Compare the2026 Lincoln Navigator LVS 2026 Nissan Armada

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

Safety

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The Navigator L has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Armada doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Navigator L. But it costs extra on the Armada.

Both the Navigator L and Armada have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Navigator L 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 Navigator L and the Armada have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

The Navigator L 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.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Navigator L 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.

Reliability

The Navigator L 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.

Engine

The Navigator L’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 15 more horsepower (440 vs. 425) than the Armada’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Navigator L is faster than the Nissan Armada (base engine):

	Navigator L	Armada
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	14.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Navigator L gets better mileage than the Armada:

			MPG
Navigator L
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	15 city/22 hwy
Armada
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/20 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/19 hwy
		PRO-4X 3.5 turbo V6	15 city/18 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	16 city/19 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Navigator L 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 Navigator L has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Armada (27.8 vs. 23.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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

Tires and Wheels

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

The Navigator L’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 Navigator L Black Label’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 Navigator L has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Armada SV. The Navigator L Black Label’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels on the Armada Platinum Reserve/NISMO.

Suspension and Handling

The Navigator L’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Armada doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Navigator L’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the Armada (131.5 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

The Navigator L Black Label executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Armada PRO-4X (26.4 seconds @ .25 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

The Navigator L uses 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 Navigator L has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Armada (172.1 vs. 161.6).

The Navigator L has 2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row headroom, 10.6 inches more third row legroom and 1.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Armada.

Flexibility is maximized at the game, campground or a drive-in theatre in the Navigator L when its optional tailgating rear seats are deployed, allowing people to sit facing out of the tailgate. (Do not use while vehicle is in motion.) The Armada doesn’t offer tailgating seats.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Navigator L	Armada
Behind Third Seat	37.4 cubic feet	20.4 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	75.4 cubic feet	56.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121.6 cubic feet	97.1 cubic feet

The Navigator L’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Armada’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Armada is limited to 8500 pounds. The Navigator L offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Navigator L 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 Navigator L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Armada can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Navigator L’s exterior PIN entry system. The Armada doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Navigator L’s power window, power lock and power mirror 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 avoid possible obstacles, the Navigator L has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Armada doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Navigator L also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Navigator L’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 Lincoln Navigator L 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 Navigator L has standard heated front, second and third row seats (third row heated seats on Black Label), which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Nissan doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Armada.

The Navigator L has standard front air conditioned seats and 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 Navigator L 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 Navigator L and the Armada offer available massaging front seats. The Navigator L Black Label also has standard 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 Navigator L’s standard oscillating air vents move back and forth and distribute air evenly inside the vehicle, making everyone more comfortable. The Armada doesn’t offer oscillating vents.

The Lincoln Navigator L has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. 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 Lincoln Navigator L has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Armada SL/NISMO/Platinum/PRO-4X offers wireless charging. The Navigator L also offers Qi charging in the second row seat. The Armada doesn’t offer wireless charging in its second row seat.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Navigator as the 2018 North American Truck of the Year. The Armada has never been chosen.

The Lincoln Navigator outsold the Nissan Armada by over two to one during 2024.

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