Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2026 GMC Yukon XL

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 GMC Yukon XL 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 Yukon XL doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Armada and the Yukon XL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, 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 Yukon XL has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The Armada’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Yukon XL’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Yukon XL.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Armada have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the Yukon XL.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Armada has a 760-amp battery. The Yukon XL only offers a standard 730-amp battery.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 8 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 70 more horsepower (425 vs. 355) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 383) than the Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8. The Armada’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 5 more horsepower (425 vs. 420) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 460) than the Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8. The Armada NISMO’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (460 vs. 420) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 460) than the Yukon XL Denali’s standard 6.2 V8.

On the EPA test cycle the Armada gets better mileage than the Yukon XL:

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

The Armada has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Armada flat and controlled during cornering. The Yukon XL’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Armada’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Yukon XL’s (40.8 feet vs. 43.3 feet). The Armada’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate w/24” wheels’ (40.8 feet vs. 44.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a 2.29 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Yukon XL Denali Ultimate Air Ride (9.6 vs. 7.31 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada PRO-4X’s minimum ground clearance is 3.8 inches higher than on the Yukon XL AT4 (11.6 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Armada is 1 foot, 3.6 inches shorter than the Yukon XL, making the Armada easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Armada has 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more third row hip room and .3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Yukon XL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Armada’s middle and third row seats recline. The Yukon XL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Yukon XL’s (8500 vs. 7500 pounds).

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