2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2022 Volvo XC60

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 look compared to the previous three years. Despite this shift, the Pacifica retained some of its original sophistication, especially noticeable as the eye moved from the front 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. Chrysler also introduced six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents to the exterior.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the 2021 Toyota Sienna and 2022 Kia Sedona. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness and the Sedona opted for a utility-vehicle-like design, the Pacifica struck a balance between practicality and luxury, especially in the top trims. The Pacifica Pinnacle, the highest grade, offered premium features such as 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 new minivan on the market. The Pacifica also featured well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology for a quieter ride.

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, including a new front fascia with “air blades” for a sportier appearance and a new rear bumper that hid the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to move sensors for the driver-assist systems behind the heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90.

The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining a clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and elaborately textured seats, adding some flair to an otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Overall, the XC60’s interior was functional but lacked the pizzazz of other Volvo models.

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 Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, while the upmarket Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, automatically activating 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 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 seeing a slight decrease in fuel efficiency.

For the 2022 model year, Volvo introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains for the XC60, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 powertrain also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional AWD, and the B6 available only with AWD.

The XC60 B5 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), while the B6 achieved the same in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, with a zero to 60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 horsepower and 494 pound-feet, with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. The XC60 emphasized a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by an optional air suspension, providing a luxurious driving experience.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were roomy, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, ideal for various items. 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 provided ample legroom, with the Stow ’n Go feature allowing seats to tumble into the floor for additional cargo space. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel convenient and efficient.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom in both rows was average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity, at 21.1 cubic feet with the seats up and 49.3 cubic feet with the seats down.

The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors. Despite the somewhat pinched roofline, the XC60’s interior space was functional and comfortable.

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. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with optional second-row in-seat entertainment systems offering additional games and ports for personal entertainment.

The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine system or 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a head-up display and upgraded audio systems from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins.

The new operating system integrated Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation. Android users could sync their profiles with the car, and the system supported over-the-air software updates. The infotainment system was compatible with iPhones, though without the added functionality of syncing Google profiles. The digital instrument cluster offered a “Calm” setting to minimize distractions.

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 Volvo XC60 had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received top ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.