Latest News
2024 Volkswagen Taos ReviewUnder $25K: Chrysler Pacifica vs Honda Odyssey
It’s the Chrysler Pacifica vs Honda Odyssey on a budget! Which van performs better? Which has more features? Find out with this in-depth comparison!
What’s Available for Under 25K?
The minivan market isn’t exactly filled with options, but it’s a body style that continues on. You’ve got options in models like the Kia Carnival and the Toyota Sienna, but today we’re comparing the Chrysler Pacifica to the Honda Odyssey. There’s a catch though: this purchase is one that’s going to be on a budget. That budget is no more than $25,000. What prices do these two vans start at though? A brand-new 2022 Chrysler Pacifica costs $37,095 while a 2023 Honda Odyssey costs $37,490 (click over to our 2023 Honda Odyssey review for an in-depth look at that model).
You have to go back a few years to find models below $25,000, but there are plenty of them out there. Some 2019, 2018, and 2017 Honda Odyssey models are available under that price point. Most of the available models are 2015 or 2016 though. Still, there are 2019 models out there, so we’ll aim for one of them in this piece.
Getting a Chrysler Pacifica for under $25,000 gives you a few newer options, including 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017 models. There are even a couple of 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids listed for under that price. The 2020 Pacifica does add all-wheel drive as an option, which is a big bonus in my book, but for this analysis, we’ll pit the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica against the 2019 Honda Odyssey. Two vans from the same model year. Let’s explore some of the similarities and differences!
Chrysler Pacifica vs Honda Odyssey Specs
Despite offering several trims, Chrysler provided just one engine for all 2019 models: a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine sends power to the front wheels with a nine-speed automatic transmission. If you find a 2019 Pacifica that opted for the optional towing package, you’ll find that this minivan can tow up to 3,600 lbs.
A 3.5-liter V6 making 280 horsepower drives the 2019 Honda Odyssey forward with the help of either a nine-speed or 10-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5-liter makes 7 hp less than the 3.6-liter engine in the 2019 Pacifica. The 2019 Odyssey is a FWD minivan that can tow up to 3,500 lbs. That’s 100 lbs less than the Pacifica. The 2019 Odyssey delivers 19 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway with both transmissions.
Driving & Performance
Acceleration is a little unresponsive on the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, but it does get some power after a few seconds. It’ll go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (MPH) in 7.7 seconds. The slightly delayed acceleration is balanced out with good braking and quality handling. Corners aren’t an issue, and neither are a few unpaved roads.
The 2019 Honda Odyssey has road manners, good acceleration, and steadiness. It’s worth noting that the Odyssey, for a minivan, does well on handling. A stabilizer bar helps the van on curves and bumps. Even though it shares a Honda platform with a truck and SUV, the Odyssey is smooth and stable.
Comfort & Interior
The seats are firm, but comfortable, especially for front seat passengers who have the option of heated seats. Up front, the driver and passenger have 41.1” of legroom to stretch out in. 39.6” of legroom is reserved for second-row passengers while third-row passengers are given 36.5” of legroom. This isn’t the most in the class, by any means. The third row may be more suited for kids or storage than for adults on a regular basis.
The cabin in the 2019 Pacifica is arranged nicely. Chrysler’s patented Stow ‘n Go seats help accommodate any kind of rearranging that needs to happen for special circumstances or loading unique cargo. The seats don’t have as much padding so they can fold down. There are some soft-touch surfaces, but also some plastic parts as well. The interior looks more upscale than it is. There’s room for more luxury, but the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica has a decent cabin that will satisfy most people.
The 2019 Honda Odyssey is a seven-seater family hauler with three rows of seats. It’s definitely comfortable enough to sit in for all-day travel. There’s also a good amount of space here. This van boasts 40.9” of legroom in both the front and second rows. Legroom downgrades only to 38.1” for third-row passengers. Cargo measures 32.8 cu-ft behind the third row, 86.6 cu-ft space behind the second-row seats, and 144.9 cu-ft behind the first row.
Moving the second-row seats is more of a strain than in the 2019 Pacifica. You have to yank the seats out instead of folding them down. The third-row seats do fold down, however, so that provides some convenience. Hard knobs are included for some of the controls in the center console, but the cabin also includes several places with soft-touch materials.
Trims & Features
There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica. There are almost a dozen trims between the 35th anniversary and hybrid options. The main, trims, however, are the L, LX, Touring Plus, Touring L, Touring L Plus, and Limited.
Every Pacifica has standard 17” steel wheels, heated mirrors and keyless entry. Inside is dual-zone climate control, a 7” touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo system, and a USB port. Safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rearview camera.
Going up to the Pacifica LX ensures alloy wheels, automatic headlights, and an automatic stop-start engine. The driver also gets an eight-way power driver seat. The Touring Plus adds on fog lights up front and LED taillights for the rear. Remote engine start, a power liftgate, and power-sliding rear doors are also included. Satellite radio and another USB port have also been added to the cabin.
The Touring L gives the front passenger an eight-way power seat with lumbar adjustment. All seats are leather while the front seats are heated. Retractable sunshades are included for second and third-row passengers, too. An audio package and safety package are both available starting with the Touring L trim, but those features aren’t standard with it. Upgrades in the Touring L Plus include an 8.4” touchscreen, navigation, an Alpine audio system, heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, an additional USB port (this time in the third row).
At the top of the lineup is the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited. It rides on 18” wheels, lights up the road with xenon headlamps and LED fog lights, and blocks out high beams from rear traffic with auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors. The driver’s seat has memory settings, both front seats are ventilated, there are two sunroofs, premium leather upholstery is included throughout the cabin, and the liftgate and sliding doors are all hands-free. Another USB port was added to the second row, and the third row has power-folding seats. The built-in vacuum, which was removed from some future models, is included in the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica as well.
The 2019 Honda Odyssey comes in five trims: the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and the Elite. The LX rides on 18” wheels. Inside is standard cloth upholstery and power-adjustable front seats. Infotainment includes a five-inch display screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and a seven-speaker radio. Rounding out the technology front is remote keyless entry, push-button start, and a rearview camera.
The EX is where things really expand, adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, keyless entry, and power-sliding doors. It doesn’t end there, though! Heated side mirrors, automatic high-beam headlights, fog lights, blind spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist are all included in the 2019 Honda Odyssey EX as well.
The next trim upgrade is the EX-L with leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and a power liftgate. The Honda Odyssey Touring adds a little more, including a 10-speed transmission, navigation system, front and rear parking sensors, and a hands-free power liftgate. An in-car intercom, WiFi hotspot, and rear-seat 10.2” screen are all included, too.
Finally, the Elite trim goes even further on comfort and technology. It finishes the lineup with rain-sensing windshield wipers, 19” wheels, and, on the inside, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, and an 11-speaker sound system.
Choosing the Winner
This is a difficult choice because the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica has more power, but isn’t quite as comfortable to sit in. The most stacked option is probably the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited, however the 2019 Honda Odyssey has a WiFi hotspot, lane keep assist, and more legroom in the rear rows. Even without the handy Stow ‘n Go seats, the Odyssey has impressive enough features to win this comparison.
There aren’t as many trim options for the Odyssey, but Honda adds some of the niceties earlier on in their 2019 lineup than the Chrysler does in the 2019 Pacifica. If you get at least a 2019 Honda Odyssey EX, you’re going to be driving away with a lot of useful infotainment and safety tech on board. To compare all models of the Honda Odyssey, take a look at our Honda Odyssey Through the Years piece.
Most Popular
