Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Chrysler Pacifica

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

Safety

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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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Chrysler Pacifica has not been tested.

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.

The GMC Acadia’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Chrysler Pacifica does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

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

	Acadia	Pacifica
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	168
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	29%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	230 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	75/194 lbs.

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

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 Acadia is safer than the Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	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	22/45 pounds	180/292 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/45 pounds	180/292 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	337/427 pounds	472/742 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Chrysler Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	72
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	149 lbs.
Hip Force	372 lbs.	395 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	54 G’s
Hip Force	518 lbs.	764 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	50 G’s

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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	55	167
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.26 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.97 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	POOR
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1450 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The GMC Acadia achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Pacifica is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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.

Engine

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:

	Acadia	Pacifica Hybrid	Pacifica V6
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.8 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	8.3 sec	8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.1 sec	4.8 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.5 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	91 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Acadias 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).

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Pacifica:

	Acadia	Pacifica
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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).

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Towing

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

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 Acadia’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pacifica’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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.

Recommendations

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

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