Compare the2024 Buick EnclaveVS 2024 Chrysler Pacifica

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pacifica doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Enclave and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Enclave	Pacifica
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	15.6%	29%
Neck Stress	198 lbs.	230 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	53/40 lbs.	75/194 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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Enclave	Pacifica
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	69	72
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	204 lbs.	395 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	716 lbs.	764 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	251	293
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	50 G’s
Hip Force	554 lbs.	616 lbs.

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

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 Buick Enclave is safer than the Pacifica:

	Enclave	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	141	167
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.02 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1450 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pacifica’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 Enclave’s reliability 12 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica and 41 points higher than the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Enclave second among midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Pacifica isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 88 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 93 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 18 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

The Enclave’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (310 vs. 260) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 23 more horsepower (310 vs. 287) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Enclave is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Enclave	Pacifica Hybrid	Pacifica V6
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7.8 sec	7.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	17.2 sec	19.7 sec	19.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.8 sec	8.1 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	16.1 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	90 MPH	91 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	107 MPH	111 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Enclave and the Pacifica have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Enclaves 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 Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

The Enclave’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 Enclave stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

	Enclave	Pacifica
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Enclave has larger tires than the Pacifica (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Enclave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (255/65R18 vs. 245/50R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Enclave has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica.

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Chrysler Pacifica only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Enclave has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Pacifica doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Enclave 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 Enclave 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 better maneuverability, the Enclave’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Enclave’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (39 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Enclave has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (7.5 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Enclave to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Enclave has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Pacifica.

Towing

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

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Enclave can tow a minimum of 1500 pounds.

Servicing Ease

The Enclave 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

Ergonomics

The Enclave Premium/Avenir has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and tachometer 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 Enclave’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Pacifica’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Enclave 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 Enclave’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Pacifica doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Enclave’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Pacifica’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Enclave Premium/Avenir has standard 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 Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Pacifica doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Enclave is less expensive to operate than the Pacifica because typical repairs cost much less on the Enclave than the Pacifica, including $335 less for a muffler, $47 less for a starter, $154 less for front struts and $107 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Buick Enclave and the Chrysler Pacifica, based on reliability, safety and performance.