2025 Nissan Armada vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was available in a variety of trims, including LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, each offering a distinctive look. Despite the absence of the "swagger wagon" commercials, the Sienna maintained its stylish appeal with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of cool colors like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty vibe, boasted a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, designed for a bit more off-road capability, came in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors and included features like roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

Inside, the Sienna offered standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and seating for eight. The XSE trim with the optional Premium package replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs and added heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats. The interior design featured horizontal lines for a spacious feel, a fixed center console with satin accents, and easily accessible cup holders and shifter. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for families, with upper trims offering a built-in vacuum cleaner for convenience.

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, enhanced by the SUV’s higher ground clearance. The PRO-4X trim stood out with a skid plate and unique front lighting signature featuring C-shaped LED lines. The Armada's side profile was larger and more business-like, with a parallel beltline and distinctive D-pillar accents. The PRO-4X trim added rugged character with black plastic cladding and all-terrain tires. The rear featured standard LED taillights, with a fashionable red lightbar on higher trims.

Inside, the Armada offered comfort and luxury, especially in the Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X trims. The PRO-4X, despite its rugged focus, featured premium leather seats and a padded center console. Higher trims added Espresso accents and unique color combinations, enhancing the cabin's luxurious feel. The Armada's interior space was generous, with increased cargo volume and improved legroom in the third row. The push-button transmission freed up center console space, and the Zero Gravity seats provided comfort, though they felt a bit deep. The Armada's interior was well-equipped, offering a range of seating configurations and advanced features.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models added an electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite the sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not particularly thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration. The CVT could become noisy, especially during highway merging or climbing. Around town, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience, with light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. However, the brakes were a bit grabby, and the minivan's performance paled in comparison to competitors like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica, which offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a new powertrain with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, inspired by the high-performance GT-R, producing 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the old seven-speed, and all trims except the PRO-4X offered rear-wheel drive or Nissan’s Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive. The PRO-4X trim was 4WD-only, equipped with 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 and 9.6 inches of ground clearance. The Armada excelled in towing, with a capacity of up to 8,500 pounds and standard trailer sway control. On-road, the Armada's electric power steering offered a nice sense of engagement, while the adaptive air suspension enhanced comfort. Off-road, the PRO-4X's suspension and Mud/Rut mode improved ground clearance and handling.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna offered practical interior features, though some seating functions were tricky. The front featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, four cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox with a wireless charging pad. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom, but the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults and offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna included tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the third row stowed.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a push-button transmission, freeing up center console space for a wireless charging pad. The Armada Platinum Reserve featured comfortable Zero Gravity seats, though they felt a bit deep. The SUV offered standard eight-way driver's-side power adjustment, with higher trims providing more customization. Heated front seats were standard on the SL trim, with cooling and second-row heating available on higher trims. The Armada's cargo volume increased, with 20.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.3 behind the second, and 97.1 in the first. The Armada's headroom and legroom improved, with the third row gaining 4.5 inches of legroom. Despite falling short of American rivals in passenger space, the Armada offered a comfortable and well-equipped interior.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with Toyota’s older infotainment system, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing for a 2024 model. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

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 higher trims. The flat display unit housed wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with six USB-C ports. The SL trim added a wireless charging pad and Google Built-In, allowing Google Maps to be viewed on the driver-information display. A head-up display was optional starting at the SL trim level. The base Armada SV featured a six-speaker sound system, while a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System was standard on higher trims. The collaboration with Klipsch provided an enhanced audio experience for audiophiles.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received a four-star rating from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated the Sienna "Good" in crashworthiness and seat belt and child restraint systems, but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist suite, with varying levels of advanced driver-assistance technologies. The basic version included adaptive cruise control with active lane-centering steering assistance, while ProPILOT Assist 1.1 added proactive speed management. ProPILOT Assist 2.1, available on higher trims, offered hands-free highway-driving assist technology. The Armada also included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with features like traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. A surround-view camera was standard on the SL trim, with higher trims offering Nissan’s 3D Around View Monitor and Invisible Hood View.