Compare the2022 Nissan Armada VS 2021 Ford Expedition

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Armada are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Ford Expedition doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Armada are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Expedition doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Armada has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Expedition doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Armada has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Expedition doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Armada and the Expedition have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Armada is safer than the Ford Expedition:

	Armada	Expedition
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	81 G’s	108 G’s
Hip Force	144 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	31	61
Spine Acceleration	21 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	151 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Armada first among large suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 9 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Armada’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 25 more horsepower (400 vs. 375) than the Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Armada uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Expedition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Armada has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Expedition (26 vs. 23.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Armada stops shorter than the Expedition:

	Armada	Expedition
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

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 Expedition doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The rear suspension of the Armada uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Expedition, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition’s (8500 vs. 6000 pounds).

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

When the Armada SL/Midnight/Platinum 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 Expedition’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Armada has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Expedition.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Armada is less expensive to operate than the Expedition because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Armada than the Expedition, including $39 less for a power steering pump.