2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, boasting a more athletic and refined design compared to its predecessors. Its exterior featured widened headlights, an extra-large grille, and distinctive "Explorer" lettering, creating a bold and recognizable front. The ST version, with its black 21-inch rims and quad exhaust pipes, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior did not match the exterior's appeal. Despite its high price tag, the interior materials felt subpar, with low-grade vinyl and hard plastics dominating the cabin. The Explorer's interior lacked the luxury feel expected at its price point, making it less appealing compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.

In contrast, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that enhanced its exterior with new LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular look. The Pacifica maintained a sense of sophistication, especially with its new all-LED taillamp and Chrysler wing badge. Inside, the Pacifica offered a premium experience, particularly in the Pinnacle trim, which featured quilted Nappa leather seats, wood accents, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Pacifica's interior was designed with comfort and luxury in mind, making it a standout in the minivan segment.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powerful engines, with the ST trim featuring a 3.0-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered smooth and addictive power. The Explorer's rear-wheel-drive chassis provided excellent weight distribution, enhancing its nimble handling and cornering capabilities. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and a hybrid option with a net 318 horsepower. However, the hybrid's fuel efficiency did not justify its higher price. The Explorer's towing capacity varied, with the V6 capable of towing up to 2,540 kilograms.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came with a traditional 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, or a hybrid powertrain with a total output of 260 horsepower. The Pacifica's hybrid model offered an all-electric range of over 50 kilometres and a total range of 784 kilometres. The Pacifica's AWD system, available for the first time in 16 years, activated on-demand to improve traction in various conditions. The hybrid model was front-wheel drive only. The Pacifica's fuel efficiency varied, with the traditional V6 achieving 12.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.4 on the highway, while the hybrid used 2.9 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample interior space, with generous headroom and legroom for passengers. The second row featured air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof, enhancing comfort. The third row accommodated six-foot-tall adults for short trips, though the bench was flat for long-distance comfort. The Explorer's cargo space was substantial, with 509 litres behind the third row, 1,359 litres behind the second row, and 2,491 litres with all seats folded. The Explorer's interior featured physical knobs and switches for climate and stereo controls, though the thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras were drawbacks.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious front seats and a padded centre console lid for storage. The Pacifica featured rear power-sliding doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seats for flexible cargo space. The second- and third-row seats provided ample legroom, and the Pacifica's cargo area offered best-in-class total storage of 3,979 litres. The Pacifica's interior was practical and comfortable, with features like under-console storage for second-row passengers and a spacious cargo area for family travel.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium Technology Package added a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. The Explorer's tech was user-friendly, though the instrument panel lacked customization options, and the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system needed improvement.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable experience. The system was graphically appealing and responsive, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. The Pacifica's second-row in-seat entertainment system included games and ports for personal entertainment. The Pinnacle model featured FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like a rear-facing child seat view.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Explorer received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered up to 116 standard or available safety features, with most becoming available at the Touring-L grade. These included automatic pedestrian emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with active braking. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not yet rated the model.