2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with the new signature look of the Nissan brand. Despite the modern updates, the Armada retained its traditional beefy and athletic body styling, featuring a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights. The SUV was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the latter offering captain’s chairs as an option. The Platinum trim, tested in prototype form, showcased body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a power sliding sunroof, among other features. The Armada's new logo was prominently displayed on various parts of the vehicle, and a new exterior colour, Coulis Red Pearl, was added to the lineup. However, the interior remained somewhat dated, with modern tech features contrasting with older design elements.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, while often compared to a minivan, offered a stylish alternative for those seeking an SUV. It featured a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with updated wheel options and colour choices. The RS trim, tested, included blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, contributing to its appealing design. The Traverse's interior was equipped with black leather upholstery, contrast stitching, and gloss black trim, though hard plastic surfaces were prevalent. The layout was simple and logical, with user-friendly controls for the stereo and climate systems. The Traverse was praised for its styling restraint, making it one of the more attractive options in its segment.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the Armada offered automatic 4WD and a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms. Despite its size and weight, the Armada was a capable off-roader, featuring a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. However, its fuel efficiency was on the higher end, with a combined rating of 15.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It offered a tow rating of 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped, with various driving modes for different conditions. The Traverse's fuel economy was rated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined, with the test vehicle achieving 11.3 L/100 km. The Traverse provided a firm yet compliant ride, with good handling and predictable behaviour, though it was prone to floating on undulating roads.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, power-adjustable front seats, and optional second-row captain’s chairs. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with all seats folded. However, the high load floor made loading and unloading challenging for petite individuals, and small-item storage was limited.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS trim, featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated access to the third row. The Traverse offered generous legroom and headroom, though the captain’s chairs lacked leg support. Cargo space was 651 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,781 litres with all seats folded. The Traverse also included hidden storage compartments and well-designed door panels for additional storage.

The 2021 Nissan Armada boasted a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with features like navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and rear-seat entertainment system. The steering wheel, though functional, lacked the sophistication of other Nissan models.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, depending on the trim, with Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The RS trim included a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The Traverse's voice recognition system was praised for its accuracy, and the digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were appreciated for enhancing visibility.

The 2021 Nissan Armada came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. However, it lacked advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rollover rating due to its 23.7-percent rollover risk.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse included Chevy Safety Assist as standard, with features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received Good ratings from the IIHS in most categories but was rated Poor for its LED headlights and seatbelt reminders.