Compare the2025 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Armada 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 Volkswagen Atlas doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Nissan Armada 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 Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Armada and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Nissan Armada weighs 1034 to 1794 pounds more than the Volkswagen Atlas. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Armada 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Armada’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 66 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Armada’s warranty.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 75 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

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 Volkswagen With 68 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 10 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Armada’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 156 more horsepower (425 vs. 269) and 243 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Armada has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas (23.6 vs. 18.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Armada, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Atlas.

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

For better traction, the Armada has larger standard tires than the Atlas (265/70R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Armada SL/Platinum’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Atlas (275/60R20 vs. 265/45R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Armada Platinum Reserve has standard 22-inch wheels. The Atlas’ largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Nissan Armada’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volkswagen Atlas 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 Atlas’ 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 Atlas doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Armada’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the Atlas (121.1 inches vs. 117.3 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a 3.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas (9.6 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada SL’s minimum ground clearance is 3.6 inches higher than on the Atlas (9.9 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Armada offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Atlas can only carry 7.

The Armada has 7.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Atlas (161.1 vs. 154).

The Armada has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 6.6 inches more third row hip room and 8.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Atlas.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Armada’s middle and third row seats recline. The Atlas’ third row seats don’t recline.

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

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 Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Armada’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (8500 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the Armada is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Armada’s rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.