Compare the2022 Acura MDXVS 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chrysler Pacifica doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

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 MDX 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 MDX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Pacifica’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the Pacifica. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Pacifica ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The engine in the MDX has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Pacifica have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 23rd in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 28th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

The MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (290 vs. 260) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (290 vs. 287) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the MDX SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica AWD V6 (19 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The MDX has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Pacifica.

For better stopping power the MDX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Pacifica:

For better traction, the MDX has larger tires than the Pacifica (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The MDX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/55R19 vs. 245/50R20).

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica.

The MDX 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.

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (7.3 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the Chrysler Pacifica.

The MDX is 5.9 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the MDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The MDX has .5 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more front hip room than the Pacifica.

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

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any MDX can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

The MDX 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 49% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Pacifica Touring L/Limited/Pinnacle, the MDX offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The MDX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Pacifica’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or 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.

The MDX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. A locking fuel/charge port door is only offered on the Pacifica Hybrid.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.