Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2026 Lincoln Aviator

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 Aviator doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard ProPILOT Assist 1.1, the Nissan Armada is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Lincoln Aviator, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Armada and the Aviator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 weighs 814 to 1371 pounds more than the Lincoln Aviator. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Aviator 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. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Aviator. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Aviator 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 23 points higher than the Aviator.

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 25 more horsepower (425 vs. 400) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Armada NISMO’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 60 more horsepower (460 vs. 400) and 101 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 415) than the Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The Armada has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator (23.6 vs. 20.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Armada stops much shorter than the Aviator:

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Aviator (265/70R18 vs. 255/55R20).

The Nissan Armada’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lincoln Aviator 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 Aviator 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 Aviator; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Armada’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Aviator (121.1 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Armada is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the track on the Aviator.

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (9.6 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada PRO-4X’s minimum ground clearance is 2.9 inches higher than on the Aviator (11.6 vs. 8.7 inches).

The Armada offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Aviator can only carry up to 7.

The Armada has 21 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (161.6 vs. 140.6).

The Armada has .1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.7 inches more third row legroom, 10.9 inches more third row hip room and 9.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

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

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

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

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. Intelligent Access standard on the Aviator doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Aviator’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.