AWD Minivan Drag Race: Toyota Sienna Vs. Chrysler Pacifica

When you thought only sports cars could deliver an interesting race, a Toyota Sienna was pitted against a Chrysler Pacifica for a minivan showdown. The victor will be determined after three performance tests: 1/4-mile performance test, 30 mph rolling test, and braking test, courtesy of TFLNow on YouTube.

But first, let's check out how the Sienna and Pacifica fare against each other. While both minivans get an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, the Pacifica makes more power using a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The power unit makes 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

However, the Sienna gains an advantage with a hybrid powertrain that adds to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine's oomph, increasing the output from 189 hp to 245 hp.

The hybrid system should provide instant power in low RPMs, which is essential for getting off the line quickly, especially in the 1/4-mile performance test.

And yes, the electric motor did help the Toyota to win the quarter-mile test comfortably. Unfortunately for the Chrysler, the result is the same after the 30 mph rolling test.

But at least the Pacifica did not lose by zero to three as it won the brake test, albeit the braking distances are almost even. The Sienna stopped slightly over 106 feet, while the Pacifica stopped after 105 feet. With that info, the presenters concluded that the latter could better prevent hitting kids in school zones.

Performance isn't the forte of minivans. As such, the presenters carried on with interior tests. Spoiler alert: The Pacifica owned the Sienna this time. The American minivan offers more space thanks to flat-folding second-row seats and could help passengers ingress and egress faster, based on the tests.

It might take quite a while before we get this type of showdown again, considering there are not a lot of entries in this class. The market has also started to favor SUVs over minivans regarding family hauling duties. Although, the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Buzz could spice up its category and make minivans cool again, especially since a hotter version of the electric people-mover is already being put on its paces.