Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Chrysler Pacifica

The Acadia 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pacifica doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Acadia and Pacifica have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Acadia 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 Acadia’s optional 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 Acadia and the Pacifica have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 front parking sensors.

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Acadia has a 220-amp alternator. The Pacifica’s standard 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler With 104 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Chrysler.

The Acadia’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (328 vs. 260) than the Pacifica Hybrid’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 hybrid. The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (328 vs. 287) and 64 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 262) than the Pacifica’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the GMC Acadia is faster than the Chrysler Pacifica:

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Pacifica 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD running its gasoline engine (19 city/24 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

Both the Acadia and the Pacifica have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Acadia’s 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 Acadia 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 Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pacifica’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19 gallons).

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the Pacifica (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R17). The Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pacifica (275/45R22 vs. 245/50R20).

The Acadia Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pacifica’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Pacifica. The Acadia Denali’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Pacifica.

The GMC Acadia’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 Acadia 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.

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

For better maneuverability, the Acadia Elevation’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Pacifica’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Acadia Denali Reserve’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Pacifica AWD’s (40.1 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Acadia Elevation has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pacifica (6.8 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Acadia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Acadia AT4’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the Pacifica (7.8 vs. 5.4 inches).

The Acadia has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear legroom than the Pacifica.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia Denali’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pacifica doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pacifica’s (5000 vs. 3600 pounds).

While the Pacifica Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Acadia can tow a minimum of 5000 pounds.

Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is standard on the Acadia, using the StabiliTrak® 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/Select.

The Acadia 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 Acadia offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information 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.

If the windows are left open on the Acadia 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Acadia has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Pacifica.

The Acadia’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Pacifica’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

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