Compare the2023 Nissan ArmadaVS 2023 Subaru Ascent

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 Subaru Ascent doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

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 Ascent Premium/Limited/Touring 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 Ascent Premium/Limited/Touring has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Armada and the Ascent 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 Nissan Armada weighs 1061 to 1613 pounds more than the Subaru Ascent. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Subaru Ascent:

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

There are over 69 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Armada’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Armada has a standard 780-amp battery. The Ascent’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Ascent.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 21 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Subaru.

The Armada’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 140 more horsepower (400 vs. 260) and 136 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Armada is faster than the Subaru Ascent:

The Armada has 6.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ascent (26 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Armada stops shorter than the Ascent:

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Ascent (265/70R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Armada SL’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Ascent (275/60R20 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Armada Platinum has standard 22-inch wheels. The Ascent’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Nissan Armada’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Ascent 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 Ascent 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 Ascent; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Armada has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

The Armada has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Ascent doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Armada has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Ascent doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Armada’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the Ascent (121.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Armada is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Ascent.

The Armada’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.5% to 49.5%) than the Ascent’s (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the Armada more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Armada S/SV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ascent (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 Ascent (9.2 vs. 8.7 inches).

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 Ascent doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Armada has 1.5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 2.9 inches more third row hip room and 3.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Ascent.

The Armada’s cargo area provides more volume than the Ascent.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Armada Platinum’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Ascent doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ascent’s (8500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Armada uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Armada SL/Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ascent doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Ascent does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Armada and the Ascent have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Armada is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ascent prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Ascent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Armada S/SV/SL’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Ascent’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Armada is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ascent doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Armada is less expensive to operate than the Ascent because typical repairs cost less on the Armada than the Ascent, including $171 less for a water pump, $15 less for front brake pads, $71 less for a starter and $172 less for front struts.