Compare the2024 Chrysler PacificaVS 2023 Ford Explorer

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Ford Explorer doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Pacifica offers optional Emergency Vehicle Alert System, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Explorer doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the Pacifica and the Explorer 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Ford Explorer:

	Pacifica	Explorer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	75/194 lbs.	230/210 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	318
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	29.2%
Neck Stress	117 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	129 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	440/251 lbs.	380/405 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, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Ford Explorer:

	Pacifica	Explorer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	149 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	86

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Pacifica is 3.1% to 4.2% less likely to roll over than the Explorer.

Reliability

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 Chrysler Pacifica’s reliability 15 points higher than the Explorer.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Ford Explorer V6 hybrid gas:

	Pacifica	Explorer
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.4 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the Explorer:

			MPGe
Pacifica
	FWD	Hybrid Electric Motor	87 city/77 hwy
Explorer
			MPG
	RWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	25 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/24 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/24 hwy
		Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy
		Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/21 hwy

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

			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
Explorer
	RWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	25 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/22 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy
		Timberline 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/21 hwy

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Explorer has to start its internal combustion engine after only 3 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler Pacifica uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Explorer with the 3.0 turbo V6 engine requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

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 Explorer doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Pacifica stops shorter than the Explorer:

	Pacifica	Explorer
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	170 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pacifica’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Explorer (121.6 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Explorer.

Passenger Space

The Pacifica offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Explorer can only carry 7.

The Pacifica has 12.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Explorer (165.1 vs. 152.7).

The Pacifica has 2 inches more front shoulder room, 5.7 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.3 inches more third row legroom, 8.6 inches more third row hip room and 6.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Explorer.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the Explorer.

	Pacifica	Explorer
Behind Third Seat	32.3 cubic feet	18.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	87.5 cubic feet	47.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	140.5 cubic feet	87.8 cubic feet

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 Explorer’s liftover is 31.1 inches.

The Pacifica’s cargo area is larger than the Explorer’s in almost every dimension:

	Pacifica	Explorer
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.2”/57.5”/92.5”	20.8”/49.8”/83.9”
Max Width	49.3”	59”
Min Width	48.8”	48.1”
Height	47.6”	33.7”

The Pacifica has standard Stow’n Go second and third row seats (except Hybrid for the second row), which fold flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Explorer only has a third row seat which folds into the floor. The Explorer’s second row seat doesn’t fold into the floor and eats up cargo room.

Towing

The Pacifica’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Explorer’s (3600 vs. 3000 pounds).

Ergonomics

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 Explorer does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Pacifica Limited/Pinnacle’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 Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Explorer’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Pacifica’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Explorer XLT/Limited/ST-Line/Timberline/King Ranch/ST/Platinum.

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 Explorer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 costs extra on the Explorer.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Pacifica owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pacifica will cost $240 less than the Explorer over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pacifica is less expensive to operate than the Explorer because it costs $409 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pacifica than the Explorer, including $153 less for a water pump, $16 less for fuel injection and $605 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

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