Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2023 Audi e-tron

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Chrysler Pacifica are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Audi e-tron has only front height-adjustable 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 Pacifica are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Pacifica has standard Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The e-tron doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Pacifica and the e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Audi e-tron:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Audi e-tron:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Chrysler’s powertrain warranty covers the Pacifica 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Pacifica’s reliability 13 points higher than the e-tron.

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the e-tron:

The Pacifica Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 527 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The e-tron’s range is only 181 to 226 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 30 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 10 hours and 30 minutes.

The Pacifica stops much shorter than the e-tron:

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Pacifica can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The e-tron doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Pacifica has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the e-tron; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Pacifica’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The e-tron doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pacifica’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the e-tron S (121.6 inches vs. 115.1 inches). The Pacifica’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the e-tron (121.6 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the e-tron.

The Chrysler Pacifica may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1250 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

The design of the Chrysler Pacifica amounts to more than styling. The Pacifica offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .298 to .3 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the e-tron (.31 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Pacifica get better fuel mileage.

The Pacifica uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The e-tron doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pacifica offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the e-tron can only carry 5.

The Pacifica has 2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 5.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pacifica’s middle and third row seats recline. The e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the e-tron.

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the e-tron’s (3600 vs. 0 pounds).

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Pacifica (except Hybrid/Touring) uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Pacifica’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Pacifica has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the e-tron only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Pacifica offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Pacifica’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The e-tron doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Pacifica is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Pacifica owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pacifica will cost $3530 to $8315 less than the e-tron over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chrysler Pacifica will be $19373 to $20544 less than for the Audi e-tron.

The Pacifica was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The e-tron has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the Audi e-tron by over 9 to one during the 2021 model year.