Compare the2023 GMC AcadiaVS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acadia Denali’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Pacifica doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pacifica doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pacifica doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Acadia 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	29%
Neck Stress	191 lbs.	230 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	56 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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	243 lbs.	395 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	54 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	50 G’s

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

Warranty

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pacifica’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

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

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 Acadia’s reliability 25 points higher than the Pacifica.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Acadia third among upper midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Pacifica isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 103 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 GMC vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Chrysler.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 3 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

The Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 23 more horsepower (310 vs. 287) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Acadia
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Pacifica
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

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

Both the Acadia and the Pacifica have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Acadias 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 Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Acadia higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Chrysler Pacifica (5 to 7). This means the Acadia produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pacifica every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia’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 Acadia stops shorter than the Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia AT4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/65R17 vs. 245/50R20).

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Chrysler Pacifica only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia 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.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Acadia 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.

For better maneuverability, the Acadia’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Pacifica’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Acadia’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (38.7 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Acadia has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (7.2 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Acadia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The GMC Acadia may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Chrysler Pacifica.

The Acadia is 10.9 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the Acadia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Chrysler Pacifica is limited to 3600 pounds. The Acadia offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Acadia can tow a minimum of 1000 pounds.

Servicing Ease

The Acadia 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.

Ergonomics

The Acadia (except SLE) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Acadia’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Pacifica doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Acadia is less expensive to operate than the Pacifica because typical repairs cost much less on the Acadia than the Pacifica, including $353 less for a muffler, $71 less for a starter and $131 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Acadia will be $3866 to $8003 less than for the Chrysler Pacifica.

Recommendations

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