Lets take a look and compare two great looking vans with quite the fan club.
The Chrysler Pacifica comes in a streamlined three main trim levels compared to six for the Toyota Sienna. Fewer trim levels means better tech and features from the base model at similar prices.
The Chrysler Pacifica comes equipped with a strong 6 cylinder engine that provide a quiet, comfortable ride. While the Sienna offers a weaker 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain. Pacifica's engine is able to generate 287 hp (245 for Toyota Sienna) and 262 lb-ft of torque (176 for Toyota Sienna), so the new Pacifica has more oomph but not as good gas mileage.
One thing that sets apart Toyota Sienna from all other minivans out there is the fact that it's the only vehicle on the market that offers all wheel drive. It works in tandem with Toyota's Active Torque Control as advanced sensors make sure that the right amount of torque is applied to each wheel. This provides excellent traction in wet or snowy conditions.
What people love about the new Chrysler Pacifica is the Stow 'n Go seats. It seems to be one of the primary reasons minivan drivers keep buying Chrysler minivans. They only require the push of a button to get them folded all the way into the floor of the van to maximize cargo space. You have to come to the dealership for yourself to see this feature in person.
Another feature that wins customers over to Chrysler is Pacifica's excellent all around visibility. Both the front and rear windshields are massive, and the roof pillars are slim in their design. The side windows are also remarkably wide, making blind spots easier to check without the help of the blind-spot monitoring system.
Both car manufacturers have had safety in mind when they were designing the vehicles. Pacifica's braking system is appropriately responsive when engaged and has a short travel distance for the pedal (is able to make a panic stop from 60 mph in just about 119 feet, which is considered short for this segment). Toyota Sienna does slightly worse - it stops from 60 mph in 120 feet.
So, which one is better - Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna?
If all you care about is a bit more cargo space and slightly larger interior you should go with the Toyota Sienna. However, in our opinion, the Chrysler Pacifica is a better deal for the money.