Nissan Armada vs Nissan Pathfinder

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.

Nissan's largest crossover, the Pathfinder, seats up to eight people while offering a car-like ride and control at a medium price point. In our testing of midsize three-row crossovers, the Pathfinder comes out in the middle of the pack in terms of performance, technology, and driving enjoyment. For 2026, Nissan refreshed this fifth-generation Pathfinder, which had been largely unchanged since its debut for the 2021 model year. The 2026 Pathfinder offers more convenience features, a larger touchscreen, and a few new styling touches.

Verdict: The Pathfinder is a good choice for value, interior quality, and space, but rivals from Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia push the dials even further at a similar price.