2025 Nissan Armada vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a rugged and adventure-ready cabin reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with more refined materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims like the S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, though it also catered to those preferring modern styling with aggressive packs.

The 2025 Nissan Armada showcased a bold and imposing design, characterized by a high beltline and a prominent grille, reminiscent of its luxury counterpart, the Infiniti QX80. The new C-shaped LED lighting signature and the PRO-4X's skid plate added to its rugged appeal. From the side, the Armada appeared larger and more business-like, with a parallel beltline and distinctive D-pillar accents. The PRO-4X trim featured unique Lava Red accents, while other trims sported chrome. The Armada's rear design echoed the front with LED taillights and a red lightbar on higher trims. Wheel options ranged from 18-inch on the SV to 22-inch on the Platinum Reserve, with the PRO-4X boasting all-terrain tires and a two-tone paint option. Inside, both the Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X trims offered premium comfort, with leather seats and a luxurious cabin ambiance, especially in the Platinum Reserve's Chestnut with Rye theme.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, delivering 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, provided 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly the Defender X with its adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 model offered ample power for highway driving, though it exhibited slight lurching at low speeds, likely due to its off-road gearing.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a new powertrain with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, inspired by the high-performance GT-R, delivering 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The previous seven-speed automatic transmission was replaced with a nine-speed automatic. All trims, except the PRO-4X, offered rear-wheel drive or Nissan's Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive. The PRO-4X featured exclusive off-road enhancements, including an electronic locking rear differential and metal skid plates. The Armada's adaptive electronic air suspension, shared with the Platinum Reserve, provided a 33-degree approach angle and 9.6 inches of ground clearance. Every 4WD Armada included hill-descent control and an off-road information display. The Armada's towing capacity reached 8,500 pounds, with standard trailer sway control and a trailer brake controller. On-road, the Armada's electric power steering offered a balanced feel, while the adaptive air suspension enhanced comfort. Off-road, the PRO-4X excelled in challenging conditions, thanks to its Mud/Rut mode and adaptive suspension.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and practicality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. It accommodated between five and eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, increasing seating capacity to eight. However, space remained limited compared to larger SUVs like the Chevy Suburban. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. Our test model featured practical hard plastic surfaces in the cargo area.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a push-button transmission, freeing up center console space for a wireless charging pad in all but the base SV trim. The Armada Platinum Reserve featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" seats, offering comfort but feeling slightly deep. The Armada provided standard eight-way driver's-side power adjustment, with higher trims offering up to 12-way adjustment with four-way lumbar support. Heated front seats became standard on the SL trim, with cooling and heating options available on higher trims. The Armada's three-row configuration included a 60/40-split bench in the third row, with power one-touch folding on all but the base trim. Cargo volume increased across the board, with 20.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Armada's headroom and legroom varied depending on the presence of a sunroof, with improvements in third-row legroom.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While the touchscreen seemed small compared to competitors, it complemented the Defender's utilitarian persona. Standard features included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Nissan Armada came standard with two large screens, 12.3-inch displays on the SV and SL trims, and 14.3-inch screens on the PRO-4X, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve. The screens were housed side by side, offering clear visibility from the driver's seat. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with six USB-C ports. The SL trim added a wireless charging pad and Google Built-In, allowing Google Maps to be viewed on the driver-information display. A head-up display was optional starting at the SL trim level. The base Armada SV featured a six-speaker sound system, while a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System became standard on higher trims, offering an enhanced audio experience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted to be overly sensitive, potentially causing interference during driving. As of the writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan's ProPILOT Assist suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies as standard, with enhanced versions available on higher trims. The basic version included adaptive cruise control with active lane-centering steering assistance. ProPILOT Assist 1.1, standard on higher trims, added proactive speed management based on navigation data. ProPILOT Assist 2.1, available as an option, offered hands-free highway-driving assist technology. The Armada also came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning and prevention, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims featured a surround-view camera or Nissan's 3D Around View Monitor, along with the Invisible Hood View and Front Wide View for enhanced visibility.