Nissan Armada vs Kia Telluride

In our recent testing, no vehicle has outperformed its prior generation like the Nissan Armada. Gutted and redone for the 2025 model year, the Armada brings power, towing capacity, premium materials, and luxury-grade driving dynamics at a reasonable price. For 2026, Nissan made a NISMO version as a trial run for its planned lineup of performance trucks. Slammed on air springs and painted like the Z sports car, this is yet another Armada trim that goes further than Toyota, Chevrolet, GMC, and Jeep are willing to for $80,000.

Verdict: The Armada offers a surprising level of quality, choice, and driving enjoyment that puts it ahead of the competition.

Family-friendly, midsize three-row SUVs are a favorite of Americans, and nearly every mainstream car company offers one. Kia has three, and the Telluride is the largest of its gas-powered models (the electric-only EV9 is slightly larger). The Telluride debuted in 2020 to critical acclaim and commercial success, and since then has received several updates but not a redesign. We took a 2025 Kia Telluride on a 1,200-mile family road trip to Northern California and Yosemite, and remain impressed with this stylish and capable Kia.

Verdict: Aging technology caused some irritation during a five-day road trip in the 2025 Kia Telluride. Otherwise, the Telluride was perfectly suited to long-distance travel–whether rolling down an Interstate, roaming a major city, or romping down trails near a national park.