2022 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with Nissan's new signature style. Despite these 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, which we tested, showcased a modernized upper centre stack, though the interior design choices, such as rouched materials and abstract patterned hard plastic inlays, made the cabin feel dated.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Explorer offered a sleek and athletic appearance, thanks to its rear-drive platform that allowed for a long hood and rakish roofline. The Explorer's design included blacked-out roof pillars, creating a floating roof effect. The cabin of higher-trim Explorers combined quality materials with some questionable ones, but overall, it felt worthy of its price point. The Explorer's design was more contemporary, with a focus on a sporty look, especially in the new ST-Line trim.

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. It featured a 7-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD, making it a capable off-roader despite its hefty weight of over 2,700 kilograms. The Armada's fuel efficiency was less impressive, with an estimated 17.5 L/100 km in the city and 12.9 on the highway. It boasted a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms, making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains, including a turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It also had a hybrid option with a 3.3-litre V6 engine, producing 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine was available, generating 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's fuel consumption varied, with the hybrid being the most efficient at 9.6 L/100 km. The Explorer's ride was robust, offering a traditional SUV feel with improved off-road capabilities, especially in the Timberline model.

The 2021 Nissan Armada provided ample space for families, with comfortable first- and second-row seating. The Platinum trim offered captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was less comfortable for adults, and cargo space was limited, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row. The Armada's high load floor made loading and unloading challenging for petite individuals. Small-item storage was limited, but the centre console storage bin was spacious.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five with a second-row bench seat. The third-row seat was best suited for children due to limited legroom. Higher trims featured amenities like heated and ventilated front seats and a power-adjustable heated steering wheel. The Explorer's cargo space was more generous, with 528 litres behind the third row and up to 2,132 litres with both rear rows folded. However, practical storage within the cabin was lacking, with limited pockets and cubbies.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with standard navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Armada's tech was comprehensive, though the steering wheel controls were basic.

The 2022 Ford Explorer came with two versions of the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring either an 8-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen. The system included FordPass Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. However, the Explorer's Sync 3 system lagged behind Ford's newer Sync 4 technology, particularly in voice recognition capabilities. The Platinum trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating. It came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including features like automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning. However, it lacked advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It featured Ford Co-Pilot360, with standard safety features like forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The Explorer's safety systems operated smoothly, though the lane-centring assist occasionally disengaged on sharp curves.