Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2022 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 Toyota Highlander doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle 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 Highlander doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Pacifica has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Pacifica has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Pacifica and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rearview cameras, 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 Toyota Highlander:

	Pacifica	Highlander
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	168	292
Neck Injury Risk	29%	38.2%
Neck Stress	230 lbs.	347 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	75/194 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	196	328
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	28.4%
Neck Stress	117 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	440/251 lbs.	545/323 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 Toyota Highlander:

	Pacifica	Highlander
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	114
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	293	366
Hip Force	616 lbs.	664 lbs.

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 4.8% to 6% less likely to roll over than the Highlander.

Warranty

There are almost 2 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Pacifica	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.4 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Pacifica
	FWD	Hybrid Electric Motor	87 city/77 hwy
Highlander
			MPG
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Highlander V6 FWD (29 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Highlander 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 Highlander doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Pacifica’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (19 vs. 17.9 gallons).

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 Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

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 Highlander.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Pacifica AWD	Highlander
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.4 inches	13.3 inches

The Pacifica stops shorter than the Highlander:

	Pacifica	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Pacifica’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (245/50R20 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 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 Highlander doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Pacifica has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pacifica’s wheelbase is 9.4 inches longer than on the Highlander (121.6 inches vs. 112.2 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 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander.

Chassis

The front grille of the Pacifica uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Highlander doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

Passenger Space

The Pacifica has 23.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (165.1 vs. 141.3).

The Pacifica has 1.8 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 7.8 inches more rear hip room, 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom, 8.8 inches more third row legroom, 3.9 inches more third row hip room and 6.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 2.7 inches lower than the Highlander (16.3” vs. 19”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Highlander’s (18.2” vs. 19.2”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Pacifica	Highlander
Behind Third Seat	32.3 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	87.5 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	140.5 cubic feet	84.3 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 Highlander’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

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

	Pacifica	Highlander
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.2”/57.5”/92.5”	17.8”/48”/80.7”
Max Width	49.3”	50”
Min Width	48.8”	45.8”
Height	47.6”	31”

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Pacifica Touring L/Limited/Pinnacle’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Highlander’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Pacifica’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Pacifica has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Highlander Limited/Platinum.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pacifica is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pacifica than the Highlander, including $55 less for a starter, $266 less for fuel injection, $84 less for a fuel pump and $884 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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