2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Mazda CX-30

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 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. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness with hardy materials and the Sedona opted for a utility-vehicle-like flat design, the Pacifica struck a balance. The lower-cost Voyager was rough-and-ready, while the Pacifica offered a premium feel, especially in the new Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle featured a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, real metal surrounds, quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The Pacifica also boasted well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo featured a distinctive design with shiny black 18-inch wheels, grille, side mirror housings, and thick matte black body cladding. Mazda claimed this gave the CX-30 Turbo a light and agile appearance, as if the body was floating over the wheels. This design set the CX-30 apart from the Mazda3 hatchback on which it was based, with the CX-30 sitting higher off the ground.

Inside, the CX-30 Turbo's cabin mirrored the Mazda3’s, with quality materials, complementary tones, and stitched chocolate brown surfaces. Changes included a chrome accent around the engine start button and a standard frameless rearview mirror. The SUV offered black and Griege leatherette upholstery, with black or white leather available in Premium and Premium Plus trims. Prices ranged from about $31,000 to $35,745 for a fully loaded model.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 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 from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, with the hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive (AWD) as options. The Limited and Pinnacle trims were available with either AWD or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, acting on-demand based on various conditions to improve fuel efficiency. The hybrid models, designated as the Pacifica Hybrid, offered 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 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 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing between 227 and 250 horsepower depending on the fuel octane, with torque ranging from 310 to 320 pound-feet. The SUV's six-speed automatic transmission, standard i-Activ AWD system, front suspension tuning, and G-Vectoring Control Plus technology contributed to its performance. The CX-30 Turbo's EPA rating was 25 mpg combined, with an average of 24.1 mpg during testing, resulting in a maximum driving range of just over 305 miles.

Mazda engineers focused on delivering effortless acceleration and driving satisfaction, with the i-Activ AWD system actively distributing power to the rear wheels. The CX-30 Turbo also featured an Off-Road mode for improved traction on rough terrain. However, the added height and weight of the CX-30 made it less pleasurable to drive compared to the Mazda3, though it compensated with 2.5 inches of extra ground clearance and an Off-Road mode.

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 armrests. Storage options 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.

The second-row passengers benefited from under-console storage that slid outward, providing a bin for charging cords, tissues, headphones, and art supplies, as well as cup holders. The second- and third-row seats offered sufficient 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.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo provided exceptional comfort for the driver, with eight-way power adjustment, heated front seats, and a driver-focused interior layout. The cabin's organic shapes and minimalism contributed to a sense of spaciousness, though the rear seats were cramped for adults. Storage space was generous, but the location of the optional wireless smartphone charger in the center console storage bin forced a choice between storage and charging.

The CX-30 Turbo offered 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down, slightly less than the Mazda3 hatchback.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Uconnect 5 was graphically appealing, responsive, and easy to use, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with four new games added to the existing roster. Audio options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems.

The Pinnacle model introduced FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo's 8.8-inch infotainment system display was not a touchscreen, operated instead by physical controls and voice commands. The system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with three free years of Mazda Connected Services and a trial period for the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Premium and Premium Plus trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Active Driving Display (head-up display) projected useful data onto the windshield.

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 NHTSA.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The CX-30 Turbo included a full suite of i-ActiveSense advanced driving assistance systems, with Premium trim adding an adaptive front lighting system and Premium Plus trim adding front and rear parking sensors, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera system, and Traffic Jam Assist. The SUV also featured a mobile 9-1-1 automatic emergency notification system.