Sport Durst CDJR | Durham, NC
2026 Chrysler Pacifica vs. 2026 Honda Odyssey
The Pacifica offers AWD on every trim. The Odyssey does not offer it on any. That one fact shapes the rest of this comparison.
Starting $1,780 less than the Odyssey
Head-to-Head: Pacifica vs. Odyssey
Both are strong minivans. Here is where each one wins.
| 2026 Chrysler Pacifica | 2026 Honda Odyssey | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | ~$42,465 WIN | ~$44,245 |
| AWD Available | Yes, all trims WIN | No (FWD only) |
| 2nd-Row Fold-Flat | Stow 'n Go (Select, Limited) WIN | No flat-fold option |
| Towing (when properly equipped) | 3,600 lbs WIN | 3,500 lbs |
| Horsepower | 287 hp WIN | 280 hp |
| Infotainment Screen | 10.1 in WIN | 9 in |
| FWD Fuel Economy (EPA est.) | 22 mpg combined | 22 mpg combined (tie) |
| Max Cargo (all seats stowed) | 140.5 cu ft | 140.7 cu ft (slight edge) |
| Magic Slide 2nd-Row Seats | N/A | Standard all trims |
| Entry Trim Includes | Select: Stow 'n Go, wireless CarPlay, 10.1" screen, heated front seats WIN | EX-L: Magic Slide, wireless CarPlay, 9" screen, heated front seats |
Where the Pacifica Wins
Four Advantages That Matter to Triangle Families
AWD Available
The Honda Odyssey Does Not Offer AWD. Period.
Every trim of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica -- Select, Limited, and Pinnacle -- offers available all-wheel drive. The 2026 Honda Odyssey is front-wheel drive only, on every trim, with no AWD option. For Triangle families who drive to the mountains in January, haul kids to soccer in an ice storm, or just want traction confidence on wet NC roads, that difference is not minor.
AWD adds approximately $2,000 to the Pacifica's price, which still puts a Pacifica Select AWD below an Odyssey EX-L FWD.
3Pacifica trims with AWD available
0Odyssey trims with AWD
Class-Exclusive
Stow 'n Go: The Seats Disappear Into the Floor
On the Select and Limited, the Pacifica's second-row seats fold completely flat into the floor -- no lifting, no storing seats in the garage, no reconfiguring before a Costco run. You go from 8-seat minivan to flat-floor cargo van in about 60 seconds. No competing minivan does this on the second row.
The Odyssey's second-row seats slide, fold, and recline, but they do not go into the floor. If you frequently haul furniture, appliances, or anything that benefits from a flat cargo surface, Stow 'n Go is genuinely useful. Note: the Pinnacle uses premium captain's chairs instead of Stow 'n Go.
140.5cu ft max cargo (Pacifica)
32.2cu ft behind 3rd row
Value
More Features at a Lower Entry Price
The Pacifica Select starts at approximately $42,465 -- about $1,780 less than the Odyssey EX-L at approximately $44,245. Both entry trims include wireless CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, heated front seats, and power sliding doors. But the Pacifica Select adds Stow 'n Go, a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen (versus the Odyssey's 9-inch screen), and AWD availability.
At the same price point, you get more on the Pacifica. At a lower price point, you still get AWD availability. That math works out in Chrysler's favor at every trim level.
$42,465Pacifica Select starting
$44,245Odyssey EX-L starting
Best in Class
The Best Towing in the Minivan Segment
With the available Trailer Tow Group, the 2026 Pacifica tows up to 3,600 lbs when properly equipped -- the highest tow rating in the minivan segment. The Odyssey tows up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped. Neither number will impress a truck owner, but 3,600 lbs handles a small boat, a personal watercraft trailer, or a pop-up camper without issue.
For Durham families running to Jordan Lake or Falls Lake on weekends, or heading to the Outer Banks with a kayak trailer, the Pacifica is the minivan that handles the extra weight with margin to spare.
