2025 Nissan Armada vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic appearance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and fake vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some other luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery and sport seats with illuminated inserts, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a focus on luxury and performance.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a high beltline and a taller grille and front fascia, giving it a commanding presence on the road. The PRO-4X trim stood out with a skid plate and unique front lighting signature, while the overall design emphasized a business-like appearance with a parallel beltline and distinctive D-pillar accents. The Armada's round wheel arches and black plastic cladding on the PRO-4X trim highlighted its rugged character. The rear design included C-shaped LED taillights and a fashionable lightbar on higher trims. The Armada offered a range of wheel sizes, with the PRO-4X featuring all-terrain tires. Inside, the Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X trims provided a premium feel with leather seats and padded consoles. The Armada's cabin was spacious, with various interior color options and configurations, enhancing its luxurious appeal.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim could be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 543 hp and 590 lb-ft or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8 but with an output of 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in both on-road performance and off-road capability, with features like sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a new powertrain with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine inspired by the GT-R, producing 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It replaced the old seven-speed automatic transmission with a nine-speed automatic. The Armada offered rear-wheel drive or Nissan's Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive, with the PRO-4X trim 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 and 9.6 inches of ground clearance. The Armada's towing capacity reached 8,500 pounds, and it included features like trailer sway control and a trailer brake controller. On-road, the Armada's electric power steering offered a nice sense of engagement, while off-road, the adaptive air suspension enhanced its capability.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned between the Range Rover Velar and the full-size Range Rover in terms of dimensions. It was a two-row, five-seater SUV, offering more room than the Velar but remaining in the midsize range. Front-seat occupants found similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was competitive with models like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a push-button transmission, freeing up center console space for a wireless charging pad. The Armada Platinum Reserve offered "Zero Gravity" seats, providing comfort but feeling a bit deep. The Armada was a three-row SUV, with captain's chairs available on Platinum trims. Cargo volume increased across the board, with 20.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 56.3 behind the second row, and 97.1 in total. The Armada's headroom and legroom varied depending on the presence of a sunroof, with front-row legroom increasing to 43.8 inches. The Armada's passenger space was competitive, offering more room than the Toyota Sequoia but falling short of American rivals.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design left few physical controls, relying on the touchscreen for functions like climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car included "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, although it felt a bit gimmicky.

The 2025 Nissan Armada came with two large screens, 12.3-inch displays on the SV and SL trims, and 14.3-inch screens on higher trims. The screens were housed side by side, providing clear visibility from the driver's seat. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and six USB-C ports were standard. 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, and the SL trim featured a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System. The collaboration with Klipsch aimed to enhance the audio experience for audiophiles.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, although the parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan's ProPILOT Assist suite, with adaptive cruise control and active lane-centering steering assistance. ProPILOT Assist 1.1 added proactive speed management, while ProPILOT Assist 2.1 offered hands-free highway-driving assist. 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. Higher trims featured a surround-view camera and Nissan's 3D Around View Monitor, enhancing visibility and safety.