The modern SUV is looking more and more like the do-it-all car that fits everyone’s needs. An SUV that can adapt to any situation you put it in is an SUV that you want to drive. Many of us are on the lookout for new SUVs to suit our lifestyles, and two stellar options are the 2023 Chevy Tahoe vs 2023 Nissan Armada. With similar starting prices, it’s natural to compare the two and wonder which is best for you. We’ll break down these two great vehicles, what they can do for you, and how they hold up to each other.
Under the Hood
Both the 2023 Chevy Tahoe and the 2023 Nissan Armada have similar engines. The Chevy Tahoe’s standard engine is a 5.3L V8 making 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The Nissan Armada has a 5.6L V8 engine that makes 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. That means you’ll get similar power levels from each SUV’s base engine, with the advantage going to the Nissan.
However, that 5.6L V8 is the only engine the Armada offers, while the Chevy Tahoe gives you choices. While the Tahoe’s standard engine is down on the Armada, its optional 6.2L V8 out performs it, making up to 433 horsepower and 467 lb-ft of torque. It also offers a diesel option, a 3.0L turbo I-6 generating 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, for SUV owners looking for something more heavy-duty. Both come with options for two-wheel or four-wheel drive, depending on your needs.
While beating the Armada on horsepower, the Tahoe surprisingly wins the fuel economy contest as well. The Armada gets 14 MPG in the city and 19 on the highway in rear-wheel drive form (13/18 for four-wheel drive), while the Tahoe’s 5.3L V8 gets 15 city and 20 highway regardless of drivetrain. Even the Tahoe’s powerhouse 6.2 V8 still does better than the Armada, getting 14/20 with rear-wheel drive and 14/18 with four-wheel drive. Unsurprisingly, the 3.0L diesel engine gets the best fuel economy of them all, 21/28 with rear-wheel drive and 20/26 with four-wheel drive.
The 2023 Nissan Armada has auto-leveling suspension, meaning it can adapt to your conditions and settle at the optimal height during a bumpy ride. The 2023 Chevy Tahoe takes this idea one step further with first-in-class Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. This adaptive suspension can actually improve the fuel efficiency of the Chevy Tahoe, raising its ride height for off-road travel, then lowering it closer to the ground for better aerodynamics on the highway.
Another mechanical aspect that stands out to us is that the 2023 Chevy Tahoe comes equipped with a 10-speed transmission, giving you plenty of gears to optimize engine RPMs for whatever conditions you demand. The 2023 Nissan Armada has a seven-speed transmission, which is adequate for most drivers, but we prefer the additional control the Chevy Tahoe provides. Anything that can make your SUV more versatile and better for your specific needs is a plus, and the fact that the Tahoe has that extra “oomph” in its engine gives it the advantage over the Nissan Armada.
Interior Space and Storage
What good is an SUV if it can’t fit everything you need? Luckily, both the 2023 Chevy Tahoe and the 2023 Nissan Armada offer plenty of space inside for you, your passengers, and all your cargo. Both SUVs can fit up to eight passengers and have configuration options to suit your needs. That means you can adjust the seating to fit more passengers, or power-fold your third row to fit that big piece of furniture no one else could carry. There are even extra storage spaces in convenient places like under the floor and near the dashboard, so you can fit just about everything you might need in all the right spots. The name of the game for SUVs is versatility, and both of these SUVs are great options in that department. Ultimately, while both options have great storage options, the Chevy Tahoe has just a bit more room to work with, having 122.9 cubic feet of total storage compared to the 92.6 cubic feet that the Nissan Armada has.
We love that the Nissan Armada comes with premium leather seats that have available heating options to keep you cozy and warm during the winter nights, similar to what’s offered in the spacious and luxurious cabin of the Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe also has available all-weather floor and seat liners, to make cleanup easy after a long day in the mud or rain.
The 2023 Tahoe offers some premium entertainment features as well, like a six-speaker stereo system and an eight-inch infotainment display. This makes directions, playlists, and incoming calls easy to see and operate while still allowing you to focus on the road. It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, meaning you and your smartphone have found a perfect match without any wires to get in the way! While the Nissan Armada has decent technological capabilities, including a wider 12.3-inch touchscreen and included Alexa capabilities, we preferred the extensive connectivity options and the ease of use of the Chevy Tahoe.
Exterior and Safety
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just what’s on the inside that counts. An SUV should not only feel good to drive, but look good doing it. The 2023 Chevy Tahoe and the 2023 Nissan Armada are both stylish SUVs, but the best part about these vehicles’ exteriors is how they keep you and your passengers safe.
The 2023 Chevy Tahoe comes in six different trims, all equally capable of wowing crowds and stunning friends. The 2023 Nissan Armada is no slouch in the looks department either, with six flashy color options of its own. Where the Chevy Tahoe is broad and powerful in its design, the Nissan Armada is sleek and slick. SUV drivers looking for something that feels a bit more rugged and approachable will prefer the Chevy Tahoe, while those who settle for nothing less than the look of luxury may choose the Nissan Armada.
Both SUVs are also quite capable of making sure you and your passengers stay safe and secure during all your trips. In addition to standard modern seatbelt and airbag advances, these SUVs are also quite capable of making sure a collision never happens in the first place. The Nissan Armada has 360 degrees of automatic safety monitoring, and the Chevy Tahoe has thirteen camera views so you can see for yourself if any obstacles are expected. Both the Tahoe and the Armada have intelligent lane assistance software, making sure you never accidentally drift into danger on the highway. We’ve written at length before about Chevy’s excellent Teen Driver service, and it returns in the 2023 Tahoe, making it the superior choice for families with up-and-coming drivers. We’re happy to report that both the Chevy Tahoe and Nissan Armada are excellent choices in terms of safety, and which exterior you prefer will most likely come down to personal preference.
A Personal Choice
Both the 2023 Chevy Tahoe and the 2023 Nissan Armada have quite a bit in common, and can provide similar driving experiences. Both SUVs can tow around 8,000 pounds, assuring drivers that no haul is too large for these powerhouse vehicles. We personally prefer the Chevy Tahoe’s superior fuel economy rating and horsepower. On the inside, the cabins are similar, offering the same number of seats, similar arrangements, and equal opportunities to customize the interior space. Though the Armada has the slight edge in terms of the sheer quality of its seats, the Tahoe counters with better technological capabilities, and connects better with most available smartphones. It doesn’t hurt either that the Tahoe has about thirty cubic feet more of storage space. On the outside, the Chevy Tahoe is a powerfully built SUV that stands out in a crowd, while the Nissan Armada is a lean machine of grace and style. Both will keep you safe and sound while you drive, so the only thing you need to worry about is which one is perfect for you.
