Despite the enduring popularity of SUVs, the minivan remains the ultimate utility vehicle for suburban families. With seating for up to eight passengers, cargo space comparable to a box van, incredibly convenient sliding doors, and versatile seating configurations, the minivan’s only real limitation has been powertrain options. But even that’s changing rapidly.
For years, if you wanted an all-wheel-drive (AWD) minivan, the Toyota Sienna was the only choice. Now, the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica offers AWD as well. Similarly, the Chrysler Pacifica used to have a monopoly on the plug-in hybrid minivan market. Now, the 2025 Toyota Sienna comes standard as a hybrid and achieves an EPA-rated 35 mpg combined with AWD. Deciding between these five minivans has never been more challenging, nor the outcomes more rewarding. But which of these two leading minivans is better, and why?
Trims: Pacifica vs. Sienna
The Chrysler Pacifica is available in Select, Limited, or Pinnacle trim levels with either gasoline or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Sienna offers six trim levels, all of which are hybrids. Our picks would be the Pacifica Touring L Hybrid and the Sienna XLE.
Both of these top-selling minivans come in at least four versions. Chrysler offers the Pacifica in Select, Limited, and Pinnacle editions. A lower-cost Voyager model has also made its return. The Pacifica Hybrid is available in Select, Limited S Appearance, and Pinnacle trims. The Sienna is offered in LE, XLE, Woodland, XSE, Limited, and Platinum models.
Advantage: The Pacifica provides more variety.
Price and Features: Comparing Value
Starting under $41,000, the Sienna is approximately $3,000 less expensive than the Pacifica. The Pacifica plug-in hybrid costs roughly $7,000 more than the gasoline-only Pacifica. Power-sliding side doors are a standard feature on both.
Which Toyota Sienna Should You Buy?
Minivans, like all new vehicles, are becoming more expensive, but they’re also improving with more standard features. The base Sienna LE, priced at $40,500, comes with standard power sliding doors, an array of safety technology, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The XLE adds synthetic leather upholstery and a sunroof, while the Limited features real leather, navigation, JBL audio, and an intercom system for the driver to communicate with passengers in the third row.
Fully Loaded Sienna
The Sienna Platinum with all-wheel drive costs around $58,000.
Which Chrysler Pacifica Should You Buy?
The Pacifica Voyager starts at about $42,000, which includes heated front seats, LED headlights, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s only available with front-wheel drive. It is worth investing a bit more in the Touring L, which adds synthetic leather upholstery and opens up the option of packages that include enhanced safety technology, tech upgrades, and available AWD. Upgrading to the Limited model provides standard leather and a sunroof. Adding all-wheel drive adds approximately $3,000 to the price.
Fully Loaded Pacifica
The Hybrid Pinnacle edition is priced around $62,000.
Is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Worth It?
The Pacifica is available as a plug-in hybrid, but only with front-wheel drive, costing about $12,000 more than the base Sienna. If you have access to electric-car charging at home, the Hybrid Select, priced around $53,000, offers a good electric-only driving range. We were impressed by this offering.
Advantage: The Sienna wins in base trims, but the Pacifica is a more appealing option at the high end.
Gas Mileage: Efficiency Showdown
The Sienna takes the lead in fuel economy.
Fuel Efficiency Details
The Toyota Sienna is the champion of fuel economy. Even with all-wheel drive, the Sienna achieves an EPA-rated 35 mpg combined – impressive for a vehicle of this size. With front-wheel drive, it’s 36 mpg combined. The Pacifica gets 20 mpg combined with all-wheel drive, a difference that could cost owners an extra $650 in fuel costs annually over the Sienna, according to the EPA. The front-wheel-drive Pacifica achieves 22 mpg combined. The Pacifica plug-in hybrid provides a 32-mile electric range, which covers most daily driving needs before requiring an overnight charge. Without electric power, it still returns a respectable 30 mpg combined.
Advantage: Sienna in base configuration; Pacifica as a plug-in hybrid.
Interior and Cargo Space: Practicality and Comfort
The Pacifica shines with its “Stow ‘N Go” seating system.
Practicality and Flexibility
The Pacifica offers a larger interior and a more premium feel than the Sienna, with a seating system that is ultimately more practical. Drivers will find comfort in both minivans. The Pacifica’s standard power driver’s seat includes an armrest that is integrated into the seat. The Sienna’s armrest is part of the console, with the other armrest on the door, which can occasionally create awkward driving positions. The Pacifica offers more road-trip-ready comfort. The Sienna includes a convenient dashboard storage shelf that runs from the center stack to the passenger’s side vent, perfect for phones and other family essentials. It also has a two-tiered center console, providing more storage space. However, the utilitarian Sienna can’t match the Pacifica’s premium fit and finish. The Pacifica’s versatility is undeniable with its second-row “Stow ’N Go” fold-away seats that collapse and store in the floor, although the process requires a little finesse. These are available on all-wheel-drive models, but not on the Hybrid, which stores its battery where the seats would be stowed. Accessing the third row is made easy for both children and adults with pull straps down low and firm latches at the top.
