2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. The new standard LED headlights flanked a hexagonal grille, giving the Pacifica a more muscular look compared to its previous elegant design. The sophistication of the original design remained evident as the eye moved from the front to the sides and rear, where a new all-LED taillamp spanned the width of the model, featuring the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Chrysler also introduced six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents to the exterior.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona by walking a line between ruggedness and premium quality. The Pacifica Pinnacle trim, in particular, aimed at luxury customers, featured practical yet comfortable and classy finishes. The flat dashboard, anchored by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, included Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents and real metal surrounds. Quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats completed the upscale look. The Pacifica also boasted well-weighted doors and advanced sound-deadening technology for a quieter ride.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator carried over its sharp design from the previous year, characterized by crisp lines and chrome accents. The Aviator's styling, inspired by the larger Navigator, set it apart from its rivals. Inside, the Aviator's cabin exuded comfort and warmth, with plenty of soft-touch materials and a center console that rose elegantly to the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter in the middle of the dash added to the Aviator's unique appeal, and the soothing chimes for alerts contributed to the air of class and luxury.

The Aviator offered trims including Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim featured synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a power liftgate. The Reserve trim added upgraded leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system. The Grand Touring trim, with its plug-in hybrid powertrain, included adaptive headlights and Lincoln's Multi-Contour Seats with massaging function. The Black Label trims added even more luxury features, such as a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system and a Dynamic Handling Package.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a V6 hybrid engine with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

The AWD system, new to the Pacifica lineup, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated automatically to improve fuel efficiency. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of more than 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 Lincoln Aviator featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or AWD. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims added a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, with a pure electric range of up to 21 miles.

The Aviator's hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration, though the SUV's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," enhancing the driving experience. The Aviator excelled on highways and in suburban settings but struggled with city driving due to its long wheelbase.

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 a sense of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage options included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin for various items. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, Stow 'n Go bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, and a Stow 'n Go third-row bench seat.

The Pacifica's second- and third-row seats offered plenty of legroom, with Stow 'n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The rear cargo area was spacious, with the Pacifica Pinnacle offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Aviator's second-row captain's chairs, center console, and digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls made it the preferred seating area. The power-button door releases, while unique, raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was graphically appealing, responsive, and easy to use. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though it lacked a head-up display. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available. Audio options included a standard six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle model introduced FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with advanced features.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was intuitive and featured a sensible menu layout. The Aviator's screen extended from the dash in a landscape format, making it more natural to use. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy navigation. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

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 with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lockout, 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 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard safety features as part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a Top Safety Pick accolade.