Nissan Armada vs Kia Telluride

The everyman’s version of the Infiniti QX80, Nissan’s full-size SUV gets an expanded range for 2025. It’s still offered in familiar SV, SL, and Platinum trims, but Platinum Reserve has joined the roster and so, for the first time ever, has PRO-4X. We tested both new trims on a first drive program hosted by the automaker in Franklin, Tennessee.

Verdict: Nissan has undeniably improved the Armada with this new generation, and the PRO-4X and the Platinum Reserve trim levels both bring something new to the table. The PRO-4X adds just enough adventure-ready content to make it worth a look to shoppers who may not have considered it before, while the Platinum Reserve challenges the value of stepping up to an Infiniti.

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.