Open Today Sales: 9 AM-8 PM
Starting at
Starting at
| 420 | Max Horsepower (HP) | 390 |
| 460 | Max Torque (lb-ft) | 394 |
| 15/22 MPG | Fuel Economy (city/highway) | 14/19 MPG |
Three-row, full-size SUVs have become increasingly popular in recent years as consumers see the benefit of a vehicle that can accommodate a large number of passengers without skimping on cargo space. It seems that many automakers have at least one of these vehicles in their SUV lineup, but few get the balance right. These vehicles should be built with power, and many times this means losing out on fuel economy. While difficult, it is possible to find the perfect balance of strength and efficiency, and two of the best SUVs on the market that seem to have done it well are the GMC Yukon and the Nissan Armada. But which one did it better? The only way to know for sure is to make a comparison: 2020 GMC Yukon vs 2020 Nissan Armada.
In comparing these two full-size SUVs, we can find a number of similarities. Aside from both having a truly usable third row, the Yukon and Armada also come with rear-wheel drive standard, with all-wheel drive available as an upgrade option. They also both offer excellent infotainment systems with a Bose premium audio system. However, there are some significant differences between these two SUVs that we will explore in greater detail to figure out which is the absolute best.
The 2020 GMC Yukon has a base MSRP of $50,600, with the base model being the SLE. The next trim is the SLT Standard for an MSRP of $56,095 and adds a power liftgate, several active safety features, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leather-appointed front bucket seats. The Yukon SLT adds keyless open and start, a hands-free power liftgate, heated power auto-dimming outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, heated and ventilated driver and front passenger seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. The SLT has an MSRP of $59,095. The top-of-the-line is the Yukon Denali, and this is quite a sight to behold. It offers wireless charging, a larger engine, a special audio system, magnetic ride control, and larger 20-inch wheels, for an MSRP of $68,995.
The 2020 Nissan Armada also offers four different trims. The base trim is the Armada SV for an MSRP of $47,100. The Armada SL has an MSRP of $51,900 and adds larger 20-inch wheels, a power liftgate, leather-appointed seats, and a remote engine start system. The Armada Platinum includes additional safety features, climate-controlled front seats, and an upgraded entertainment system. The Platinum trim has an MSRP of $60,530. The top-of-the-line trim is the Platinum Reserve, with an MSRP of $65,480. This trim adds even larger 22-inch wheels, added exterior detailing, premium two-tone leather-appointed seats with contrast stitching, and open-pore, wood-tone, and black quartz trim.
While the 2020 Nissan Armada has a lower MSRP for its entry-level trim, the price points accelerate faster between its four trims than the ones for the 2020 GMC Yukon. In addition, most of the differences between the Armada trims are cosmetic, while there seems to be more of a benefit regarding actual automotive, safety, and comfort features on the Yukon.
The 2020 GMC Yukon offers two different engines. The standard engine is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 gas engine that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The other, upgraded, engine is a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 gas engine that is standard on the Denali and available as an upgrade on the SLT trim. This engine produces a powerful 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, numbers that are significantly greater than on the Yukon's V8 engine. As a result, you will find greater pickup and overall speed on the Armada when equipped with this larger engine.
All 2020 Nissan Armada trims feature the exact same engine, a 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 gas engine. This produces 390 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. While this engine is comparable to the standard engine on the GMC Yukon, there is no option for an upgrade, which makes the Armada fall short in terms of performance; 30 hp and 66 lb-ft of torque short, to be exact.
The GMC Yukon offers two different transmissions. The standard one is a 6-speed automatic transmission that is paired with the 5.3-liter V8 engine. However, if you choose a Denali trim or opt for the larger 6.2-liter engine on the SLT trim, then your engine will be paired with a very responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. This will give you, the driver, greater control over your engine's overall performance. In contrast, the engine on the Nissan Armada is paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. This provides sufficient control to the driver when operating the Armada but does not come close to the performance of the Yukon's 10-speed.
Both the GMC and Nissan provide solid fuel efficiency on their respective SUVs. However, the fuel economy is slightly better on the GMC Yukon than on the Nissan Armada. With 2WD, the Yukon gets 15 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway and 18 MPG combined. And when upgraded to 4WD, this only slightly decreases with 15 MPG in the city, 21 MPG on the highway and 17 MPG combined. For a full-size SUV, those numbers are quite impressive.
The numbers for the Nissan Armada do not compare. With 2WD, the Armada is estimated to provide 14 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway with a combined number of 16 MPG. The 4WD drive Armada will provide only 13 MPG in city driving and 18 MPG in the highway driving with a combined efficiency of 15 MPG. These numbers are significantly lower than those of the Yukon; in terms of fuel economy, the Yulon comes out on top again.
Both the 2020 GMC Yukon and the 2020 Nissan Armada have similar space for the passengers. However, GMC has done a better job of efficiently distributing the space between the three rows of the Yukon than Nissan has done with the Armada, which is why the Yukon has the ability to accommodate up to nine passengers, compared to eight on the Armada.
The proof is in the numbers. Front row passengers in the Yukon have 42.8 inches of headroom, 45.3 inches of legroom, 64.8 inches of shoulder room, and 60.8 inches of hip room, while second-row passengers enjoy 38.7 inches of headroom, 39 inches of legroom, 65.1 inches of shoulder room, and 60.3 inches of hip room. The passengers in the third row won't feel cramped with 38.1 inches of headroom, 24.8 inches of legroom, 62.6 inches of shoulder room, and 49.3 inches of hip room.
In contrast, front-seat passengers in the Armada have 40.9 inches of headroom, 41.9 inches of legroom, 63.8 inches of shoulder room, and 59.2 inches of hip room, while second-row passengers receive 40 inches of headroom, 41 inches of legroom, 63.4 inches of shoulder room, and 58.4 inches of hip room. In the third row, where passengers will have 36.4 inches of headroom, 28.4 inches of legroom, 60.5 inches of shoulder room, and 48.8 inches of hip room.
While many of the Armada's numbers are quite similar to those of the Yukon, there is generally less space in the Armada - especially in the back row's shoulder and hip room. Having the extra room that the Yukon can provide will potentially stop seating arguments on long trips and make passengers generally more comfortable.
Each of these SUVs provides plenty of space for cargo with the edge, again, given to the Yukon. The 2020 GMC Yukon offers abundant space, with 15.5 cu.ft. in the trunk. This increases to 51.7 cu.ft. of space with the third row of seats folded down, and 94.7 cu.ft. of cargo space with the second row of seats folded. On the other hand, there is 20.3 cu.ft. of cargo space in the trunk of the Armada, which increases to 49.1 cu.ft. with the third row folded down, and 86.2 cu.ft. with the second row also folded down. The numbers do not lie, and it is clear that the Yukon takes over in this category as well, providing far more cargo space.
At Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, we are your best choice for a new, used, or pre-owned Buick or GMC cars, trucks, or SUVs, including the 2020 GMC Yukon. Test drive one and see why it is your best choice for a three-row full-size SUV. And when you find something you love, the experts in our finance center will help get you a deal that works for you so you can get behind your next vehicle. We are committed to making sure you have a wonderful experience at our dealership. We also offer a full service and parts department ready to provide you with all of your repair and maintenance needs. Our showroom is open seven days a week, so stop by today and find out why you should buy your next car, truck, or SUV from us.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.