2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

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 posh atmosphere. The Pacifica also excelled in sound deadening, providing a quiet ride.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover, while maintaining its rugged roots, had evolved into a luxury SUV with a starting price of $92,000. The HSE Westminster special edition, priced at $106,715, featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine and standard paint, wheels, and leather. Despite its age, the Range Rover's design remained timeless, with hallmark cues like blacked-out windshield and roof pillars. Inside, the Range Rover exuded luxury with its Ivory-color interior and mid-century modern ambiance. However, the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system was not as advanced as newer models, requiring some patience to master. The Range Rover's interior was comfortable, with quality leather upholstery and quad-zone climate control, but the second row lacked thigh support and adjustability. Storage space was limited, with a small refrigerated bin and a maximum cargo space of 59.8 cubic feet.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid powertrain with a V6 engine, 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 Touring and Touring L models 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 various conditions and deactivated for improved fuel efficiency. The Pacifica Hybrid boasted an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain choices, including turbodiesel V6, supercharged V8, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The HSE Westminster edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Range Rover's 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response 2 traction control, ensured off-road capability. The SUV provided a smooth and quiet ride, with an adaptive air suspension filtering road harshness. However, the steering was slow and syrupy, and the vehicle's weight and tall center of gravity led to side-to-side wallow on uneven roads. The EPA rated the Range Rover at 20 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 18.5 mpg. The supercharged V8 version achieved 16 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined.

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

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier entry and exit. The front seats were decadently comfortable, wrapped in quality leather upholstery, but the second row lacked thigh support and adjustability, resulting in a slouched seating position. Despite this, the back seat offered quad-zone climate control, heated and ventilated outboard seating, and overhead air vents. Storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments and a small refrigerated bin. The cargo area provided 25 cubic feet of space, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A button in the cargo area activated the suspension kneel function for easier loading.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and responsive interface. While a head-up display was not available, the navigation system was easy to use and rerouted quickly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the second-row in-seat entertainment system offered additional games. The Pacifica offered a range of sound system options, with the 20-speaker Harman Kardon system providing a high-quality listening experience. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like rear-facing child seat view and zoom-to-seat functionality.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover's instrumentation and infotainment were fully digital, with three displays offering numerous features and functions. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system was not entirely intuitive, requiring some practice to master. The dual 10-inch touchscreens were distracting while driving, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Range Rover included a waterproof Activity Key wristband, allowing owners to leave the key fob inside the vehicle during activities. The iGuide smartphone app served as a digital owner's manual, providing assistance with InControl functions and feature locations.

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 lockout, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet rated the model.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, front and rear parking sensors, and a speed limiter for cruise control. Additional driver aids were optional, with packages offering features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, with effective safety features. However, the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond when traffic cleared, and the Driver Assist Pack's advanced technology was not assessed.