2019 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2019 Toyota Sienna
Posted on July 30, 2020
With the Chrysler Pacifica and the Toyota Sienna, we really are talking about the best minivans available in today's market. If you're shopping these two you might think it's a difficult choice to make, but here's a head-to-head comparison to show you why it's the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica you need and not the 2019 Toyota Sienna.
Exterior styling
How a minivan looks probably isn't the number one reason buyers choose a particular model, but why wouldn't you want the best-looking vehicle you can get in a segment, even the family minivan segment? The Sienna isn't an ugly vehicle, but it's not exactly a head-turner and that large gaping grille at the front can look a little odd. The Pacifica isn't a rival for an Italian sports car, but it has to be the best-looking minivan the market has seen to date. It obviously contends with the boxy shape needed to accommodate so many people and their cargo, but it's as stylish and upscale and definitely more desirable than the Toyota.
Interior space
You'll have to go a long way to find two vehicles from different brands as close to each other in terms of interior volume and dimensions as these two, but the Chrysler Pacifica has a slight advantage by almost every measure. Both vehicles carry up to seven people in standard form, and while the Sienna boasts 164.4 cu.-ft. of passenger volume, the Pacifica has it beat, just, with 165 cu.-ft. It's a similar story with front, second-row and third-row legroom. The Pacifica wins with all three, but the margins are small.
Engines
It's pretty usual for a minivan range like the Sienna to only offer one powerplant across all trim levels, but the Pacifica has broken the mold by becoming the first vehicle of its type to also be offered in hybrid form. Under the hood of every Sienna is a solid 3.5-litre V-6 that develops 296 horsepower, so it does have a slight power advantage over the 287 horsepower 3.6-litre V-6 unit in the standard Pacifica. However, an optional engine is a big advantage for the Chrysler and the fact it's a modern and fuel-efficient hybrid tips the balance the Pacifica's way even further.
Prices
Purchase prices are often going to be an important factor in deciding which family vehicle to buy, and it's another win here for the Pacifica. The most affordable version of the Sienna currently costs from $35,545, but you can currently get into a Chrysler Pacifica L for as little as $32,245, while stepping up to a Pacifica Touring currently only costs $1,750 more, which is still less than an entry-level Pacifica. There are six trim levels in the Sienna lineup, but the Pacifica offers one more with seven. And at the top of the respective ranges, a Sienna SE AWD 7-Pass costs from $51,620, but the Pacifica Limited only costs from $46,995.
Verdict
The 2019 Toyota Sienna has been a firm favourite with families for some time now, and rightly so. However, the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica is the new kid on the block here, and it shows. The Sienna is good, but the Pacifica is better, and it costs less into the bargain, so why would you consider any other minivan?For more information about the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica and to schedule a test drive to experience it for yourself, don't hesitate to get in touch with us here at Caledon Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, the premier choice Chrysler dealer here in Bolton, ON.