2021 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a nostalgic experience with its Heritage Edition trim. This version celebrated the SUV's 65th anniversary with a classic design, featuring bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima Megawarrior roof storage basket. However, the standard Land Cruiser, which arrived for review, was less impressive in its Magnetic Gray paint and Terra leather upholstery. Its exterior design, reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, was adorned with oversized headlights and taillights, and an abundance of chrome, lacking distinct character. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, offering high-quality materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake, creating a retro yet plush atmosphere.

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its design with Nissan's new signature exterior style. Available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, the Armada's redesigned exterior featured a new grille, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern look while retaining its traditional robust body styling. The Platinum trim, tested in prototype form, showcased body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and acoustic windows. The Armada's design changes, including the new Nissan logo, brought it closer to the updated looks of other Nissan models like the Kicks and Rogue. Despite these updates, the Armada's rear design retained an underbite, aging the model compared to its competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided a quiet yet powerful driving experience, with 90% of its 401 pound-feet of torque available at just 2,200 rpm. The Land Cruiser's full-time four-wheel-drive system, Torsen limited-slip differential, and various off-road features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control, made it a formidable off-road vehicle. Despite its off-road prowess, the Land Cruiser's fuel economy was less than stellar, averaging 14.7 mpg during testing. On-road, the SUV offered a refined driving experience, akin to a Lexus, with a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured 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 both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive options. Despite its weight, the Armada was a capable off-roader, equipped with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi shock absorbers. However, its fuel economy was on the lower end for its class, with 4WD models achieving 15 mpg combined. The Armada's handling improved with each revision, and it boasted a best-in-class towing capacity of 8,500 pounds, making it a strong contender for those needing to tow heavy loads.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior, though dated, was luxurious with plush leather upholstery and heated, ventilated front seats. The SUV offered a commanding view from its tall seating position, and the second-row bench seat provided ample space and comfort. The third-row seat, while accommodating adults, lacked leg support for long trips. Cargo space was limited, with 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate facilitated easy access, and the lower tailgate served as a convenient seating area for outdoor activities.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as Nissan's flagship SUV, offered practicality and functionality for families. Its broad interior featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, though some controls were out of easy reach. The first and second-row seats provided comfort, with power adjustments and lumbar support. The Armada offered optional second-row captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. Cargo space was slightly below average, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 95.4 cubic feet. The high load floor posed challenges for loading, but the center console storage bin offered ample space for small items.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was reminiscent of a simpler era, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that required tapping rather than swiping. The system, running on Toyota Entune, lacked depth and modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it included Siri Eyes Free voice control and a three-month SiriusXM subscription. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was outdated, but the 14-speaker JBL audio system provided decent sound quality.

The 2021 Nissan Armada boasted a tech upgrade with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class. It offered standard features like navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, Bose audio system, and a rearview camera mirror. The Armada Platinum trim included these features as standard. The analog gauges and functional steering wheel provided basic control, though not as sleek as other SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, with 10 airbags and a substantial curb weight, offered a sense of security in collisions. However, it lacked crash-test ratings, leaving its safety performance uncertain. Standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Land Cruiser also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert but lacked advanced driving assistance systems.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by safety organizations, receiving a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA. Standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and rear door alert. However, the Armada lacked advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist.