Compare the2026 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2026 Nissan Armada

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade (except Base) helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Armada doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cadillac Escalade’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Nissan Armada does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Escalade and Armada have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Escalade has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Armada’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Escalade and the Armada have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and available all wheel drive.

Warranty

The Escalade comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Armada’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade 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 Escalade’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Armada’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Escalade has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Armada doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade has a standard 800-amp battery. The Armada’s 760-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Nissan Armada (base engine):

	Escalade	Armada
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.6 MPH	95.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade’s fuel efficiency. The Armada doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac Escalade uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Armada NISMO requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Escalade 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.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac Escalade, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Armada.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escalade	Armada
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches

The Escalade stops shorter than the Armada:

	Escalade	Armada
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escalade has larger standard tires than the Armada (275/50R22 vs. 265/70R18). The Escalade’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Armada (285/40R24 vs. 275/60R20).

The Escalade’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Armada SV’s standard 70 series tires. The Escalade’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Armada Platinum Reserve/NISMO’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Armada SV. The Escalade’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels on the Armada Platinum Reserve/NISMO.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Escalade’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Armada’s (39.5 feet vs. 40.8 feet). The Escalade with 24” wheels’ turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Armada’s (40.6 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Escalade uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Armada doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escalade (except Base) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Armada doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Escalade has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Armada (168.4 vs. 161.6).

The Escalade has .7 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room, .5 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom and 2 inches more third row legroom than the Armada.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Escalade	Armada
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	20.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	56.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	120.5 cubic feet	97.1 cubic feet

The Escalade’s cargo area is larger than the Armada’s in almost every dimension:

	Escalade	Armada
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/54”/89.5”	19”/50.7”/87.8”
Max Width	49.5”	60.8”
Min Width	49.4”	52”
Height	36.5”	35.1”

Towing

The Escalade 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escalade can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Armada can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Escalade’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 Armada does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade’s available power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The Armada doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The Escalade’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Armada’s power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade 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 Escalade’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Armada SL/Platinum/PRO-4X/NISMO.

The Cadillac Escalade has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Armada SL/Platinum/PRO-4X/NISMO.

The Escalade Luxury/Sport/Platinum has standard front air conditioned seats and the Escalade Platinum offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Armada doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Escalade 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/NISMO/Platinum/PRO-4X.

Both the Escalade and the Armada offer available massaging front seats. The Escalade Platinum also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the Armada.

The Cadillac Escalade has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Nissan charges extra for Homelink® on the Armada and isn’t available on the Armada SV/SL.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Escalade has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Armada SL/NISMO/Platinum/PRO-4X offers wireless charging. The Escalade also offers Qi charging for two devices in the second row seat. The Armada doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

The Escalade’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Armada doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade third among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Armada isn’t in the top three.

The Cadillac Escalade outsold the Nissan Armada by over three to one during 2025.

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