2024 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition, or 40 ASE, was based on the SR5 Premium trim level and added $4,505 to its price. This included a $1,875 charge for the standard four-wheel-drive system, with the remaining $2,630 covering retro body stripes, a heritage grille design, bronze 17-inch wheels, and other unique features. The 40 ASE was available in black, white, or red paint with a black artificial leather interior. The 4Runner lineup included various trims, with prices ranging from $39,555 to $54,020, plus a $1,335 destination charge. The 40 ASE had a strong Southern California vibe, reminiscent of 1970s style, and its design appealed to those who appreciated the look and stance of truck-based SUVs from the past. The interior, while featuring plenty of plastic, was solid and of quality, with easy-to-use controls.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained its contemporary exterior styling, offering a smooth and modest design that contrasted with its rivals. The Pacifica's sliding-door tracks were cleverly hidden, providing a clean look without the need for additional styling features. Available in Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims, the Pacifica offered standard LED lighting and various wheel options. The S Appearance and Road Tripper Packages added unique exterior and interior trims. The Pacifica's interior was distinctive, with a minimalist dashboard design and well-integrated controls. The Pinnacle trim featured luxurious brown Nappa leather upholstery, but some interior elements felt less premium. The rotary shifter was a quality touch, though it was easy to confuse with the volume knob.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and had a fuel economy rating of 17 mpg in combined driving. The 4Runner featured two 4WD systems, with the Limited trim offering a full-time 4WD option. It had a minimum ground clearance of nine inches and included off-roading technologies like Hill-Start Assist Control, Downhill Assist Control, and Active Traction Control. The TRD Sport and Limited trims focused on on-road performance, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims enhanced off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the 4Runner's on-road performance was less impressive, with leisurely acceleration, heavy steering, and a lack of tire grip.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. The Pacifica's V6 engine, known as the Pentastar, provided peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, with the suspension effectively damping body motion and road imperfections. However, some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. The Pacifica offered a quiet and comfortable ride, living up to Chrysler's reputation for refinement.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a unique power-down back window, providing excellent ventilation when combined with the sunroof and other windows. The interior offered comfortable seats, with the Limited trim providing heated and ventilated leather seats. Storage locations were plentiful but lacked rubber liners, causing items to slide and rattle. The second-row seating area was spacious, with good legroom and USB charging ports. A third-row seat was available but compromised cargo space and comfort. The cargo area offered several storage options and a 120-volt AC power outlet. With the third-row seat option, cargo space was limited to 9 cubic feet, while the standard five-passenger configuration provided 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 89.7 cubic feet.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured Stow 'n Go seating, allowing the second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating large in-floor storage bins. The Pacifica offered seven seats as standard, with an eight-seat configuration available on the Touring L trim. The Pinnacle and Limited trims included a power-folding third-row seat and a power liftgate. Passenger space was competitive, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows. The Pacifica provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 140.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Stow 'n Vac built-in vacuum cleaner was available on select trims, offering convenience for cleaning the interior.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured traditional analog gauges with a digital driver information center and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Connected services and a Wi-Fi hotspot were available, along with optional navigation and a JBL premium sound system. The infotainment system's home screen displayed multiple functions simultaneously, and voice recognition performed well, though it couldn't handle all commands.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The instrument cluster featured analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display. The Pacifica offered up to 12 USB-C ports, built-in navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and user-friendly, though a shortcut for the 360-degree camera view would have been appreciated. The Pacifica also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV connectivity and a FamCam rear-facing interior camera.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims. The adaptive cruise control performed well, but the lane-departure warning could be annoying. The 4Runner received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it a Marginal rating for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with some areas for improvement in crash tests and front crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating, with high scores in frontal and side crash tests. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear park assist. Optional features included a 360-degree camera system, front park assist, and a parallel/perpendicular park assist system. The new Emergency Vehicle Alert System provided warnings about nearby emergency vehicles or road hazards.