2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. The new standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, giving the Pacifica a more muscular look compared to its previous elegant design. The rear featured an 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 added darkened features and black accents, were also introduced.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by balancing practicality and luxury. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim stood out with its premium materials, including 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 doors had a well-weighted feel, and sound deadening technology kept road noise at bay.

The 2022 Ford Bronco, with its retro styling and go-anywhere attitude, quickly became a sought-after vehicle. The Bronco returned with two new top-tier models: the Everglades and the Bronco Raptor. The Everglades was designed for swamp trekking and deep water, featuring an intake snorkel, a Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco lineup expanded to seven trims, each with increasing off-road capabilities. Despite its rugged design, the Bronco offered a choice between two-door and four-door body styles, a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, and a removable roof with soft- or hard-top options.

The Bronco's design was dictated by its off-roading mission, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and a tall ride height. It featured large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, a full-size spare mounted to the tailgate, and modular construction for easy customization. Inside, the Bronco continued its utilitarian theme with sealed switches, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and drain plugs for easy cleaning. The G.O.A.T. mode dial allowed drivers to select specific drive modes for different terrains. Despite its ruggedness, the Bronco included modern technology like a digital instrument panel, a large infotainment touchscreen, and advanced safety features.

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 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, available for the first time in 16 years, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed.

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 Ford Bronco's base engine was a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivered 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder engine offered a seven-speed manual transmission with a crawl gear for low-speed driving, while a 10-speed automatic was available for both engines. All Broncos came with four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case.

Both powertrains provided ample power for various settings, with the Wildtrak and Everglades trims excelling in off-road capabilities. The Everglades model, tested on challenging terrain, demonstrated its prowess with features like mud/ruts drive mode and the ability to ford water up to 36.4 inches deep. On pavement, the Bronco offered a smoother ride and better handling than its rival, the Jeep Wrangler, making it a more comfortable road trip companion.

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 feeling of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage options included an under-stack area for items like purses or muddy shoes. Standard features included 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- and third-row seats offered plenty of legroom, with Stow 'n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle provided best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's squared-off styling contributed to its spacious interior. Headroom was abundant, and legroom and lateral space were ample. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required some effort, but grab handles and side steps helped. Cargo capacity varied by model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The four-door hard top increased capacity to 35.6 cubic feet behind the seats and 77.6 cubic feet with them folded.

The Bronco featured clever storage solutions, including an armrest bin, netted door pockets, and a rubberized phone tray. Optional accessory rails atop the dash secured items like action cameras, and stowable doors fit in the cargo area. External hard mounting points and hidden anchors supported heavy racks or light bars, enhancing the Bronco's utility.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's technology elevated its minivan features. Hands-free sliding doors were available on mid-grade and above models. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern, customizable, and responsive, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system offered games and ports for personal entertainment. Audio options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle model featured FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat functionality.

The 2022 Ford Bronco used technology to enhance its off-road capabilities while keeping the driver engaged. G.O.A.T. modes optimized drivetrain and chassis settings for specific terrains, and a forward-looking trail camera overlaid lines indicating tire paths. Trail Turn Assist allowed for sharper turns in tight spaces. The Sync 4 infotainment system was quick and loaded with off-road apps, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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 2022 Ford Bronco's standard safety features included hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. The High package added front parking sensors and a surround-view camera system, while the Luxe package included adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The Bronco received four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three out of five stars for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Bronco its best score of "Good" in frontal, side, and roof strength tests and "Acceptable" for head restraints and seats.