Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Hyundai Palisade

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Armada have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Palisade doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 Palisade doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Palisade doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Armada and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Nissan Armada weighs 1170 to 1945 pounds more than the Hyundai Palisade. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Palisade:

	Armada	Palisade
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Armada is safer than the Palisade:

	Armada	Palisade
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	17	68
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.55 in
Torso Max Deflection	.59 in	1.18 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	312 lbs.	1026 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	62	70
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.24 in	.55 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.55 in	1.46 in
Torso Deflection Rate	3 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	156 lbs.	491 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Palisade is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Armada’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Hyundai.

Engine

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 134 more horsepower (425 vs. 291) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6. The Armada NISMO’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 169 more horsepower (460 vs. 291) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Armada (base engine) is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

	Armada	Palisade
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15 sec	17.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.9 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	93 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Armada has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (23.6 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Armada has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Palisade doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Armada, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Palisade.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Armada’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Palisade:

	Armada	Palisade
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12 inches

The Armada’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Palisade are solid, not vented.

The Armada stops much shorter than the Palisade:

	Armada	Palisade
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Palisade (265/70R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Armada SL/Platinum’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (275/60R20 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Armada Platinum Reserve/NISMO has standard 22-inch wheels. The Palisade’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Nissan Armada’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Palisade only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

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 Palisade doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Armada has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Palisade; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Armada offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Palisade’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Armada has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Palisade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Armada’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Palisade (121.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Armada PRO-4X handles at .77 G’s, while the Palisade Limited HTRAC pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Palisade (9.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada PRO-4X’s minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the Palisade (11.6 vs. 7.9 inches).

Passenger Space

The Armada has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Palisade (161.6 vs. 155.3).

The Armada has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.5 inches more third row legroom, 8 inches more third row hip room and 7.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

Cargo Capacity

The Armada’s cargo area provides more volume than the Palisade.

	Armada	Palisade
Behind Third Seat	20.4 cubic feet	18 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.3 cubic feet	45.8 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.1 cubic feet	86.4 cubic feet

The Armada’s cargo area is larger than the Palisade’s in almost every dimension:

	Armada	Palisade
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	19”/50.7”/87.8”	20.8”/49”/82.5”
Max Width	60.8”	53.7”
Min Width	52”	43.4”
Height	35.1”	30.5”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Armada. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Palisade’s (8500 vs. 5000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Armada is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Palisade. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

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 Palisade’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the Armada’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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. Proximity Key standard on the Palisade doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Palisade SE/SEL/XRT’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Nissan Armada and Hyundai Palisade offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Armada offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Palisade’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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