Compare the2023 Acura MDXVS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chrysler Pacifica doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The MDX’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 MDX and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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 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 Acura MDX 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 MDX 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.

The MDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Pacifica’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the MDX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the Pacifica. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Pacifica ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the MDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pacifica.

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 MDX’s reliability 33 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica and 61 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 Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. With 73 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Chrysler.

The MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (290 vs. 260) the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (290 vs. 287) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The MDX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 68 more horsepower (355 vs. 287) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura MDX is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

On the EPA test cycle the MDX 3.5 SOHC V6 SH-AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD running its gasoline engine (19 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the MDX and the Pacifica have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All MDXs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Pacifica Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The MDX has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Pacifica.

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

The MDX stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

For better traction, the MDX has larger standard tires than the Pacifica (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The MDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (275/40R21 vs. 245/50R20).

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Pacifica’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica. The MDX Type S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Pacifica.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Pacifica doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

The MDX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Pacifica’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The MDX Type S has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The MDX’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (7.3 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The MDX Type S’ minimum ground clearance is 4 inches higher than on the Pacifica (9.4 vs. 5.4 inches).

The Acura MDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Chrysler Pacifica.

The MDX is 5.9 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the MDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The MDX has .5 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more front hip room than the Pacifica.

Maximum trailer towing in the Chrysler Pacifica is limited to 3600 pounds. The MDX SH-AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

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

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the MDX, using the Vehicle Stability Assist 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 MDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pacifica uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 63% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Pacifica Touring L/Limited/Pinnacle, the MDX offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The MDX Advance has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and incoming text message 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 MDX’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 MDX 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. The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The MDX 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 MDX’s headlight performance “Very 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 MDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The MDX Type S Advance has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pacifica.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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