2021 Nissan Armada vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Nissan Armada, a close relative of the Nissan Patrol, received a significant facelift, aligning it with Nissan's new signature exterior design. The SUV retained its traditional beefy and athletic body styling while incorporating modern elements like a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights. The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL trim. The highest Platinum trim level featured body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield and front side windows. Depending on the trim, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires.

The 2022 Kia EV6, in contrast, presented a sportier and more svelte design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. The EV6 was lower and wider visually, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the furthest corners of the chassis, giving the car a wide stance similar to a Porsche 911. The headlights traced a V-shaped pattern, and the wedgy profile with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler added to its sleek appearance. The interior boasted dual 12-inch screens, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather, creating a futuristic and comfortable cabin.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a robust Endurance 5.6-liter V8 engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The SUV came standard with rear-wheel drive, with an optional automatic four-wheel drive. Despite its hefty 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. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with RWD models achieving 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, while 4WD models managed 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. The Armada excelled in towing, with a best-in-class capacity of 8,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, tested at launch, featured two electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. With a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, the EV6 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, arriving in fall 2022, promised 576 horsepower and a sub-3.5-second 0-60 time. The EV6 offered multiple regenerative braking settings, including a strong I-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging performance varied, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW but often limited by available charging infrastructure.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as Nissan’s flagship SUV, offered practicality and functionality for families. The interior featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, but the broad dashboard made some controls hard to reach. First- and second-row occupants enjoyed comfortable seating, with power-adjustable front seats and optional second-row captain’s chairs. The third row was less comfortable for adults. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. However, the high load floor made loading and unloading challenging.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions with features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The interior offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The high load floor and low roof height further restricted space. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

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. Higher trims offered a wireless charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, a rearview camera mirror, and a second-row entertainment system. The analog tachometer and speedometer, along with a functional steering wheel, provided limited control over the driver information screen and infotainment system.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens, but lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel displayed vehicles in surrounding lanes and live feeds of blind spots. The 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp, and the head-up display used augmented reality for navigation. Standard tech included Highway Driving Assist, blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, and a wireless charger. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but received a three-star rollover rating. Standard safety features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and a rear door alert. However, advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist were not available.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results but came equipped with impressive safety tech. Standard features included Highway Driving Assist, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added front parking sensors, automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise with machine learning.