Hulking body-on-frame SUVs may not be as popular as they once were, but they still roam the earth. Two examples of these throwback, do-it-all beasts are the 2020 Nissan Armada and the 2020 Toyota Sequoia. Not only can these three-row SUVs haul the entire family and all their cargo, but they can also tow midsize trailers and perform moderate off-road duties. Two key models in this segment are the 2020 Nissan Armada and the 2020 Toyota Sequoia.
Which is better for our Bradenton area SUV shoppers? Keep reading to find out.
Exterior
These hulking SUVs share one thing in common on the outside, and that’s their upright and rugged bodies. These big boys look ready to tackle virtually anything that crosses their paths, be it a long road trip out of Bay City, hauling a loaded trailer to Saginaw, hauling home improvement supplies to a project in Midland, and more.
While they share those common threads, the Sequoia and Armada cater to different audiences as you root through the trim levels and design specifics.
The 2020 Nissan Armada shares many of its design cues with the luxurious Infiniti QX80, giving it a more upscale look that includes plenty of chrome, fender-mounted ports, and a sharp kink in its side-window surrounds. This premium look only grows as you move through the trim levels and hits near-luxury levels in the range-topping Platinum Reserve model with its 22-inch wheels and dark-chrome accents.
The 2020 Toyota Sequoia also boasts the rugged, upright look but shoots in a different direction than the Armada. The Sequoia has a more straightforward design that lends itself well to its two special models, the TRD Sport and TRD Pro.
The TRD Sport shows off this big SUV’s more athletic side with sportier wheels, dark accents, and a sport-tuned suspension.
The Sequoia TRD Pro boasts an impressive off-road presence with enhanced ride height, off-road-ready wheels and tires, unique skid plates, and an off-road suspension system.
Outside of those two models, the Sequoia ranges from relatively simple in its base SR5 trim to more premium in its Platinum trim. The latter, however, never reaches the level of luxury the Armada Platinum Reserve does.
The 2020 Nissan Armada’s standard exterior equipment includes 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, automatic-on and off headlights, LED low-beam headlights with integrated signature, LED daytime running lights, dark-painted overfenders, acoustic front glass, chrome grille and door handles, body-color mirrors with integrated turn signals, power operation and heat, dark-painted roof rails, dark-painted running boards, and a tow hitch receiver
The Toyota Sequioa’s standard exterior gear is virtually the same, but it adds a windshield wiper de-icer and a standard moonroof to the list.
If you break out the tape measure, the Armada is slightly longer than the Sequoia, but the latter has a 0.9-inch-longer wheelbase and is 1.2 inches taller. The Sequoia also shows off its more rugged nature with up to an extra 0.8 inches of ride height.
| Measurement | 2020 Nissan Armada | 2020 Toyota Sequoia |
| Length (in.) | 208.9 | 205.1 |
| Width (in.) | 79.9 | 79.9 |
| Height (in.) | 75.8 | 77 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 121.1 | 122 |
| Ground Clearance (in.) | 9.1-9.2 | 9.6-10 |
| Curb weight (lbs.) | 5,577-5,958 | 5,730-6000 |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Armada
- More luxurious looking
- Near-luxury levels in Platinum Reserve trim
Advantage: 2020 Toyota Sequoia
- Sporty TRD Sport model
- Rugged TRD Pro model
- More traditional SUV looks
Interior
Inside, the Nissan Armada continues its more premium ways with a design that is more premium sedan than SUV. This gives it a softer look that appeals to a broader range of buyers, though buyers who prefer a more trucklike design may find this a bit too soft.
The 2020 Armada’s premium feel grows with each step up in trim level with features like perforated leather seating, ventilated seats, open-pore wood trim, a tri-zone entertainment system with two rear screens, and more.
The Toyota Sequoia’s interior is obviously more trucklike with its upright dash, chunky buttons and knobs, and more. This works quite well for buyers seeking an old-school SUV and fits the rugged TRD Pro model like a glove. When you start moving into more luxury grades, like the Platinum trim with its wood trim, it doesn’t have the stylistic elegance of the Armada.
As for standard interior features, the 2020 Nissan Armada comes loaded to the gills. Some of the highlights include dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 10-way power driver’s seat, an eight-way power passenger’s seat, heated front seats, 60/40 split-folding seconds-row captain’s chairs, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood-tone trim, an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, SiriusXM® Traffic and Travel Link®, Bluetooth® connectivity with audio streaming, a 13-speaker Bose® premium audio system with SiriusXM® satellite radio, HD Radio™ and MP3 compatibility, and four USB ports.
