2025 Nissan Armada vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that contrasted sharply with the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq series. This new design direction, as explained by Hyundai's design chief SangYup Lee, aimed to combine elegance and premium appeal with the practicality of a box shape, optimizing storage capacity. The Santa Fe's upscale appearance was further enhanced by a range of sophisticated exterior colors and anodized-finish badging, drawing attention from onlookers even in rural settings. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a luxurious experience, particularly in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, with premium materials and thoughtful design elements that created a cocooning and comfortable environment.

In contrast, the 2025 Nissan Armada showcased a more imposing and business-like exterior, with a high beltline and a large, distinctive grille that set it apart from its predecessor. The Armada's design was further accentuated by C-shaped LED lighting and a variety of trim-specific features, such as the rugged PRO-4X's skid plate and Lava Red accents. The interior of the Armada, particularly in the Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X trims, exuded luxury with leather upholstery and advanced seating options. The Armada's cabin offered a sense of separation from the outside world, with a focus on comfort and premium materials, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a refined driving experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option, except for the XRT trim, which came with AWD as standard. The Santa Fe offered various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Snow, with the XRT trim adding off-road capabilities. Later in the model year, a hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was introduced, providing 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied depending on the drivetrain, with the hybrid model achieving up to 36 mpg combined. The XRT trim, with its increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires, offered enhanced off-road capabilities and a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, inspired by the GT-R, producing 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive available on most trims. The PRO-4X trim, designed for off-road adventures, came with 4WD as standard, along with features like an electronic locking rear differential and metal skid plates. The Armada's adaptive electronic air suspension, available on the PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve trims, provided improved ground clearance and off-road capabilities. The Armada boasted a towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds and offered various drive modes for different terrains. On-road, the Armada's electric power steering and adaptive suspension provided a comfortable and engaging driving experience, while off-road, the PRO-4X trim excelled in challenging conditions.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The spacious cargo area, inspired by the concept of "chabak," was designed for car camping and tailgating, featuring an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered generous space and comfort, with options for reclining captain's chairs or a bench seat. The Santa Fe's interior materials ranged from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather, depending on the trim. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expandable to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. Additional features included roof rails, a UV sanitization compartment, and a new grab handle for easier loading.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a push-button transmission, freeing up center console space for a wireless charging pad. The Armada's interior featured "Zero Gravity" seats, offering comfort and adjustability, with heated and cooled options available on higher trims. The three-row SUV provided flexible seating configurations, with captain's chairs or a bench seat in the second row and power-folding third-row seats. Cargo volume increased across the board, with up to 97.1 cubic feet of space available. The Armada's headroom and legroom varied depending on the presence of a sunroof, with improvements in third-row legroom. While the Armada's passenger space fell short compared to some American rivals, it offered a competitive edge over the Toyota Sequoia.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display, a first in its segment, enhancing the cabin's luxurious feel. The touchscreen display offered intuitive controls, crisp graphics, and seamless smartphone integration with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Santa Fe's infotainment system included a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims offered additional features like wireless charging and Hyundai Pay, a system for secure payments at partnered vendors. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security and convenience.

The 2025 Nissan Armada came standard with dual 12.3-inch displays on lower trims, while higher trims featured 14.3-inch screens. The infotainment system offered wireless smartphone integration, six USB-C ports, and Google Built-In for native Google Maps functionality. A head-up display was available as an option, and the SL trim and above featured a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System. The Armada's infotainment setup provided a user-friendly experience, with clear visibility and easy access to key information.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added advanced features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring technology, enhancing safety by tracking alertness and issuing warnings if necessary.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan's ProPILOT Assist suite, with varying levels of advanced driver-assistance technologies across trims. The most advanced version, ProPILOT Assist 2.1, offered hands-free highway-driving assist. The Armada also included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims offered additional safety features, such as a surround-view camera and Invisible Hood View, enhancing visibility and driver confidence.