Compare the2024 Nissan ArmadaVS 2024 GMC Yukon XL

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 Yukon XL doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Armada has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Yukon XL’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Armada has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent Back-Up Intervention on the Platinum automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. GMC charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Yukon XL and the Yukon XL’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

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 Yukon XL doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Armada and the Yukon XL 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 GMC Yukon XL:

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 Yukon XL’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 Yukon XL.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than GMC.

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 Yukon XL’s standard 5.3 V8.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Armada uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Yukon XL Denali requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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

The Armada has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Armada flat and controlled during cornering. The Yukon XL’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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

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

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

The Armada is 1 foot, 4.3 inches shorter than the Yukon XL, 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 Yukon XL 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 Yukon XL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Yukon XL’s (8500 vs. 7500 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 Yukon XL can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Armada has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Yukon XL SLT/AT4/Denali offers wireless charging.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Armada is less expensive to operate than the Yukon XL 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 Yukon XL, including $226 less for a water pump, $490 less for a muffler, $36 less for front brake pads, $70 less for fuel injection, $145 less for a fuel pump and $128 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Armada will be $1225 to $17994 less than for the GMC Yukon XL.