Nissan Armada vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2026 Nissan Armada was a striking departure from the typical bulky SUV aesthetic, incorporating a sportier design reminiscent of Nissan's crossovers. Despite its boxy structure with hard angles on the A-pillars and D-pillars, the Armada featured softer curves on the bumpers and fenders, creating a balanced surface contrast. The imposing double-bracketed running lights and wide chrome bars across the grille added to its commanding presence. Compared to its American counterparts like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe, the Armada appeared more svelte, aligning more closely in size with the Toyota Sequoia. The NISMO variant, with its Tokyo street style, was a unique and racy version, featuring bright red accent lines and a lowered body, enhancing its sporty appeal. Inside, the Armada boasted a red and black theme with microsuede accents, metal pedal covers, and a NISMO tachometer, offering a high-quality interior experience.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, available exclusively in the Sport design in Canada, maintained the same footprint as its predecessor but introduced buffer bumpers for added length. The GR Sport trim, inspired by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, showcased racier elements like red brake calipers and a wide mesh grille. The RAV4's design embraced a square, truck-like presence with boxy wheel arches and bulges over the fenders. Inside, the RAV4 offered a streamlined design with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen, with the option for a larger 12.9-inch display on top trims. The interior featured clever storage solutions, such as a shelf over the dashboard and deep door pockets, optimizing space despite its compact dimensions. The GR Sport trim, with its lower stance and enhanced suspension, provided a sportier driving experience without compromising comfort.

The 2026 Nissan Armada was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the most powerful in its class. The NISMO variant further boosted output to 460 hp with premium fuel, offering a refined and smooth driving experience. The Armada's nine-speed automatic transmission ensured quick and effortless acceleration, while its air suspension provided excellent body control and a compliant ride. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada offered secure braking and impressive towing capacity of 3,850 kilograms. Fuel economy was estimated at 14.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 12.4 on the highway, comparable to other full-size SUVs.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The larger 22.7-kwh battery pack extended the electric range to 80 kilometres. The RAV4's all-wheel-drive system, with a large front motor and a smaller rear motor, provided a seamless transition of power. In EV mode, the RAV4 excelled in quiet cruising, while Auto mode delivered a satisfying power band with an unofficial 0-100 km/h time in the low five seconds. The GR Sport trim, with its lower stance and enhanced suspension, offered improved handling and reduced body roll. Despite its weight of around 2,040 kilograms, the RAV4 maintained a spirited ride without sacrificing comfort.

The 2026 Nissan Armada offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with generous headroom in all three rows. The second-row legroom was comparable to the first, but the Armada fell short in interior space compared to longer American SUVs. The "Zero Gravity" cushioning in the seats, inspired by NASA research, provided exceptional comfort, especially with the 10-way heated, cooled, and massaging front seats. The Armada's cargo capacity was substantial, with 578 litres behind the third row and 2,750 litres with both the second and third rows folded. The air suspension allowed for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained its compact dimensions but optimized interior space with clever storage features. The base SE trim offered power-adjustable and heated front seats, while higher trims featured synthetic leather upholstery and ventilated seats. The RAV4's interior was designed for comfort, with 960 millimetres of rear legroom and a spacious cargo area of 951 litres, expandable to 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded. The multi-pathway powertrain platform allowed for a flat cargo floor and a temporary spare tire under the cargo floor.

The 2026 Nissan Armada came equipped with two 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Klipsch stereo. Higher trims featured larger 14.3-inch displays and ProPilot Assist 2.1 with hands-free operation on highways. The Armada also offered a digital rearview mirror, integrated trailer brake controller, and a built-in dash cam on select trims. NissanConnect services provided additional features like stolen vehicle tracking and remote vehicle control.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch display on top trims. The touchscreen offered customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to settings. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times. The Voice Assistant responded to a wide range of prompts, and the system allowed for easy location of chargers along routes.

The 2026 Nissan Armada included a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and a surround-view camera system. Standard airbags included front, front-side, front-knee, and curtain airbags. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing, but the extensive list of safety features provided reassurance.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, offering a wide range of driver assistance features. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. The RAV4's safety enhancements aimed to improve responsiveness and detection, contributing to its strong safety record. Crash-test ratings were pending from the IIHS and NHTSA.