Compare the2024 Infiniti QX80VS 2024 Nissan Armada

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX80 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Nissan Armada doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The QX80 Sensory’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Armada doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Infiniti QX80 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Armada doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the QX80 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Back-up Collision Intervention, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Armada Platinum offers Intelligent Back-Up Intervention.

Both the QX80 and the Armada have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti QX80 is safer than the Nissan Armada:

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

The QX80 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Armada’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX80 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Armada. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Armada ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The QX80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Armada’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX80 for 3 years and 45000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Armada.

The Armada’s redline is at 60050 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The QX80 has a 6000 RPM redline.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 4 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX80 is faster than the Nissan Armada:

On the EPA test cycle the QX80 gets better mileage than the Armada:

The QX80 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Armada. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The QX80 stops shorter than the Armada:

For better traction, the QX80 has larger tires than the Armada (275/60R20 vs. 265/70R18).

The QX80 Luxe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Armada SV’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX80 Luxe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Armada SV.

The QX80 AWD handles at .74 G’s, while the Armada Platinum 4x4 pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the QX80 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Armada SV (9.2 vs. 9.1 inches), allowing the QX80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the QX80 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Armada uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The QX80 has .1 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom and .4 inches more third row legroom than the Armada.

The QX80’s cargo area provides more volume than the Armada.

The QX80 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Armada doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the QX80 Sensory’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Armada doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

The QX80’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Armada’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The QX80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Armada SV/SL’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The QX80 Sensory has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Armada doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX80 Sensory has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Armada doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The QX80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Armada SL/Platinum.

Insurance will cost less for the QX80 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the QX80 with a number “5” insurance rate while the Armada is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The QX80 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the QX80 will retain 51% to 51.42% of its original price after five years, while the Armada only retains 44.85% to 46.08%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX80 is less expensive to operate than the Armada because typical repairs cost less on the QX80 than the Armada, including $120 less for a muffler, $21 less for a starter, $51 less for a fuel pump and $156 less for front struts.