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a range of powertrains, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range.

The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Rubicon 392 also had beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes. The Wrangler's 4WD systems included Command-Trac, Select-Trac, and Rock-Trac, with the Rubicon offering front-and-rear locking differentials and a disconnectable front sway bar.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The front seats were roomy, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. The Pacifica featured power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow ’n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The second-row seats had under-console storage, and the third-row bench seat also offered Stow ’n Go functionality. The Pacifica Pinnacle provided best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered various top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured Uconnect 5, a modern and customizable infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with new games added for 2021. The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with 13-speaker Alpine and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options. 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 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats. The off-road camera had its own washer-sprayer, useful for muddy or dusty trails.

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 Jeep Wrangler offered optional safety features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler included a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.