2026 Nissan Armada vs 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2026 Nissan Armada was a striking departure from the typical bulky SUV aesthetic, incorporating a sportier look reminiscent of Nissan's crossovers. Despite its boxy shape with hard angles on the A-pillars and D-pillars, the Armada featured softer curves on the bumpers, fenders, and window trim, creating a balanced surface contrast. The imposing double-bracketed running lights and wide chrome bars across the grille added to its commanding presence. Although it was a tall, XL-size vehicle, the Armada appeared more svelte compared to its American counterparts like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. The NISMO version, with its Tokyo street style, was a unique and racy take on an SUV, featuring bright red accent lines, a lowered body, and 22-inch forged wheels. Inside, the Armada boasted a red and black theme with microsuede, metal pedal covers, and a NISMO tachometer, offering a high level of design and quality.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two versions: the basic Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 model featured round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim had rectangular lamps and artificial leather upholstery. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 catered to those seeking a functional vehicle, while the upmarket version, priced from $64,620, offered more features and options. Our test vehicle, equipped with several options, had an MSRP of $73,740. The Land Cruiser's cabin emphasized function over form, with the Premium Package adding soft leather upholstery and technology upgrades. Despite a thin metallic echo when a door slammed, the Land Cruiser exuded quality. It was designed for serious off-roading, with features like center and locking rear differentials, hill-start assist, and Crawl Control. The Land Cruiser handled daily driving well, though it rode like a truck and had a touchy brake pedal. It navigated narrow streets and parking garages with ease, thanks to its boxy dimensions and surround-view cameras.

The 2026 Nissan Armada was equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful than most competitors except the hybrid Sequoia. The engine delivered smooth and refined power, paired seamlessly with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The NISMO version boosted output to 460 hp with premium fuel, though it lacked a specific powertrain tune beyond the Sport mode. The Armada's air suspension, available on select trims, provided excellent body control and a compliant ride, elevating it above competitors like the Yukon Denali Ultimate. The Armada's 4WD system, with a low-range transfer case, was standard on higher trims, offering good off-road capability. Fuel economy was estimated at 16 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined for 4WD trims, comparable to GM's full-size SUVs but worse than the Expedition and Sequoia.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD were standard, with a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's fuel economy was estimated at 23 mpg combined on premium fuel, though our test vehicle averaged 20.3 mpg during a heat wave and 18.1 mpg on a mountainous route. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-roading, with features like center and locking rear differentials, hill-start assist, and Crawl Control. It handled daily driving well, though it rode like a truck and had a touchy brake pedal. The Land Cruiser navigated narrow streets and parking garages with ease, thanks to its boxy dimensions and surround-view cameras.

The 2026 Nissan Armada offered seven- or eight-passenger seating, with captain's chairs standard on higher trims. Headroom was generous in all three rows, though legroom in the second and third rows was less than in longer American SUVs. The Armada's "Zero Gravity" cushioning reduced fatigue during long rides, and the 10-way heated, cooled, and massaging front seats provided excellent comfort. Visibility was good, aided by 360-degree cameras. The Armada's cargo capacity was 20.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.1 cubic feet with both rows folded. Air suspension-equipped trims had buttons to raise or lower the vehicle for easier cargo access.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model featured manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery, while the higher trim offered power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. The Premium Package added genuine leather, memory settings, and technology upgrades. The Land Cruiser accommodated up to five people comfortably, with no third-row seat available. Cargo space was 46.2 cubic feet, expanding to 82.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The high liftover height and lack of a flat surface made loading bulky items challenging. The power liftgate was standard on the upper trim, but the rear window did not power down like in the 4Runner.

The 2026 Nissan Armada came standard with two 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio. The SL trim added Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Wi-Fi. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker Klipsch stereo and additional USB ports. ProPilot Assist 2.2 with hands-free operation was optional on most trims. The Platinum and Pro-4X trims included a built-in dash cam and NissanConnect services for stolen vehicle tracking.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model had a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen. The higher trim featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and Toyota Connected Services. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Five connected service plans were available, with complimentary subscriptions for some. The infotainment system was simple and easy to use, though the Intelligent Assistant occasionally misinterpreted commands.

The 2026 Nissan Armada included standard driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, driver-attention monitor, parking sensors, surround-view camera system, blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the Armada came with front, front-side, front-knee, and curtain airbags, with an additional front far-side airbag on the Platinum Reserve.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and parking sensors. Proactive Driving Assist added subtle braking and steering inputs. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit assist system. The Premium Package added lane-change assist and Traffic Jam Assist. The NHTSA gave the Land Cruiser a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS gave mostly Good ratings, with some Acceptable and Marginal scores.