Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Lincoln Navigator L

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 Navigator L 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 Navigator L doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Armada and the Navigator L 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 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 Navigator L has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS 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. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Navigator L. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Navigator L models.)

There are over 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Armada’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Armada’s reliability 18 points higher than the Navigator L.

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 Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

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 Lincoln With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Lincoln.

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 510) than the Navigator L’s 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 Navigator L’s 3.5 turbo V6.

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 Navigator L 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 Navigator L; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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 Navigator L doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Armada’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Navigator L’s (40.8 feet vs. 43.9 feet).

The Nissan Armada may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Lincoln Navigator L.

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

The Armada has 3.3 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more third row hip room than the Navigator L.

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 Navigator L’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.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Navigator L’s (8500 vs. 6600 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 Navigator L doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Navigator L’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Armada is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Navigator L doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.