Compare the2023 Nissan ArmadaVS 2023 Chevrolet Suburban

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 Suburban 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Suburban’s blind spot costs extra.

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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Suburban.

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 Suburban doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Armada and the Suburban 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 Chevrolet Suburban:

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

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

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

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Armada has a 780-amp battery. The Suburban only offers a standard 730-amp battery.

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 28 points higher than the Suburban.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 4 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Armada’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 45 more horsepower (400 vs. 355) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 383) than the Suburban’s standard 5.3 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Armada is faster than the Chevrolet Suburban 5.3 V8:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Armada uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Suburban with the 6.2 V8 engine 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 Suburban:

The Armada stops shorter than the Suburban:

The rear suspension of the Armada uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Suburban, 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 Suburban High Country 4WD pulls only .53 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Armada Platinum 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.9 seconds quicker than the Suburban Z71 4WD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 30.9 seconds @ .5 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Armada’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Suburban’s (41.3 feet vs. 42.3 feet). The Armada’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Suburban w/20-22 inch wheels’ (41.3 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Armada S/SV has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Suburban (9.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Armada is 1 foot, 4.8 inches shorter than the Suburban, 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 Suburban 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 Suburban’s third row seats don’t recline.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Armada easier. The Armada’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 33.7 inches, while the Suburban’s liftover is 37 inches.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Suburban’s (8500 vs. 7600 pounds).

If the windows are left open on the Armada the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Suburban can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Armada is less expensive to operate than the Suburban because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Armada than the Suburban, including $79 less for a water pump, $81 less for a muffler, $52 less for front brake pads, $70 less for fuel injection, $120 less for a fuel pump and $128 less for a timing belt/chain.