Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2022 BMW X7

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 BMW X7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable front 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 X7 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 X7 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Pacifica and the X7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

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 X7 has not been tested, yet.

Chrysler’s powertrain warranty covers the Pacifica 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the X7:

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X7:

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The X7 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler Pacifica uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X7 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pacifica has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X7 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chrysler Pacifica higher (7 out of 10) than the BMW X7 (3). This means the Pacifica produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X7 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chrysler Pacifica, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X7.

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 X7 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Pacifica stops much shorter than the X7:

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 X7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X7.

For better maneuverability, the Pacifica’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the X7’s (39.7 feet vs. 42.8 feet). The Pacifica AWD’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the X7’s (40.2 feet vs. 42.8 feet).

The Chrysler Pacifica may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 900 pounds less than the BMW X7.

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 significantly lower than the X7 (.33 to .36) 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 X7 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pacifica offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X7 can only carry 7.

The Pacifica has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row legroom and 13.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the X7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pacifica’s middle and third row seats recline. The X7’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 3.7 inches lower than the X7 (16.3” vs. 20”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is 2.3 inches lower than the X7’s (18.2” vs. 20.5”).

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the X7.

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 X7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The Pacifica’s cargo area is larger than the X7’s in every dimension:

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 X7 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The Pacifica’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X7’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

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 X7 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 X7 does not have a temperature gauge.

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 X7 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 X7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Pacifica is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The X7 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 $5400 to $11790 less than the X7 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 $36935 to $76481 less than for the BMW X7.

The Pacifica was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The X7 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the BMW X7 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.