Compare the2025 Lexus GXVS 2024 Nissan Armada

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

The Lexus GX 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 Armada doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the GX. But it costs extra on the Armada.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GX Overland’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Armada doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Armada Platinum offers Intelligent Back-Up Intervention.

Both the GX and the Armada 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The GX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Armada’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

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

The Armada’s redline is at 60050 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The GX has a 5800 RPM redline.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 64 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 17th.

The GX’s 3.4 turbo V6 produces 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 413) than the Armada’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

On the EPA test cycle the GX gets better mileage than the Armada:

The GX has a standard locking fuel door. 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.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus GX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Armada.

The GX stops shorter than the Armada:

The GX Overtrail has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Armada doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX 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 Armada’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GX Premium handles at .72 G’s, while the Armada Platinum 4x4 pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the GX’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Armada’s (39.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GX Overtrail has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Armada SL/Platinum (9.8 vs. 9.2 inches), allowing the GX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GX is 11.8 inches shorter than the Armada, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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

The GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Armada’s (9063 vs. 8500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Armada is only 8500 pounds. The GX offers up to a 9096 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 37% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 16th.

The GX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Armada doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Armada’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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

The GX’s standard Smart Access 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. Intelligent Key standard on the Armada doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GX’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 Armada SV/SL’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The GX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Armada doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Armada doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Armada doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GX Luxury/Overland+ has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Armada.

The Lexus GX outsold the Nissan Armada by 51% during 2023.