Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2023 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Chrysler Pacifica has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Pacifica and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	168	216
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	77 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	196	333
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	35.2%
Neck Stress	117 lbs.	128 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	51 lbs.

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 Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	149 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	134
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Pacifica is 3.4% to 6% less likely to roll over than the Enclave.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Pacifica its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Enclave has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Pacifica’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 22 percent more Chrysler dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Pacifica has a standard 180-amp alternator (220-amp - Pacifica optional). The Enclave’s 170-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.4 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPGe
Pacifica
	FWD	Hybrid Electric Motor	87 city/77 hwy
Enclave
			MPG
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPG
Pacifica
	FWD	3.6 V6 Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/28 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Enclave can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Pacifica Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The Pacifica Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Enclave doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Pacifica	Pacifica AWD	Enclave
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	12.4 inches

The Pacifica stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Pacifica’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Enclave doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Enclave.

Passenger Space

The Pacifica offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Pacifica has 7.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Enclave (165.1 vs. 157.3).

The Pacifica has 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom, 7.1 inches more rear hip room, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 1 inch more third row hip room and 3.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

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

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 1.7 inches lower than the Enclave (16.3” vs. 18”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is .5 inches lower than the Enclave’s (18.2” vs. 18.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

	Pacifica	Enclave
Behind Third Seat	32.3 cubic feet	23.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	87.5 cubic feet	57.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	140.5 cubic feet	97.4 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pacifica easier. The Pacifica’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 24.3 inches, while the Enclave’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Pacifica’s cargo area is larger than the Enclave’s in almost every dimension:

	Pacifica	Enclave
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.2”/57.5”/92.5”	26.2”/54”/90”
Max Width	49.3”	52.7”
Min Width	48.8”	48.5”
Height	47.6”	30.8”

The Pacifica has standard Stow ’n Go second and third row seats (except Hybrid for the second row), which fold flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Enclave doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pacifica. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3600 vs. 1500 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 Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Pacifica’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Enclave’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Pacifica Hybrid has a standard locking fuel and charge port 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. The Enclave doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Pacifica’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pacifica to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Pacifica will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Pacifica will retain 44.14% to 47.31% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 43.19% to 43.97%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pacifica is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because it costs $709 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pacifica than the Enclave, including $355 less for a water pump, $14 less for front brake pads, $235 less for fuel injection, $104 less for a fuel pump and $797 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chrysler Pacifica will be $2454 to $5412 less than for the Buick Enclave.

Recommendations

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

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the Buick Enclave by almost two to one during the 2021 model year.