2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that gave it a more muscular aesthetic. New standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, creating a streamlined front end. The design retained some of its original sophistication, especially noticeable as the eye moved to the sides and rear. The back featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which included darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica stood out from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness and the Sedona opted for a utility-vehicle-like design, the Pacifica balanced practicality with premium touches. The Pinnacle trim, in particular, offered quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats, making it the poshest minivan available. The 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim, wood accents, and real metal surrounds added to its upscale feel. The doors closed with a commanding thud, and sound deadening technology kept the cabin quiet.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a design that mixed Cadillac’s trademark cues with a compact footprint and tall profile. It had a bold grille, daytime running lights, and vertical taillights, but the overall look was somewhat ungainly. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had different exterior styling cues, with the former featuring bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels were available on the Luxury and Premium Luxury models, while the Sport model came with 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the XT5 felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, and a microfiber sueded headliner. However, the interior lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive compared to competitors like the Volvo XC60, Lincoln Corsair, and Genesis GV70. The seats were comfortable but not up to luxury-vehicle standards, and the cargo space was competitive but not class-leading.

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 from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. 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, deactivating automatically to improve fuel efficiency.

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 slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine provided ample power for everyday driving, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride and excellent body control.

The XT5’s steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the overall luxury experience.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were comfortable and allowed for a feeling of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power windows, and Stow ’n Go seats were standard. The second-row seats had under-console storage, and the third-row seats offered ample legroom. The Pacifica Pinnacle provided best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space, with more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but less than the BMW X3. It had more legroom in both rows compared to its German rivals, but the seats were not as comfortable as expected for a luxury vehicle. The XT5 had 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 63 cubic feet with the seats folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC but trailing the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen provided additional storage.

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

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display were available with the optional Technology Package. The infotainment system was easy to navigate, but the array of secondary controls and capacitive touchpads were not ideally placed. An eight-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with an optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system providing excellent sound quality.

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, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning as standard. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT5 received top “Good” scores in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.