Compare the2023 Lincoln AviatorVS 2023 Chrysler Pacifica

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Aviator 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.

Both the Aviator and Pacifica have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Aviator has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Pacifica’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Aviator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply 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.

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

The Aviator’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 Aviator and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Aviator	Pacifica
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	168
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	29%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	230 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Aviator	Pacifica
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	72
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	224 lbs.	395 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	604 lbs.	764 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	288	293
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	50 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	616 lbs.

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

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Aviator its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pacifica is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

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

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 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.

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Pacifica’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Aviator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Pacifica doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the van’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 98 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 Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chrysler is rated below average.

Engine

The Aviator’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 140 more horsepower (400 vs. 260) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 113 more horsepower (400 vs. 287) and 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Aviator Grand Touring’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 207 more horsepower (494 vs. 287) and 368 lbs.-ft. more torque (630 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator turbo V6 is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Aviator	Pacifica Hybrid	Pacifica V6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	7.9 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.1 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	88 MPH	86.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Aviator Grand Touring running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD running its gasoline engine (22 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

The Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank 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. The Aviator’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica’s standard fuel tank (20.2 vs. 19 gallons).

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Aviator	Pacifica
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

The Aviator’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 Aviator stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

	Aviator	Pacifica
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Pacifica (255/60R19 vs. 235/65R17). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (275/40R22 vs. 245/50R20).

The Aviator’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires. The Aviator’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Pacifica’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica. The Aviator’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Pacifica.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Aviator 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 Aviator has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’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.

The Aviator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Pacifica’s (55% to 45%). This gives the Aviator more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Aviator’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (39.2 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Aviator’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (39.2 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 3.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (8.7 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Aviator is 5 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the Aviator easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Aviator has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Pacifica.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pacifica doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pacifica’s (5600 vs. 3600 pounds).

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Aviator can tow a minimum of 5600 pounds.

Servicing Ease

The Aviator 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.

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pacifica. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator (except Standard) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, certain gauge, warning, turn signal 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 Aviator’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 Aviator the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Pacifica can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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 Aviator’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Aviator (except Standard) offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pacifica doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Aviator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Pacifica doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Aviator (except Standard) offers optional 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 Lincoln Aviator Reserve/Grand Touring/Black Label has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Aviator (except Standard)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Pacifica’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.