2025 Nissan Armada vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained much of its familiar design, with the Wilderness trim receiving a refreshed front fascia and new LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Touring XT model, which was described as a “green-tinged dark khaki.” The Outback's various trims offered different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring the most chrome, which was tastefully applied. Wheel designs varied by trim, with standard black 17-inch alloy wheels and a matte black version for the Wilderness trim. The Onyx Edition featured 18-inch wheels in basic black, while the Limited and Touring trims added a machine finish. Inside, the top-trim Touring XT impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The Outback Limited had standard leather seating, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims used Subaru’s StarTex synthetic leather, and the Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats.

The 2025 Nissan Armada showcased a bold design with a high beltline reminiscent of its luxury counterpart, the Infiniti QX80. The grille and front fascia appeared taller, aided by the SUV’s higher ground clearance. The PRO-4X trim stood out with a skid plate and a unique front lighting signature featuring C-shaped LED lines. The Armada's imposing grille made a strong impression, setting it apart from its predecessor. From the side, the third-generation Armada appeared larger and more business-like, with a parallel beltline and a distinctive D-pillar accent strip. The PRO-4X trim added rugged character with black plastic cladding and all-terrain tires. The rear featured standard LED taillights, with a red lightbar on the PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve trims. Wheel sizes varied, with 18-inch wheels on the SV, 20-inch on most trims, and 22-inch on the Platinum Reserve. The interior of the Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X trims offered premium comfort, with leather seats and a padded center console. The Platinum trims added quilting for a luxurious feel, while the PRO-4X featured Lava Red contrast stitching.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a “Boxer” horizontally opposed engine, with a standard 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were upgraded to a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard. The Touring XT test car featured the more powerful engine, which managed the vehicle's weight better than the base engine. The CVT mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, controllable via steering wheel paddles. The brake pedal, aided by an electronic booster, felt responsive, and the steering was adequate for a comfortable ride. The Outback offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, with the Wilderness trim increasing it to 9.2 inches and adding all-terrain tires and an advanced X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a new powertrain with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, inspired by the high-performance GT-R. This engine produced 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 25 horsepower and 103 lb-ft over its predecessor. The seven-speed automatic transmission was replaced with a nine-speed automatic. All trims except the PRO-4X offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or Nissan’s Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive (4WD), with the PRO-4X being 4WD-only. The PRO-4X featured dedicated 20-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, an electronic locking rear differential, and metal skid plates. The Armada's adaptive electronic air suspension, shared with the Platinum Reserve, provided a 33-degree approach angle, 25.5-degree breakover angle, and 24.5-degree departure angle, with 9.6 inches of ground clearance. Every 4WD Armada included hill-descent control and an off-road information display. The Armada could tow up to 8,500 pounds, with trailer sway control and a trailer brake controller standard. The updated electric power steering offered a nice sense of engagement, and the adaptive air suspension enhanced comfort on-road and off-road.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek proportions. It provided more front-row headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and slightly less rear-seat headroom than the RAV4. The Outback excelled in front-row legroom and surpassed the RAV4 in rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the RAV4 and CR-V offered more cargo space with all seats occupied, the Outback led when the rear seats were folded. Feature availability was a key consideration, with dual-zone climate control standard on all but the base trim. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat were standard from the Premium trim, with heated rear seats starting at the Limited trim. Ventilated front seats were exclusive to the Touring trim, and a heated steering wheel was available from the Onyx Edition. The hands-free power liftgate was optional on the Premium trim and standard on higher trims, with a power moonroof standard on the Onyx Edition. Raised roof rails with retractable cross bars were standard, and the cross bars could swivel for easy stowage.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a push-button transmission, freeing up center console space for a wireless charging pad in all but the base SV trim. The Armada Platinum Reserve boasted Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” seats, which were comfortable but felt deep. The Armada offered standard eight-way driver's-side power adjustment, with higher trims providing up to 12-way adjustment with four-way lumbar support. Heated front seats were standard on the SL trim, with front-row seat cooling and second-row seat heating available on the Platinum and Platinum Reserve trims. The Armada came with a second-row bench seat, with captain’s chairs standard on Platinum trims. The third-row seats were 60/40-split benches with power one-touch folding on all but the base trim. Cargo volume increased across the board, with 20.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.1 cubic feet with the first row. The Armada's headroom increased in the front row with a sunroof but decreased in the second and third rows. Front-row legroom increased to 43.8 inches, while the second row decreased to 39.2 inches. The third row gained 4.5 inches, reaching 32.9 inches.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring was the only trim to feature a CD player, appealing to those who appreciated old-school features. The Outback offered both USB-C and USB-A ports on all but the base trim, which had USB-A only. The top-trim test car featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform appeared dated, but standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless from the Premium trim, minimized interactions with the native system. Climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and nearly every trim featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, except the base model with four speakers and the Premium with six speakers.

The 2025 Nissan Armada came standard with two large screens, 12.3-inch displays on the SV and SL trims, and 14.3-inch screens on the PRO-4X, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve trims. The screens were housed side by side, with a flat design rather than curving around the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with six USB-C ports. The SL trim added a wireless charging pad and Google Built-In, which made Google Maps native and viewable on the driver-information display. A head-up display was optional from the SL trim, and a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System was standard from the SL trim. The Klipsch system was Nissan’s first collaboration with the audio company, offering a nuanced listening experience for audiophiles.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it fell short of the 2023 model’s Top Safety Pick+ designation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The 2024 Outback improved safety features, with reverse automatic braking standard from the Onyx trim. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor. A backup camera and high-beam assist were standard.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, with enhanced versions on higher trims. The SV and PRO-4X trims had the basic version, while ProPILOT Assist 1.1 was standard on the other trims, adding proactive speed management based on navigation data. Armada SL, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve buyers could upgrade to ProPILOT Assist 2.1, offering hands-free highway-driving assist technology. The Armada also came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning and prevention, and rear cross-traffic alert. A surround-view camera was standard on the SL trim, with higher trims featuring Nissan’s 3D Around View Monitor and Invisible Hood View. The Intelligent Around-View camera allowed for precise navigation in challenging situations.