Sienna vs. Pacifica: Third-Row Access
The fixed position of the Pacifica’s second row limits third-row space, although the third rows in both minivans recline for increased comfort. The Sienna’s second-row seats, on the other hand, offer a different advantage: They slide up to 25 inches (and can be equipped with footrests) to make accessing the third row much easier. The Sienna has more seating room and significantly greater legroom, easily accommodating two adults in the front two rows. The only catch for some Sienna fans is that the second row can no longer be removed due to second-row airbags. However, the seat bottoms flip up, and the seats move to be flush against the back of the front seats. Folding down the Sienna’s third row is a simple task. The handles on the 60/40 split seat can be pulled with one hand and dropped into a cargo bay that’s one cubic foot deeper than the Pacifica’s. Top Pacifica trims have power-reclining seats, which take a bit more time, but are unmatched for convenience.
Advantage: Pacifica.
Performance: Driving Experience
The Pacifica delivers a punchier V-6 engine, while the Sienna prioritizes composed handling.
Powertrain Comparison
The Pacifica’s 287-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine accelerates quickly off the line, while the Hybrids use a battery pack and electric motor paired with a 260-hp version of the engine. Both use a 9-speed automatic transmission for generally responsive power output, although the heavier Hybrids are perceptibly slower. The Sienna features a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine and a 1.9-kwh battery powering an electric motor, for a total of 245 hp. Under light loads, it can accelerate in EV mode up to around 15 mph, but the engine strains to meet demand on heavy throttle. It is the slowest minivan, but still quick enough to please most drivers.
AWD Systems
All-wheel drive is available on some versions of the Sienna. On these models, a rear electric motor sends up to 80% of the torque to the rear axle. The Sienna offers a more assured feel and confident handling compared to the Pacifica, which provides good highway tracking and a more composed ride. The Sienna feels more composed through corners, while the Pacifica tends to lean more readily into turns.
Advantage: A split decision – the Pacifica for power and the Sienna for its composure.
Safety: Driver-Assist and Protection
Both minivans offer standard automatic emergency braking.
Safety Technology
The Sienna includes 10 airbags, while the Pacifica has eight. Both come standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and automatic high beams. The Pacifica adds blind-spot monitors, and both offer optional surround-view camera systems and cabin cameras. Both the Sienna and the Pacifica earn five-star NHTSA ratings and Top Safety Pick awards from the IIHS, but the Pacifica’s scores are from 2023, and the Sienna’s most recent score has a single Marginal test result in the latest front-impact test. It is possible that neither will earn the award in future reviews.
Advantage: Slightly to the Pacifica, with more standard safety equipment.
Design: Aesthetics and Style
Design Comparison
The Sienna borrows design elements from the Toyota Highlander. The Pacifica has a sportier approach. From the rear wheel forward, the Pacifica looks as good as the better-looking SUVs out there, especially with available 20-inch wheels.
Advantage: The Pacifica is arguably more attractive, inside and out.
Infotainment: Technology and Features
Both the Pacifica and Sienna offer Amazon Alexa integration.
Infotainment Systems
The Pacifica comes with more features that look, act, and feel better. The centerpiece is a 10.1-inch touchscreen that’s easy to use and has excellent natural voice commands. The Sienna’s standard setup has an 8.0-inch touchscreen, which can be upgraded to 12.3 inches in higher trims. Both vans feature Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility as standard.
Advantage: Pacifica.
Warranty: Coverage Details
Both vans offer a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Pacifica Hybrid battery is covered for a minimum of 10 years or 100,000 miles, while the Sienna’s battery warranty extends to 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also provides two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary scheduled service.
Advantage: The Sienna has a longer battery warranty.
Chrysler Pacifica vs. Toyota Sienna: Which Minivan Wins?
Both the Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna are awarded high ratings from major publications. Both prioritize safety and interior space, meeting the critical minivan requirements. We often favor the performance and versatility of the Chrysler Pacifica. It has been the best family hauler on the market, but the competition is catching up. The Pacifica can overcome the deficit in fuel economy, but the upgrade to the plug-in hybrid model increases cost and omits the fold-away second-row seat. The Toyota Sienna is an impressive minivan and worthy of consideration for any family’s shopping list. It’s refined and has excellent gas mileage across all models, though the middle-row seats don’t fold out of the way, and the third row offers less space than the Pacifica, despite being easier to access.
Winner: Both are excellent choices, but the Pacifica PHEV is the winner for fuel economy and utility; the Sienna excels in handling and hybrid gas mileage.
