2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. New standard LED headlights flanked the Pacifica’s new hexagonal grille, giving the front end a more muscular aesthetic compared to the previous three years. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The S Appearance Package, which debuted in 2017, added darkened features and black accents to the exterior.

Inside, the Pacifica stood out from other minivans like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness and the Sedona opted for a utility-vehicle-like design, the Pacifica balanced practicality with premium touches, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle offered comfort, soft-touch materials, and classy finishes, including quilted leather seats and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Pacifica’s doors felt well-weighted, and its sound-deadening technology kept road noise at bay.

The 2021 Lexus NX retained its familial design with sharp lines and a sculpted exterior, similar to the smaller UX and larger RX models. The NX 300 and 300 F Sport gasoline models featured power-folding outside mirrors and 17-inch wheels as standard. The F Sport variant added a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels, giving it a sportier appearance.

Inside, the NX offered quilted NuLuxe sport seats exclusive to the F Sport model, with options for Circuit Red, Black, and Arctic White/Black color schemes. The interior boasted excellent material fit and finish, with a familiar gauge cluster featuring a 4.2-inch multi-information display. However, the center stack showed its age with an elevated climate-control button setup and a now-rare CD player. The F Sport also included a G-Force meter, though it was more of a gimmick for this suburbanite vehicle.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, acting on-demand based on various driving conditions. The hybrid model, designated as the Pacifica Hybrid, had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models slightly lower at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The standard six-speed automatic transmission was adequate but not as smooth as newer eight-, nine-, or ten-speed transmissions. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds, with the F Sport variant featuring Active Sound Control to enhance the engine note electronically.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system could transfer up to 50 percent of torque to the rear axle but lacked individual-wheel torque vectoring. Fuel economy for the FWD model was 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 24 mpg combined. The NX also had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed of 124 mph.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats provided ample space, and the removal of armrests allowed for a feeling of togetherness. Storage options included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow ’n Go seats with in-floor storage bins.

The second- and third-row seats offered plenty of legroom, with Stow ’n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle boasted best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters, making family travel a breeze.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and adequate legroom in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats offered a 60/40 split-folding configuration. The NX’s cargo space was limited, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. A power liftgate with kick sensor technology and power-folding rear seats were available options.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The system was responsive and easy to use, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games for 2021. Audio options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with child seat view and zoom-to-seat features.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system included HomeLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Other standard features were keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hot spot. The Lexus Enform Remote mobile app allowed users to control various functions remotely. The NX also offered a Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system on the top-tier model.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Lexus NX featured Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The NX received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.