2022 Nissan Armada vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Lincoln's design language, first seen on the Navigator, was successfully carried over to the Aviator, which debuted in 2020 and remained mostly unchanged for 2021. The Aviator's sharp lines and chrome accents made it an exceptionally stylish vehicle. Inside, the Aviator's cabin was a testament to comfort and warmth, with soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen dominating the dash. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Armada was a large and imposing vehicle, measuring 208.9 inches in length and 75.8 inches in height. Its exterior featured sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and a tasteful amount of chrome. The Armada's tailgate had a large expanse of convex glass and big taillamps. Available in seven colors, the Armada's finish was deep and rich, with 18-inch wheels standard on the S and SV models, 20-inch on the SL trim, and 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels on the Platinum trim.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine on its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration of the same engine, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid could travel up to 21 miles on electric power alone. The Aviator's drive mode selector included unique names like "Excite" and "Conserve," reflecting its balanced performance.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with a naturally aspirated 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 (RWD) standard and four-wheel drive (4WD) available. The Armada's fuel economy was 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined for RWD models and 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined for 4WD versions. Despite its weight of 5,650 to 6,034 pounds, the Armada could tow up to 8,500 pounds. Its four-wheel independent suspension provided a controlled ride, even on rutted roads.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio controls. However, the power-button door releases could be a concern if the battery died.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was designed to transport seven to eight people comfortably. The first row had bucket seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way for the front passenger. The second row could be a 60/40-split bench seat or captain's chairs with an optional center console. The third-row bench seat could accommodate three passengers and had power folding and reclining functions. The Armada offered 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with the second row down. A power liftgate was standard on SL and Platinum models.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was user-friendly and had a sensible menu layout. The Aviator came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented with large icons. The fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) provided clear and crisp graphics.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with NissanConnect technology, featuring a 12.3-inch color touchscreen in a landscape orientation. This screen allowed for a customizable split-screen option. Standard tech features included a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging pad (except on S models), navigation, hands-free text messaging, and a rear-view monitor. The SL and Platinum models had a Bose audio system with 13 speakers, while the base S trim had a four-speaker system. All models included USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Nissan Armada included the Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety systems included adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, and intelligent lane intervention. The Armada had 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. The IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the 2022 Armada.