Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2023 Mercedes Metris Passenger

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 Mercedes Metris Passenger doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Pacifica are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Pacifica has standard Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Pacifica offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Pacifica’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Metris Passenger.

The Pacifica offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Metris Passenger only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Pacifica has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Metris Passenger’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Pacifica has standard Rear Cross Path Detection, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the Metris Passenger.

Both the Pacifica and the Metris Passenger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, collision warning systems, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Pacifica its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Metris Passenger has not been tested, yet.

The Pacifica comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. Chrysler will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Mercedes doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Metris Passenger.

The Pacifica’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Metris Passenger runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

The Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 52 more horsepower (260 vs. 208) than the Metris Passenger’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 79 more horsepower (287 vs. 208) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the Metris Passenger’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Metris Passenger (87 city/77 hwy MPGe vs. 18 city/22 hwy).

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

			MPG
Pacifica
	FWD	3.6 V6 Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy
Metris Passenger
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Metris Passenger can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Pacifica’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available Hybrid). The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler Pacifica uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Metris Passenger requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

	Pacifica	Pacifica AWD	Metris Passenger
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	11 inches

For better traction, the Pacifica’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Metris Passenger (245/50R20 vs. 235/55R17).

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 Metris Passenger’s 55 series tires.

For better load carrying, ride, handling and brake cooling the Pacifica offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Metris Passenger’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Pacifica AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Pacifica AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Metris Passenger’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 Metris Passenger 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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pacifica has .5 inches more front headroom, 5.3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more third row legroom than the Metris Passenger.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pacifica’s middle and third row seats recline. The Metris Passenger’s middle and third row seats don’t recline.

The Pacifica’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Pacifica’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Pacifica has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Pacifica has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

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 Metris Passenger 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 Metris Passenger has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Pacifica’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Metris Passenger’s parking brake has to be released manually.

Keyless-Enter-N-Go standard on the Pacifica allows you to unlock the doors, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mercedes Metris Passenger doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Pacifica’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Metris Passenger’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Pacifica has a standard rear wiper. A rear wiper costs extra on the Metris Passenger.

The Pacifica’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Metris Passenger’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Pacifica detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Pacifica has standard extendable sun visors. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pacifica to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Pacifica has standard power remote mirrors. The Metris Passenger only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Pacifica’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mercedes charges extra for heated mirrors on the Metris Passenger.

When the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Metris Passenger’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Metris Passenger doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

The Pacifica has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Metris Passenger. The Pacifica also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Metris Passenger.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Pacifica’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Pacifica has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The Pacifica has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Metris Passenger.

The Pacifica offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Metris Passenger doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Pacifica as the 2017 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Metris Passenger has never been chosen.

The Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager outsold the Mercedes Metris by almost 8 to one during 2022.