Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Chrysler Pacifica

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-90 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.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-90 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Chrysler Pacifica, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	CX-90	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-23 MPH	-4 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-6 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
37 MPH Brights	-33 MPH	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-26 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.5 sec	No Warning

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Pacifica.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CX-90’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pacifica doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the CX-90 and Pacifica have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pacifica’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

The CX-90’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 CX-90 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 and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-90 is much safer than the Pacifica:

	CX-90	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/292 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	180/292 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	292/315 pounds	472/742 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-90 is safer than the Pacifica:

	CX-90	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	104	167
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.26 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	83
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.75 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	1450 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Pacifica was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. With 47 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Chrysler.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chrysler is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 23 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

The CX-90 has more powerful engines than the Pacifica:

	Horsepower	Torque
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	280 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	340 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
Pacifica Hybrid 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid	260 HP
Pacifica 3.6 DOHC V6	287 HP	262 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica V6:

	CX-90	Pacifica
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	86.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Pacifica running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
CX-90
	AWD	3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
		Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
Pacifica
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

Both the CX-90 and the Pacifica have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CX-90s 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 CX-90’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-90 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port which lock and unlock with the power locks. Neither the fuel filler door nor the charge port is lockable on the Pacifica. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-90’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 CX-90 stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

	CX-90	Pacifica
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Pacifica (265/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (275/45R21 vs. 245/50R20).

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s standard 65 series tires. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Pacifica’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Pacifica.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-90 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Pacifica doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Pacifica (122.8 inches vs. 121.6 inches).

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Pacifica’s (55% to 45%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the CX-90’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The CX-90’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (8 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S’ minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the Pacifica (8.1 vs. 5.4 inches).

Chassis

The CX-90 is 3.5 inches shorter than the Pacifica, making the CX-90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CX-90 has .6 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Pacifica.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Chrysler Pacifica is limited to 3600 pounds. The CX-90 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any CX-90 can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the CX-90, using the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Pacifica and isn’t available on the Pacifica Hybrid/Touring.

Servicing Ease

The CX-90 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 CX-90 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 CX-90 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed 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 CX-90’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.

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 CX-90’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pacifica doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-90 Premium Plus has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Pacifica doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-90 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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