Compare the2023 Chrysler PacificaVS 2024 Mazda CX-90

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 Mazda CX-90 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the Pacifica and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, 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.

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 CX-90 has not been tested, yet.

There are over 4 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The CX-90 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler Pacifica uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-90 PHEV 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 CX-90 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chrysler Pacifica, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the CX-90.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Pacifica’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CX-90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CX-90.

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 CX-90 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 CX-90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pacifica has 23.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-90 (165.1 vs. 141.6).

The Pacifica has .4 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.8 inches more third row headroom, 6.1 inches more third row legroom and 7.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pacifica’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pacifica easier. The Pacifica’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 24.3 inches, while the CX-90’s liftover is 31 inches.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pacifica. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (3600 vs. 3500 pounds).

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 CX-90 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 CX-90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Pacifica and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Pacifica is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Pacifica’s standard sliding doors can be opened with less than three inches side clearance. The CX-90’s standard rear swing-out doors are bulky and make loading in tight spots difficult.

The Pacifica’s power side sliding doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a power rear door.

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 CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Pacifica has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium.

The Pacifica’s optional ParkSense Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Pacifica is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Pacifica as the 2017 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The CX-90 has never been chosen.