2022 Nissan Armada vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with more vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic limited to higher trims. The interior offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with higher trims featuring wood panels and more chrome for a more upscale appearance. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Armada was a large and imposing SUV, measuring 208.9 inches long, 75.8 inches tall, and 79.9 inches wide. Its exterior featured sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and a tasteful amount of chrome. The Armada was available in seven colors, with deep, rich paint and lustrous chrome. Wheel sizes ranged from 18 inches on the S and SV models to 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels on the Platinum trim. The Armada's size and design made it stand out, with a luxurious finish that was hard to miss.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-speed thrills but offered smooth and steady acceleration with its 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds, which was competitive within its class. The CR-V featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that provided a consistent driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Its suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, ensuring decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Nissan Armada, on the other hand, was powered by a robust 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive available. The Armada's fuel economy was 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined for RWD models and slightly lower for 4WD models. Despite its size and weight, the Armada offered impressive acceleration and a smooth ride, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbone front and rear setups. The Armada's braking system included 13.8-inch vented disc brakes with hydraulic brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, ensuring reliable stopping power.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to comfortably fit five people and their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The tailgate options varied by trim, with the base models requiring manual operation, while higher trims offered power and hands-free tailgate options. Roof rails were only standard on the top-tier Touring trim. The CR-V's interior was practical and functional, with a focus on maximizing space and comfort.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was built to transport seven to eight people in comfort and style. The first row featured bucket seats with power adjustments, while the second row offered a fold-flat 60/40-split bench seat or available captain's chairs. The third row was spacious enough for three passengers and could be equipped with power folding and reclining functions. The Armada's interior materials ranged from cloth in the base S model to quilted leather in the Platinum trim. It also featured numerous storage cubbies, cupholders, and bottle holders throughout the cabin. The Armada's cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 95.4 cubic feet of space with the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while higher trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system varied by trim, with the Touring trim offering a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and the Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came standard with NissanConnect technology, featuring a 12.3-inch color touchscreen with a customizable split-screen option. Standard tech features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging pad (except on S models), navigation, hands-free text messaging, and a rear-view monitor. The audio system ranged from a basic setup in the S trim to a Bose-branded system with 13 speakers in the SL and Platinum models. All models included multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Platinum trim also featured a "Family Entertainment System" with dual 8-inch headrest monitors and wireless headphones.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was the blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Nissan Armada included a comprehensive list of standard safety features, such as high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional active safety systems included adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and rear-door alert. The Armada also featured dual-stage front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags. A trailer brake controller and trailer sway control were standard on higher trims. However, the IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the 2022 Armada.