Compare the2025 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Honda Pilot

The Armada Platinum Reserve has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pilot doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Armada and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 Nissan Armada weighs 992 to 1805 pounds more than the Honda Pilot. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Armada for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the Pilot (2/24,000 vs. 1/12000).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Armada’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Pilot’s camshafts. If the Pilot’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Honda.

The Armada’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 140 more horsepower (425 vs. 285) and 254 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

The Armada has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pilot (23.6 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Armada’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Pilot (265/70R18 vs. 255/50R20). The Armada SL/Platinum’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/60R20 vs. 265/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Armada Platinum Reserve has standard 22-inch wheels. The Pilot’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 Honda Pilot only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Armada offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Pilot’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Armada PRO-4X/Platinum Reserve has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Armada’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Pilot doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Armada has vehicle 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 Pilot 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 Pilot (121.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (9.6 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada SL’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (9.9 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Armada has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pilot (161.1 vs. 158.4).

The Armada has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear hip room, 2 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row legroom, 7.1 inches more third row hip room and 3.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Pilot.

The Armada has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly, without having to lift, carry or store heavy seats, like in the Pilot.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Armada SL/Platinum/PRO-4X’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pilot’s (8500 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Armada uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pilot 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 engine in the Armada is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pilot. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Armada’s standard Infiniti Intelligent Key allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start and Smart Entry standard on the Pilot doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Push Button Start and Smart Entry is not available on the Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The Armada’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 Pilot’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Armada Platinum Reserve has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pilot.