2021 Nissan Armada vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior with Nissan's new signature design. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional robust and athletic styling. The SUV featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern look akin to the Nissan Kicks, Rogue, and Pathfinder. The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL. The Platinum trim, tested in prototype form, showcased body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield. Depending on the trim, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The SUV's new logo was prominently displayed on various parts, including the grille and wheel caps. Despite these updates, the Armada's rear design remained mostly unchanged, retaining an underbite that quickly accumulated dirt and mud, a feature that aged the model compared to its redesigned competitors.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, continuing its second generation into its 14th year, maintained a mature design with modest updates over the years. Its exterior design, characterized by a modestly sized grille and elegant wheel arches, adhered to the principle that "good taste never goes out of style." The Sequoia's dimensions—77 inches tall, 79.9 inches wide, and 205.1 inches long—contributed to its imposing presence. Inside, the Sequoia's design appeared dated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen that seemed out of place compared to modern SUVs. However, the interior was well-constructed, with high-quality materials and tight seams, ensuring durability. The Nightshade Special Edition, based on the Limited model, featured darkened chrome or black-painted finishes, enhancing its contemporary appeal.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. Paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, the Armada offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with four-wheel drive available. Despite its weight of over 6,000 pounds, the Armada was a capable off-roader, featuring a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi twin-tube shock absorbers. Its fuel economy was on the lower end, with RWD models achieving 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, while 4WD models managed 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. The Armada excelled in towing, with a best-in-class capacity of 8,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a 5.7-liter i-Force V8 engine, producing 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, offered a lockable Torsen limited-slip center differential and a two-speed transfer case in 4WD models. The Sequoia's truck roots contributed to its 1,300-pound payload capacity and 7,400-pound towing capacity. Despite its weight of up to 6,000 pounds, the Sequoia delivered a smooth and stable ride, with a fuel economy of 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway for RWD models, and 13 mpg city and 14 mpg highway for 4WD models. Its off-road capabilities were enhanced by a four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension, with the TRD Pro model offering further enhancements.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. Its broad interior featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, though some controls were out of reach for the driver. The first and second rows provided comfortable seating, with power-adjustable front seats and optional captain's chairs in higher trims. The third row was less comfortable for adults, and cargo space was limited, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The high load floor made loading and unloading challenging, and small-item storage was limited, except for a deep center console storage bin.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, with spacious seating across all three rows and three-zone climate control. A standard power moonroof added to the airy feel, while heated and ventilated front seats were available. The Sequoia offered ample storage, with a large center console, glove compartment, and door pockets. Its cargo area featured an auxiliary 12-volt outlet and provided 18.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 66.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 120.1 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad, 13-speaker Bose audio system, rearview camera mirror, and second-row entertainment system were available. The Armada Platinum included these features as standard, though its analog tachometer and speedometer, along with a basic steering wheel, felt less sophisticated.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.5-inch TFT driver information screen. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with WiFi connectivity and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited trim added navigation and a 12-speaker audio system, while a premium package offered 14 JBL speakers and an amplifier. Despite lacking modern powertrain technology, the Sequoia featured LED exterior lighting and standard safety features like a rear backup camera and parking sonar.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating due to a 23.7-percent rollover risk. It came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, though advanced driving assist technologies were not available.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia also lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. It featured the Toyota Safety Sense P suite, with pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, along with the STAR safety system, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and more. The Sequoia also offered a full complement of airbags, LATCH connectors, crumple zones, and trailer sway-control.