2024 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a modern crossover design that leaned towards a more European aesthetic, moving away from the rugged, boxy look of its predecessors. The refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille design. The ST-Line Elite trim, which was tested, featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, but the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting.

In contrast, the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained its contemporary exterior styling, offering a smooth and modest design that stood out among its rivals. The Pacifica's clean look was enhanced by hidden sliding-door tracks, avoiding the need for additional styling features. Available in several trims, the Pacifica included standard LED lighting and offered various wheel sizes. The interior of the Pacifica Pinnacle trim was luxurious, with brown Nappa leather upholstery and quilted stitching, though it mixed with plastic elements. The dashboard had a minimalist design with well-integrated controls, and the rotary shift knob was a quality touch, though some controls lacked the same refinement.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with either FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, generating 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD available on higher trims. The V6, known as the Pentastar, was a long-serving engine, offering peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The Pacifica's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, with a suspension that smoothed out road imperfections. However, some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. The Pacifica was quiet and comfortable, aligning with Chrysler's reputation for offering a step above mainstream vehicles.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt good to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, lagging behind competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was also slightly less generous, though the back seat offered good headroom and soft, scalloped front-seat backs for tall passengers.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica excelled in interior space with its Stow ‘n Go seating, allowing second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating large storage bins. The Pacifica offered seven seats as standard, with an eight-seat configuration available on the Touring L trim. Passenger space was competitive, with ample headroom and legroom, though rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some rivals. Cargo space was generous, with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 140.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Pacifica also featured a Stow ‘n Vac vacuum cleaner, though the center console storage was less accessible.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered intuitive navigation with individual tiles for various functions. While Sync 4 was generally user-friendly, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system was intuitive and sharp, though a shortcut for the 360-degree camera view was missing. The Pacifica also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV connectivity and a FamCam to monitor rear passengers. However, it lacked an intercom system found in some competitors.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in most tests but a Marginal rating in the IIHS side-impact test. Standard safety features included Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, with options for Co-Pilot360 2.0, adding adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. New for 2024 was an Emergency Vehicle Alert System integrated with the Uconnect infotainment system.