Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Ford Expedition Max

The Nissan Armada has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Armada Platinum Reserve has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Armada and the Expedition Max have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Armada is much safer than the Expedition Max:

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Nissan Armada is safer than the Expedition Max:

The Nissan Armada has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Expedition Max is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Armada for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Expedition Max.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 13th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 1 place higher in reliability than Ford.

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 25 more horsepower (425 vs. 400) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 480) than the Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6. The Armada’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 510) than the Expedition Max’s optional 3.5 turbo V6. The Armada NISMO’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (460 vs. 440) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 510) than the Expedition Max’s optional 3.5 turbo V6.

The Armada stops shorter than the Expedition Max:

The Armada has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Armada NISMO/PRO-4X/Platinum Reserve has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Armada’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Armada’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Expedition Max’s (40.8 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Armada PRO-4X has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Expedition Max (11.6 vs. 9.7 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Armada is 1 foot shorter than the Expedition Max, making the Armada easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Armada’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Expedition Max’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Armada’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition Max’s (8500 vs. 6300 pounds).

The Armada offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, incoming text message, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Armada’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Expedition Max’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Armada’s standard Infiniti Intelligent Key allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Expedition Max only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Armada’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Armada’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Expedition Max’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

When the Armada SL/Platinum/PRO-4X/NISMO is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Expedition Max’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.