Compare the2023 Toyota SiennaVS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

The Sienna has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Sienna’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 Sienna and the Pacifica 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, 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 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 Toyota Sienna is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sienna its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pacifica has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sienna for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pacifica.

The battery on the Sienna is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Sienna’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Pacifica’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Sienna’s reliability 32 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica and 60 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 93 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chrysler is rated below average.

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

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

The Sienna has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sienna higher (7 out of 10) than the Chrysler Pacifica (5 to 7). This means the Sienna produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pacifica every 15,000 miles.

The Sienna’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pacifica are solid, not vented.

The Sienna stops shorter than the Pacifica:

The Sienna has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sienna flat and controlled during cornering. The Pacifica 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Sienna’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (38.3 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Sienna XSE/Limited/Platinum FWD’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (39.2 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

The Sienna has .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more third row legroom than the Pacifica.

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

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

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Sienna, using the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Pacifica and isn’t available on the PacificaHybrid/Touring.

The Sienna Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction 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 Sienna’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 Sienna 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Sienna 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Sienna’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Pacifica’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sienna’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Sienna offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Sienna, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chrysler Pacifica isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sienna second among minivans in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Pacifica isn’t in the top three.