Compare the2023 Nissan ArmadaVS 2023 Lincoln Aviator

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 Lincoln Aviator 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 Aviator 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 Aviator doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Armada and the Aviator 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 Lincoln Aviator:

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

There are over 57 percent more Nissan dealers than 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 27 points higher than the Aviator.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 13 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

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

The Armada has 8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Armada has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Aviator’s standard fuel tank (26 vs. 20.2 gallons).

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

The Armada stops shorter than the Aviator:

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Aviator (265/70R18 vs. 255/60R19).

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 S/SV 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 limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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

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 greater off-road capability the Armada S/SV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Aviator (9.1 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada SL/Platinum’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Aviator (9.2 vs. 8.7 inches).

The Armada has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Aviator can only carry 7.

The Armada has 9.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Aviator (154.5 vs. 144.7).

The Armada has .7 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room, 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 7.9 inches more third row hip room and 6.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Aviator.

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 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. 5600 pounds).

The Armada’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Aviator does not have an oil pressure gauge.

When the Armada SL/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 Aviator’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Insurance will cost less for the Armada owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Armada will cost $1025 to $7230 less than the Aviator over a five-year period.

The Nissan Armada outsold the Lincoln Aviator by 9% during 2021.