Compare the2019 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2018 Chrysler Pacifica

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Traverse are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Traverse has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pacifica doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Traverse offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Pacifica doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Traverse and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pacifica’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Chevrolet pays for the first scheduled maintenance on the Traverse. Chevrolet will pay for the first oil change, lubrication and any other required maintenance in the first year. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pacifica.

There are over 26 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Chrysler dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Pacifica’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

The Traverse RS’ standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. ) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The Traverse RS’ 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 23 more horsepower (310 vs. 287) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Traverse V6 is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica V6:

Regardless of its engine, the Traverse’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Chrysler only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Pacifica LX/Touring Plus/Touring L/Limited.

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

For better traction, the Traverse has larger tires than the Pacifica (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Traverse’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/65R18 vs. 245/50R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Chrysler Pacifica only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Traverse has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Pacifica doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Traverse has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Traverse flat and controlled during cornering. The Pacifica’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Traverse has 1.2 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more rear headroom than the Pacifica.

Maximum trailer towing in the Chrysler Pacifica is limited to 3600 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Traverse can tow a minimum of 1500 pounds.

The Traverse uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pacifica uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Traverse’s standard front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Pacifica’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

On a hot day the Traverse’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Traverse LS/LT/RS/Premier/High Country’s available exterior keypad. The Pacifica doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Traverse’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Pacifica’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Traverse has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The automatic headlight on/off feature is not available on the Pacifica L/LX.

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $685 to $2850 less than the Pacifica over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the Pacifica because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the Pacifica, including $422 less for a muffler, $93 less for a starter and $156 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Traverse will be $53 to $551 less than for the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Chrysler Pacifica by 5232 units during 2017.