2021 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

2021 Chrysler Pacifica
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
$36,245MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2021 Toyota Venza
2021 Toyota Venza
$32,670MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2021 Chrysler Pacifica
$36,245MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2021 Toyota Venza
$32,670MSRP
Overview
Overview
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CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is 8.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Toyota Venza scores 8.3 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is the better choice, offering a more luxurious interior, advanced technology, and family-friendly features.

Overview

MSRP

$36,245

MSRP

$32,670

Average price

$26,928

Average price

$30,006

Listings

803

Listings

779
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.7 out of 10

Expert reviews

8.3 out of 10
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Spacious third row
  • Impressive technology
Cons
  • Plug-in hybrid can't be ordered with all-wheel drive
Pros
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Great ride quality
  • Standard all-wheel drive
Cons
  • Fairly pedestrian performance
  • Poor visibility
  • Cramped back seat

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Reviews Summary

The Chrysler Pacifica minivan has undergone a styling and tech refresh for the 2021 model year. It continues to deliver what families want and need from a daily driver. Chrysler continues to offer the model with either a traditional V6 engine or hybrid powertrain and has upped the ante with a new premium Pinnacle trim level. With 97 standard safety features and gobs of well-designed storage space, it’s easy to see why the Pacifica is the perfect choice for many families.

2021 Toyota Venza Reviews Summary

At first glance, the 2021 Toyota Venza looks more like a Lexus than a typical Toyota, which is fitting, because the Venza is anything but typical. The new Venza blends a new approach to in-car technology with fresh exterior and interior design.

Like the Nissan Murano, Honda Passport, Ford Edge, and Chevrolet Blazer, the Venza is a two-row SUV meant to be more sophisticated than the family-friendly Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, and Toyota RAV4. There is no three-row Venza option.

It also comes only with a hybrid powertrain—for better or worse—something that its competition is lacking. All-wheel drive is also standard. That's also offered by the competition, but only as a costly upgrade.

The Venza’s $32,470 starting price is slightly higher than the Murano and Blazer, but it comes with the traditionally-more-expensive hybrid powertrain. Is the hybrid worth shelling out a little more for?

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.6L 287 hp V6

Engine

2.5L 219 hp I4 Hybrid

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

AWD

Seating Capacity

8

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

287 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

EV Battery Capacity

EV Battery Capacity

0.93 kWh

MPG City

19

MPG City

40

MPG Highway

28

MPG Highway

37
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
$36,245MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Venza
2021 Toyota Venza
$32,670MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
$36,245MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Venza
$32,670MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is 8.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Toyota Venza scores 8.3 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is the better choice, offering a more luxurious interior, advanced technology, and family-friendly features.

Overview
MSRP
$36,245
$32,670
Average price
$26,928
$30,006
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.8
4.5
Expert reviews

8.7 out of 10

Read full review

8.3 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Spacious third row
  • Impressive technology
Cons
  • Plug-in hybrid can't be ordered with all-wheel drive
Pros
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Great ride quality
  • Standard all-wheel drive
Cons
  • Fairly pedestrian performance
  • Poor visibility
  • Cramped back seat
Summary
The Chrysler Pacifica minivan has undergone a styling and tech refresh for the 2021 model year. It continues to deliver what families want and need from a daily driver. Chrysler continues to offer the model with either a traditional V6 engine or hybrid powertrain and has upped the ante with a new premium Pinnacle trim level. With 97 standard safety features and gobs of well-designed storage space, it’s easy to see why the Pacifica is the perfect choice for many families.

At first glance, the 2021 Toyota Venza looks more like a Lexus than a typical Toyota, which is fitting, because the Venza is anything but typical. The new Venza blends a new approach to in-car technology with fresh exterior and interior design.

Like the Nissan Murano, Honda Passport, Ford Edge, and Chevrolet Blazer, the Venza is a two-row SUV meant to be more sophisticated than the family-friendly Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, and Toyota RAV4. There is no three-row Venza option.

It also comes only with a hybrid powertrain—for better or worse—something that its competition is lacking. All-wheel drive is also standard. That's also offered by the competition, but only as a costly upgrade.

The Venza’s $32,470 starting price is slightly higher than the Murano and Blazer, but it comes with the traditionally-more-expensive hybrid powertrain. Is the hybrid worth shelling out a little more for?

Video
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
3.6L 287 hp V6
2.5L 219 hp I4 Hybrid
Drive Train
FWD
AWD
Seating Capacity
8
5
Horsepower
287 hp @ 6400 rpm
EV Battery Capacity
0.93 kWh
MPG City
19
40
MPG Highway
28
37
Look and feel
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
9/10
2021 Toyota Venza
8/10

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that gave it a more muscular aesthetic with new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille. The rear featured an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The S Appearance Package added darkened features and black accents, enhancing its bold look. Inside, the Pacifica balanced practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim, which boasted quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The flat dashboard, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, combined with Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and real metal surrounds, made it the poshest minivan available.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, shorter and closer to the ground than the RAV4, had a design that many critics likened to a Lexus. Its elongated profile and grille resembled the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Available in three trims—LE, XLE, and Limited—the Venza offered a range of standard features, including LED headlights and taillights, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior featured premium appointments, with the Limited trim offering a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and the option for a Star Gaze panoramic roof. The Venza's cabin was unique, with piano black capacitive buttons and a deep center console, providing a luxurious feel in the top-tier trim.

Performance
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
8/10
2021 Toyota Venza
8/10

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, 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, new to the Pacifica lineup, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions. The hybrid model had 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 slightly lower numbers for the AWD version.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature for regenerative braking. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was accompanied by noticeable engine and road noise. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

Form and function
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
9/10
2021 Toyota Venza
9/10

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The front seats provided a sense of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seats with in-floor storage bins. The second-row under-console storage and Stow 'n Go third-row bench seat added to the minivan's practicality. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, known for its practicality, featured a unique cabin design with premium appointments. The center stack had piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls, with a deep center console housing various controls and ports. The Venza's seating was comfortable for both front and rear passengers, with more headroom than the RAV4. The Venza offered 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily driving needs. The quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy.

Technology
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
8/10
2021 Toyota Venza
7/10

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was graphically appealing, responsive, and easy to use. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an optional second-row in-seat entertainment system. The Pinnacle model added FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view and zoom-to-seat feature. The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with available upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine system and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options.

The 2021 Toyota Venza LE and XLE had an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Limited trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune system, though improved, was not the best in the industry, with some functions requiring multiple menu trips. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a six-speaker audio system. The Venza also offered a Wi-Fi hot spot, a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system, and various Toyota connected services, including Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect.

Safety
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
9/10
2021 Toyota Venza
9/10

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, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, 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 Toyota Venza featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Standard safety features also included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

Cost Effectiveness
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
9/10
2021 Toyota Venza
9/10
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