Compare the2023 Nissan ArmadaVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV

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 Escalade ESV doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Armada has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Armada has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Armada’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Armada and the Escalade ESV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, 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 Cadillac Escalade ESV:

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

There are almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as 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 Armada has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Escalade ESV.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 8 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

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

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

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

The Armada Platinum 4x4 handles at .74 G’s, while the Escalade ESV Sport 4WD pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Armada Platinum 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Escalade ESV Premium Luxury 4WD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Armada’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Escalade ESV’s (41.3 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Armada is 1 foot, 6.1 inches shorter than the Escalade ESV, making the Armada easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Armada SL/Midnight/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escalade ESV’s (8500 vs. 7800 pounds).

While the Escalade ESV 4WD Diesel can only tow 7700, any Armada can tow a minimum of 8500 pounds.

Insurance will cost less for the Armada owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Armada will cost $875 to $3560 less than the Escalade ESV over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Armada is less expensive to operate than the Escalade ESV because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Armada than the Escalade ESV, including $113 less for a water pump, $639 less for a muffler, $52 less for front brake pads, $64 less for fuel injection, $117 less for a fuel pump, $437 less for front struts and $701 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Armada will be $24522 to $30413 less than for the Cadillac Escalade ESV.