Compare the2026 Nissan ArmadaVS 2025 Subaru Ascent

The Nissan Armada has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Ascent doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Ascent doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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

The Nissan Armada weighs 1086 to 1683 pounds more than the Subaru Ascent. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Armada is safer than the Ascent:

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Armada is safer than the Ascent:

The Nissan Armada has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Ascent is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Armada for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ascent.

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

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Armada has a standard 760-amp battery. The Ascent’s 530-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 11th.

The Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 165 more horsepower (425 vs. 260) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Armada NISMO’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 200 more horsepower (460 vs. 260) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Armada’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Ascent doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Armada has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ascent (23.6 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Armada has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Ascent doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Armada higher (5 out of 10) than the Subaru Ascent (4). This means the Armada produces up to 5.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Ascent every 15,000 miles.

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

The Armada stops much shorter than the Ascent:

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

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

The Armada has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Ascent doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Armada has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Ascent; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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 Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Armada NISMO/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 Ascent 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 Ascent 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 Ascent (121.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Armada is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 3.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Ascent.

For greater off-road capability the Armada SV has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ascent (9.6 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the Armada to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Armada PRO-4X’s minimum ground clearance is 2.9 inches higher than on the Ascent (11.6 vs. 8.7 inches).

The Armada has 8.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Ascent (161.6 vs. 153.2).

The Armada has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row legroom, 5.8 inches more third row hip room and 6.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Ascent.

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

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Armada SL/Platinum/PRO-4X/NISMO’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 Ascent doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Armada’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Ascent doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

The Armada uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent 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 Armada SL/NISMO/Platinum/PRO-4X’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ascent doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Armada and the Ascent have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Armada is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ascent prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Armada’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 Ascent’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the Armada’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Ascent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Ascent doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The Armada is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ascent doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.