Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Cadillac Escalade

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 Cadillac Escalade doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 Escalade doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Armada and the Escalade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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 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 Escalade has not yet been 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. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Escalade.

There are over 88 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Armada’s warranty.

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 the engine in the Escalade.

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 12 points higher than the Escalade.

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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 5 more horsepower (425 vs. 420) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 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 Escalade’s 6.2 V8.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Armada gets better mileage than the Escalade:

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

The Armada stops much shorter than the Escalade:

The Armada PRO-4X handles at .77 G’s, while the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD pulls only .67 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Armada PRO-4X executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Escalade Sport 4WD (28.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 30.1 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (9.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada PRO-4X’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the Escalade Air Suspension (11.6 vs. 8.9 inches).

The Armada has 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more third row hip room and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Escalade.

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

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escalade’s (8500 vs. 7900 pounds).

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Nissan Armada retains 39.62% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 39.07% resale value of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade after five years, which can save the Nissan’s owner up to $18949.64502 in depreciation.