2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling cues, such as the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. Its balanced appearance made it suitable for both rugged trails and upscale settings, appealing to a diverse range of buyers across various demographics. The Grand Cherokee's exterior, especially in the Limited X trim with its Slate Blue Pearl paint, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, offered a mild-custom look that was well-received. However, the interior, particularly in models priced over $60,000, was criticized for its overuse of hard plastics, which detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior with new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular aesthetic. While the front end was modernized, the sides and rear retained the original design's sophistication, featuring an all-LED taillamp and Chrysler wing badge. The Pacifica offered six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, adding darkened features and black accents. Inside, the Pacifica balanced practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim, which featured premium materials like quilted Nappa leather seats and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Pacifica's design was both practical and upscale, making it a standout in the minivan segment.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and a fuel consumption rating of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including the 5.7-litre "Hemi" V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, the 6.4-litre "Hemi" V8 in the SRT with 475 horsepower, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, delivering a staggering 707 horsepower. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system being popular for its automatic operation and off-road capabilities. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-litre V6 engine with 287 horsepower and a hybrid version with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission, achieving 260 horsepower. The Pacifica introduced AWD as an option for the first time in 16 years, with an on-demand system that activated based on driving conditions. The hybrid model provided an all-electric range of over 50 kilometres and a total range of 784 kilometres, with a fuel consumption rating of 2.9 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres. The traditional V6 Pacifica had a combined fuel consumption of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres, which increased to 12.0 litres with AWD.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 1,028 litres behind the backseat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the backseat folded. The interior featured heated and power-adjustable front seats, though ventilation was not available in the Limited X trim. The infotainment system integrated seat heater controls, which some found inconvenient. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate comfort with air conditioning vents and USB ports, while interior storage was decent, with thoughtful touches like grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, featuring spacious front seats and a padded centre console lid for a sense of togetherness. Storage was ample, with an under-stack area and under-console storage for second-row passengers. Standard features included power-sliding doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow 'n Go seating for the second and third rows. The Pacifica's cargo space was impressive, offering best-in-class total storage of 3,979 litres, making it ideal for family travel.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While the system was user-friendly, the SUV's ride could make it challenging to select virtual buttons accurately. The Limited X trim included a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in higher trims. Unique to Jeep was the Off-Road Pages app, providing off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models offered Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, featuring a clean design and quick responsiveness. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with navigation that rerouted rapidly. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available. The Pacifica offered a six-speaker sound system, with upgrades to a 13-speaker Alpine or 19-speaker Harman Kardon system. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with unique features like a rear-facing child seat view.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), with ProTech I standard on all trims, including a reversing camera and blind-spot monitoring. ProTech II added features like forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist, while Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS for certain crash tests.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica boasted 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, and forward collision warning. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and lane departure warning. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not yet rated the model.