3,600lbs Pacifica towing (when properly equipped)
3,500lbs Odyssey towing (when properly equipped)
The Honest Summary
The Odyssey is a well-built minivan. Its Magic Slide seats are clever, its fuel economy is solid (matching the Pacifica FWD on combined mpg), and Honda's reliability reputation is real. If you live somewhere flat with mild winters and will never tow anything, it is a competitive choice.
But the Pacifica is the better fit for most Triangle families. The combination of AWD availability, Stow 'n Go seating, a lower starting price, and best-in-class towing adds up to a more versatile vehicle for North Carolina driving. You can get into a Pacifica Select with AWD for roughly the same price as an Odyssey EX-L with FWD. Sport Durst CDJR in Durham stocks the full Pacifica lineup and can walk you through the tradeoffs in person.
Full Breakdown
Specs Compared: 2026 Pacifica vs. Odyssey
All figures from manufacturer specifications as of June 2026. Confirm current pricing with Sport Durst CDJR.
| Spec | 2026 Chrysler Pacifica | 2026 Honda Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | ~$42,465 (Select) | ~$44,245 (EX-L) |
| Engine | 3.6L Pentastar V6 | 3.5L i-VTEC V6 |
| Horsepower | 287 hp | 280 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard, AWD available all trims | FWD only |
| EPA MPG City / Hwy (FWD) | 19 / 28 mpg | 19 / 28 mpg |
| EPA MPG Combined (FWD) | 22 mpg | 22 mpg |
| EPA MPG (AWD) | 17 / 25 mpg | N/A (FWD only) |
| Towing (when properly equipped) | 3,600 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| 2nd-Row Fold-Flat | Stow 'n Go (Select, Limited) | No flat-fold |
| Seating Capacity | 7 or 8 | 8 |
| Cargo (behind 3rd row) | 32.2 cu ft | 32.8 cu ft |
| Cargo (max, seats stowed) | 140.5 cu ft | 140.7 cu ft |
| Infotainment Screen | 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 | 9-inch |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | ||
| Wireless Android Auto | ||
| Warranty (Basic / Powertrain) | 3yr/36K / 5yr/60K | 3yr/36K / 5yr/60K |
*Starting MSRP as of June 2026. Excludes taxes, title, destination, and dealer fees. EPA estimates for comparison. Actual mileage will vary.
Interior
Three Rows, Eight Seats, and Stow 'n Go to Swallow Everything Else
The 2026 Pacifica seats up to 8 in a bench configuration or 7 with captain's chairs. On the Select and Limited, the second-row Stow 'n Go seats drop into the floor, turning the cabin into a flat-floor cargo space without removing a seat from the vehicle. The Honda Odyssey's Magic Slide seats reconfigure more positions than the Pacifica, but they do not fold into the floor.
The Pinnacle swaps Stow 'n Go for premium captain's chairs with lumbar support pillows, a FamCAM interior camera, Amazon Fire TV Built-in, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It is a different experience from the Select, but a deliberate one.
- Up to 243 seating configurations on the Select and Limited
- Second-row seats fold into the floor in seconds -- no storage needed
- Pinnacle: rear-seat entertainment, Harman Kardon audio, Amazon Fire TV
Technology
Uconnect 5 Comes Standard. A 10.1-Inch Screen, Not 9.
Every 2026 Pacifica gets the Uconnect 5 with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa built in. Over-the-air software updates keep the system current without a dealer visit. The Honda Odyssey runs a 9-inch screen across all trims.
The Pacifica also gets a digital instrument cluster display. The Pinnacle adds seatback-mounted rear touchscreens -- two of them -- so the back rows can run their own entertainment without the driver's involvement. On a 3.5-hour drive from Durham to the Outer Banks, that matters more than it sounds.
- 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 standard on all trims (vs. 9-inch on Odyssey)
- Over-the-air software updates -- no dealer trip needed
- Pinnacle: dual rear seatback touchscreens + Amazon Fire TV
Safety
The SafetyTec Plus Suite: Standard on Every Pacifica
The 2026 Pacifica's standard SafetyTec Plus package covers the full list: Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control. The Honda Sensing suite on the Odyssey covers similar ground, and both systems are genuinely capable.
