2025 Buick Enclave vs 2024 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained its contemporary appeal despite not undergoing frequent redesigns. Its smooth exterior styling, featuring a modest grille, offered a refreshing alternative to the flashier designs of competitors like the Toyota Sienna. Chrysler's decision to avoid SUV-like embellishments, as seen in the Kia Carnival, resulted in a clean look, further enhanced by the cleverly hidden sliding-door tracks. The Pacifica was available in various trims, including Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle, with LED lighting standard across all models. The interior of the Pacifica was equally distinctive, with a minimalist dashboard design that integrated controls seamlessly. The Pinnacle trim, in particular, boasted luxurious touches like brown Nappa leather upholstery and quilted contrast stitching, although some elements felt less premium due to the presence of plastic materials.

The 2025 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, presented a bold and modern exterior design, drawing inspiration from the compact Envista crossover. Its sharp appearance was characterized by slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline. While the side profile appeared somewhat generic, the Enclave's overall look was more refined than its predecessor. Inside, the Enclave exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display reminiscent of futuristic EVs. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, adding a touch of sophistication. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a drawback, especially for a vehicle positioned as a near-luxury SUV.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. The Pacifica's V6 engine, known as the Pentastar, provided ample power for smooth acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The minivan's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, ensuring a smooth ride even on uneven roads. While some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration, the Pacifica remained quiet and comfortable, living up to Chrysler's reputation for offering a step above mainstream vehicles.

In contrast, the 2025 Buick Enclave featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This powerplant was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options available. The Enclave's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the engine noise cancellation standard only on the top trim. The Enclave's turbo engine, while powerful, was not the most refined, and the steering felt loose at slower speeds. Despite these drawbacks, the Enclave's driving dynamics were in line with its class, offering a comfortable ride for a large three-row vehicle.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica excelled in interior space and versatility, thanks to its ingenious Stow 'n Go seating system. This feature allowed the second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating large in-floor storage bins when not in use. The Pacifica offered a seven-seat configuration with second-row bucket seats and a 60/40 split-folding third-row bench seat. An eight-seat configuration was available on the Touring L trim, but it couldn't be combined with Stow 'n Go or AWD. The Pinnacle and Limited models featured a power-folding third-row seat and a power liftgate. The Pacifica's 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 rear rows folded. The Stow 'n Vac built-in vacuum cleaner was a convenient addition, although the raised center console's storage area was difficult to access.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior with eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger's seat. Captain's chairs in the second row provided a seven-person maximum capacity. The Enclave Avenir trim added heated second-row seats and ventilation for the front row, along with a two-position memory feature. Tri-zone climate control was standard, allowing passengers in the middle row to manage their own temperature. The Enclave's cargo space measured 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The AutoSense liftgate was a convenient feature, opening automatically when the keyholder stood within three feet of the rear for three seconds.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The instrument cluster featured analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display. The Pacifica also offered up to 12 USB-C ports, built-in navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect Theater system provided rear-seat entertainment with dual 10.1-inch touchscreens, wireless headphones, and Amazon Fire TV connectivity. The FamCam rear-facing interior camera allowed parents to monitor rear-seat occupants, although an intercom system was not available.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a large 30-inch curved display that integrated the infotainment and digital gauge cluster. While the display was generally seamless, smartphone projection interrupted the cohesive look. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system exclusive to the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for native apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant. The Enclave also offered a Wi-Fi hotspot and USB ports in each row for wired charging.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. It was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), although it missed the highest award due to low scores in updated crash tests and middling ratings for headlights and front crash prevention tech. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear park assist. Optional features included a 360-degree camera system and parallel/perpendicular park assist.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance features. Newly standard for 2025 were blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with an option to increase to nine views. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, while a head-up display was optional. The Enclave featured GM's Teen Driver technology and offered Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway driving technology, as an option. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable ratings in most tests.