When two vehicles go head to head, more often than not one becomes the clear victor. That’s not always the case, however, as there are simply too many similarities for some vehicles. That seems to be the case for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica and the 2021 Honda Odyssey.

While minivans aren’t exactly the top-selling vehicles in America at the moment, there is still a small but dedicated group that prefers minivans to SUVs. There aren’t many options, however, so the pickings are rather slim. The question then becomes, which minivan do you choose?

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has upped its game

The Chrysler Pacifica has had some major updates that got the attention of Consumer Reports. The review site stated, “Packing style, a roomy and versatile interior, and high levels of technology, the latest Chrysler minivan is a more compelling vehicle than the lackluster model it replaces. In terms of driving dynamics and functionality, it’s now every bit as good as the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.”

It has great speed for a minivan, gets 21 mpg, and offers a plug-in hybrid version that gets 27 mpg. These changes have brought the Pacifica some much-needed love, and consumers are starting to take notice. 

Consumer Reports was very pleased with how well the Pacifica handles while driving, as well as the abundance of storage space. It’s only got a predicted reliability rating of two out of five, however. 

The 2021 Honda Odyssey is still a great buy

Consumer Reports was highly impressed with the Honda Odyssey, and stated that it has “a premium feel.” It’s got a smooth, quiet ride that leaves riders feeling comfy as they travel down the highway.

The 2021 Odyssey also offers better gas mileage than the Chrysler Pacifica. It gets a total of 22 mpg. That’s not a major difference, but it might be enough to sway buyers on the fence.

There is no hybrid version, however, which can be a sore point with critics. The Odyssey also has some rather low scores that have dragged it down. In spite of this, Consumer Reports still considers it to be a great vehicle and highly recommends it. 

Is it really a tie between the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica?

Consumer Reports has ranked both the 2021 Pacifica and the 2021 Odyssey with a score of 68. That’s not exactly stellar, but it’s not terrible either. In spite of the fact that both have earned the same score, Consumer Reports still considers the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica to be the superior vehicle and even ranked it as No. 1 in midsize minivans.

This is due in large part to the fact that the Pacifica scored a 4.0 out of 5.0 in predicted owner satisfaction, while the Odyssey scored a 3.0 out of 5.0. It’s not a huge difference, but it was enough to help the Pacifica stand out.

According to Consumer Reports, 76 percent of owners would recommend the Pacifica again, while only 70 percent would recommend the Odyssey. The Pacifica earned mostly high scores in driving experience, comfort, and styling, but only 50 percent believe the value is worth what they paid. 

The Odyssey performed much worse. Owners tended to rank it low in terms of driving experience, comfort, and styling. Only 38 percent believe what they got is worth the money they paid. 

With that said, it’s important to note that Consumer Reports based these scores on the 2020 models. As more people buy the 2021 models and Consumer Reports is provided with more specific data, these scores may change.