Chrysler Pacifica vs Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained its contemporary appeal despite not undergoing frequent redesigns. Its smooth exterior styling, with a modest grille, offered a refreshing alternative to the flashier Toyota Sienna and the SUV-like Kia Carnival. The Pacifica's design cleverly concealed sliding-door tracks, providing a clean look without the need for additional styling features. Available in various trims, including the base Touring and the luxurious Pinnacle, the Pacifica featured standard LED lighting and optional packages for enhanced aesthetics. Inside, the Pacifica boasted a minimalist dashboard with well-integrated controls, although some interior elements felt less premium compared to the high-end Pinnacle trim.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, a full-size SUV with a long-standing reputation, underwent a careful restyling to maintain its consumer recognition. While the profile remained largely unchanged, the new front fascia and rear end added a modern touch, complemented by dramatic lighting signatures. The trim lineup stayed consistent, with options ranging from the base LS to the luxurious High Country. The interior saw significant upgrades, including a sophisticated dashboard and a 17.7-inch touchscreen display. Despite some challenges with the new steering wheel and user interface, the Suburban's technology represented a substantial improvement over the previous model.

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, known as the Pentastar, provided peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The minivan's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, although some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. Overall, the Pacifica offered a quiet and comfortable ride, aligning with Chrysler's reputation for refined vehicles.

In contrast, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a choice of three engines. The base 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The standout option was the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, which saw a power increase to 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Suburban's engines provided impressive performance. The diesel engine, in particular, offered excellent fuel economy and towing capacity, making it a compelling choice for long-distance driving.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured Chrysler's innovative Stow 'n Go seating, allowing second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating additional storage space. The Pacifica offered seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on the configuration, with power-folding third-row seats available on higher trims. Cargo space was generous, with 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 140.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Pacifica also included a built-in vacuum cleaner option, enhancing its practicality for families.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, accommodating up to nine passengers with its three-row seating configuration. It offered a massive 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 144.7 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Suburban's towing capacity was impressive, reaching up to 8,300 pounds with the right configuration. The diesel engine provided excellent fuel economy, allowing for extended highway driving without frequent refueling.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system was intuitive and user-friendly, although some features, like the 360-degree camera view, could have been more accessible. The Pacifica also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV connectivity and a FamCam interior camera for monitoring rear-seat passengers.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban introduced a significant upgrade in technology, featuring a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store, offering a seamless user experience. Despite some challenges with the new steering wheel controls, the Suburban's technology represented a substantial improvement over the previous model, providing a modern and connected driving experience.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included a 360-degree camera system and park assist.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. However, it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian and bicycle braking, and a surround-view camera. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on higher trims, enhancing the Suburban's safety features.