Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs Chrysler Pacifica

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 designs of competitors like the Toyota Sienna. Chrysler's decision to avoid dressing up the Pacifica like an SUV, as seen with the Kia Carnival, resulted in a clean look, further enhanced by hidden sliding-door tracks. The Pacifica was available in several trims, including Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle, with LED lighting standard across all models. The S Appearance and Road Tripper Packages added unique styling elements and features, while new paint options like Baltic Gray and Red Hot expanded the color palette.

Inside, the Pacifica's dashboard featured a minimalist, sculpted design with well-integrated controls. The Pinnacle trim, the most luxurious version, boasted brown Nappa leather upholstery with quilted stitching and small pillows for the second-row seats. However, the interior also included a mix of plastic materials, and some controls lacked the premium feel expected in higher trims. The rotary shift knob was a quality touch, but its proximity to the volume knob could lead to confusion.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class retained its iconic boxy design, tracing its roots back to the 1979 G-Wagen. Despite subtle updates like a new grille and bumpers, the G-Class preserved its traditional features, including a flat hood, prominent corner lights, and beefy doors with distinctive latches. Functional changes included a repositioned rearview camera and new A-pillar trim for the G 550 model. The G-Class offered a range of wheel options, with AMG G 63 models featuring larger wheels and optional carbon-fiber trim. Mercedes' Manufaktur program allowed for extensive customization, offering over a million combinations of exterior paint and interior trim.

Inside, the G-Class combined ruggedness with opulence, featuring large round vents, ambient lighting, and metallic trim. The dashboard prominently displayed switches for the three differential locks, while AMG models sported a more dynamic steering wheel. The G-Class interior, though not as spacious as some rivals, provided a commanding view of the road and reasonable forward visibility. Its compact dimensions made parking more manageable compared to larger luxury SUVs.

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 Hybrid offered a plug-in hybrid powertrain with front-wheel drive. The V6 engine, known as the Pentastar, provided peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The minivan's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, though some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. The Pacifica offered a quiet and comfortable ride, positioning itself as a step above mainstream competitors.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class lineup included the gasoline G 550 and AMG G 63 models, along with the all-electric G 580. The G 550 featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, producing 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, while the AMG G 63 retained its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, generating 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Both models included a mild-hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic transmission with permanent four-wheel drive. The G 550 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, while the G 63 achieved the same in 4.2 seconds. The AMG G 63 also featured an AMG Active Ride Control suspension system, enhancing both off-road and on-road performance. Despite its truck-like feel, the G-Class provided a comfortable ride with low wind and tire noise.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica offered the innovative Stow ‘n Go seating, allowing second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating in-floor storage bins. The Pacifica accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row bucket seats and a 60/40 split-folding third-row bench seat. An eight-seat configuration was available with the Touring L trim but couldn't be combined with Stow ‘n Go or AWD. Pinnacle and Limited models featured a power-folding third-row seat and an optional power liftgate. The Pacifica provided competitive passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows. 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 Stow ‘n Vac built-in vacuum cleaner was available on select trims.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, while not as spacious as some luxury SUVs, offered a tall passenger compartment with ample headroom. Its compact dimensions made it more maneuverable than larger rivals. The G-Class provided 22.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, less than competitors like the Range Rover and Lexus LX. The side-hinged tailgate facilitated loading and unloading, though it could be challenging when street parked. The G-Class had a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds, comparable to midsize pickup trucks. Despite its smaller interior, the G-Class offered a commanding view of the road and reasonable forward visibility, making it easier to live with than some larger SUVs.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The instrument cluster included analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display. The Pacifica offered up to 12 USB-C ports, built-in navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and user-friendly, though a shortcut for the 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Uconnect Theater system provided rear-seat entertainment with dual 10.1-inch touchscreens, wireless headphones, and Amazon Fire TV connectivity. The FamCam allowed parents to monitor rear-seat occupants, though an intercom system was not available.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It included dual 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauge cluster and the other for infotainment, creating a seamless display. The off-road menu provided useful information, and the "Transparent Hood" feature aided in navigating obstacles. MBUX offered augmented reality navigation and excellent voice recognition, with additional voice commands specific to the G-Class. A Burmester 3D surround sound system was standard, with options like a dashcam and rear-seat entertainment system available.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica received 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), though it missed the highest award due to low scores in certain 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 park assist. The new Emergency Vehicle Alert System provided warnings about nearby emergency vehicles or road hazards.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of publication. Standard driver-assistance features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, park assist, a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and traffic sign recognition. The Pre-Safe system prepared the vehicle for an imminent crash by engaging seatbelt tensioners and closing windows. New features for 2025 included route-based speed adaptation, automated lane centering, and an emergency-stop feature.