Compare the2026 Chrysler PacificaVS 2026 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Chrysler Pacifica has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Pacifica offers optional Emergency Vehicle Alert System, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Enclave doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the Pacifica and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	196	234
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	35.9%
Neck Stress	117 lbs.	159 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chrysler Pacifica is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	113
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	293	346
Hip Force	616 lbs.	721 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Pacifica is 5.8% to 7.6% less likely to roll over than the Enclave.

Warranty

The Pacifica’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 3 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pacifica’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Pacifica second among minivans in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Chrysler Pacifica V6 is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.4 MPH	91.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running on electricity gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPGe
Pacifica
	FWD	Hybrid Electric Motor	87 city/77 hwy
Enclave
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Pacifica running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPG
Pacifica
	FWD	3.6 V6 Hybrid	29 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/28 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy

The Pacifica Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The Enclave can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Pacifica Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chrysler Pacifica, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

The Pacifica Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Enclave doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Pacifica’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

	Pacifica	Pacifica AWD	Enclave
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	12.4 inches

The Pacifica stops shorter than the Enclave:

	Pacifica	Enclave
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Pacifica can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Enclave doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Pacifica’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Enclave doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pacifica is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Enclave.

Chassis

The Pacifica is 3.3 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the Pacifica easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Pacifica offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Pacifica has .3 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 6.3 inches more rear hip room, .9 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, 4.4 inches more third row legroom, 1 inch more third row hip room and 3.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pacifica’s middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Pacifica is 2.3 inches lower than the Enclave (16.3” vs. 18.6”). The Pacifica’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Enclave’s (18.2” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The Pacifica’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

	Pacifica	Enclave
Behind Third Seat	32.3 cubic feet	22.9 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	87.5 cubic feet	57.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	140.5 cubic feet	97.5 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pacifica easier. The Pacifica’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 24.3 inches, while the Enclave’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

The Pacifica’s cargo area is larger than the Enclave’s in almost every dimension:

	Pacifica	Enclave
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.2”/57.5”/92.5”	22.3”/52.8”/86”
Max Width	49.3”	52.2”
Min Width	48.8”	48.6”
Height	47.6”	35”

The Pacifica has standard Stow ’n Go second and third row seats (except Hybrid for the second row), which fold flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Enclave doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pacifica. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Pacifica’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Enclave.

The Pacifica’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Pacifica’s standard sliding doors can be opened with less than three inches side clearance. The Enclave’s standard rear swing-out doors are bulky and make loading in tight spots difficult.

The Pacifica’s power side sliding doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The Enclave doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The Pacifica’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pacifica to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Chrysler Pacifica has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Buick charges extra for Homelink® on the Enclave.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica retains 45.33% to 45.67% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 41.48% resale value of the 2025 Buick Enclave after five years, which can save the Chrysler’s owner.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chrysler Pacifica and the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Pacifica as the 2017 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Enclave has never been chosen.

The Chrysler Pacifica outsold the Buick Enclave by over four to one during 2024.

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