Where the Pacifica steps ahead is at the Pinnacle trim: a 360-degree surround-view camera system that makes parking a full-size minivan in a Durham parking deck considerably less stressful.
- SafetyTec Plus standard -- no safety package upsell needed
- Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection standard
- Pinnacle: 360-degree surround-view camera
2026 Chrysler Pacifica
Gallery
By the Numbers
The Pacifica in Four Stats
$42,465Starting MSRP$1,780 less than Odyssey entry
3,600Lbs TowingBest in class, when properly equipped
140.5Cu Ft CargoStow 'n Go configuration (Select, Limited)
3Trims with AWDSelect, Limited, Pinnacle
Sport Durst Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM in Durham, NC
We carry the full 2026 Chrysler Pacifica lineup at our dealership on Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd -- Select, Limited, and Pinnacle, in FWD and AWD configurations. We are on US-15-501, a few minutes off I-40, close to Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle Park.
The 2026 Pacifica is a strong choice for Durham-area families. Come drive it back-to-back with whatever else you are considering. We will not rush you.
- Address 4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
- Phone(919) 873-4578
- InventoryBrowse Pacifica inventory
- FinanceApply online
- ServiceSchedule service
Customer Feedback
What Durham Drivers Say About Sport Durst
Common Questions
Pacifica vs. Odyssey FAQ
Is the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica or Honda Odyssey better for families?
It depends on what your family needs. The Pacifica is the better pick if you want AWD (not offered on the Odyssey at all), Stow 'n Go fold-flat seats, a lower starting price, or best-in-class towing at 3,600 lbs when properly equipped. The Odyssey's Magic Slide seats are clever and its reliability is well documented. For Triangle families who occasionally deal with winter weather or haul a trailer to Jordan Lake, the Pacifica's AWD availability is a practical advantage the Odyssey simply does not offer.
Does the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica have AWD?
Yes. AWD is available on all three 2026 Chrysler Pacifica trims -- Select, Limited, and Pinnacle. The Honda Odyssey does not offer AWD on any trim; all 2026 Odysseys are front-wheel drive only. AWD adds approximately $2,000 to the Pacifica's price across the lineup.
What is Stow 'n Go on the Chrysler Pacifica?
Stow 'n Go is Chrysler's class-exclusive seating system that lets the Pacifica's second-row seats fold completely flat into the floor, creating a flat cargo surface without removing seats from the vehicle. No competing minivan offers this feature on the second row. Note that the Pinnacle trim uses captain's chairs instead of Stow 'n Go. If fold-flat seats matter, choose the Select or Limited.
Does the 2026 Pacifica have better fuel economy than the Odyssey?
The FWD versions of both minivans match at an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined. The Pacifica AWD drops to approximately 20 mpg combined -- the trade-off for all-wheel drive capability. If fuel economy is your top priority and you will never use AWD, the Odyssey FWD and Pacifica FWD are equal. If AWD matters at all, the Pacifica is the only one that offers it.
Is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid available for 2026?
No. The Pacifica Hybrid PHEV has been discontinued for MY2026. Stellantis ended all North American plug-in hybrid programs starting with the 2026 model year. The 2026 Pacifica is a gasoline-only vehicle in three trims: Select, Limited, and Pinnacle.
What is the towing capacity of the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
The 2026 Pacifica tows up to 3,600 lbs when properly equipped with the available Trailer Tow Group. That is the best tow rating in the minivan class. The Honda Odyssey tows up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped. Towing requires the trailer package; contact Sport Durst CDJR in Durham at (919) 873-4578 for specifics.
Can I test drive the 2026 Pacifica in Durham?
Yes. Sport Durst Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM is at 4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd in Durham, NC, just off I-40 and US-15-501 near Duke University. Sales hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Call (919) 873-4578 or browse inventory online to schedule a test drive.
Ready to Drive the 2026 Chrysler Pacifica?
Sport Durst CDJR has the full Pacifica lineup in Durham. Schedule a test drive or start your finance application online.
4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707