The 2020 Toyota Sequoia’s base SR5 shares many of the Armada’s features, but it lacks in certain areas. For example, its base touchscreen is only 7 inches, it lacks standard heated seats, and has a standard eight-speaker audio system.
As for in-cabin roominess, these SUVs boast similarly roomy first and second rows, but the Sequoia’s 35.3 inches of third-row legroom beats the Armada by nearly 7 inches. The Armada, however, has far more headroom in all three rows.
For those who plat to haul cargo, the 2020 Sequoia’s cargo hold is much larger, beating the Armada by 2.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 10 cubic feet behind the second row, and a whopping 27.4 cubes behind the first row.
| Measurement | 2020 Nissan Armada | 2020 Toyota Sequoia |
| Front headroom (in.) | 40.9 (w/o moonroof)/39.8 (w/ moonroof) | 34.8 |
| Front legroom (in.) | 41.9 | 42.5 |
| Front shoulder room (in.) | 63.8 | 66.4 |
| Front hip room (in.) | 59.2 | 62.5 |
| Second-row headroom (in.) | 40 | 34.9 |
| Second-row legroom (in.) | 41 | 40.9 |
| Second-row shoulder room (in.) | 63.4 | 65.6 |
| Second-row hip room (in.) | 58.4 | 59.9 |
| Third-row headroom (in.) | 36.4 | 34.5 |
| Third-row legroom (in.) | 28.4 | 35.3 |
| Third-row shoulder room (in.) | 60.5 | 65.7 |
| Third-row hip room (in.) | 48.8 | 50.4 |
| Cargo room (cu. ft.) (behind the third row) | 16.5 | 18.9 |
| Cargo room (cu. ft.) (behind the second row) | 49.9 | 59.9 |
| Cargo room (cu. ft.) (behind the first row) | 95.4 | 120.1 |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Armada
- More premium-looking cabin
- Unmatched luxury in upper trims
- More advanced standard tech
- Big headroom advantage
Advantage: 2020 Toyota Sequoia
- More rugged-looking cabin
- Tons more cargo room
- Adult-friendly third row
Performance
These SUVs keep things simple and powerful in the powertrain department, as they both feature one V-8 engine option.
The 2020 Nissan Armada comes standard with a 5.6-liter V-8 powerplant that pumps out 390 horsepower and pairs to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can get four-wheel drive as an option. This adds up to an 8,500-pound towing capacity and a zippy 5.9-second 0-to-60 sprint time.
The Sequoia uses a 5.7-liter V-8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque that mates with a six-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but four-wheel drive is also available. This big ‘Yota can sprint to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and tow up to 7,400 pounds.
Fuel economy is not good in either large SUV, but the Armada’s up to 14 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined rating beats the Sequoia by 1 mpg city, 2 mpg highway, and 2 mpg combined.
While the Sequoia loses in all the powertrain areas, it wins big in two other performance areas. First, the TRD Sport model offers surprisingly stable handling for such a large SUV. Second, the Armada has no match for the off-road-ready TRD Pro model.
| 2020 Nissan Armada | 2020 Toyota Sequoia | |
| Engine | 5.6-liter V-8 | 5.7-liter V-8 |
| Horsepower | 390 hp @ 5,800 rpm | 381 hp at 5,611 rpm |
| Torque | 394 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm | 401 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-spd automatic | 6-spd automatic |
| Driveline | RWD (std)/4WD (opt) | RWD (std)/4WD (opt) |
| Towing capacity | 8,500 pounds | 7,100-7,400 |
| 0-60 time | 5.9 seconds | 6.6 seconds |
| MPG City | 14 (RWD)/13 (4WD) | 13 (RWD/4WD) |
| MPG Highway | 19 (RWD)/18 (4WD) | 17 (RWD/4WD) |
| MPG Combined | 16 (RWD)/15 (4WD) | 14 (RWD)/15 (4WD) |
Advantage: 2020 Nissan Armada
- More standard power
- Higher towing capacity
- Better fuel economy
- Quicker to 60 mph
Advantage: 2020 Toyota Sequoia
- Off-road-ready
- Sharper handling in TRD Sport model
Pricing and Features
The 2020 Nissan Armada comes in four trim levels – SV, SL, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve – and their starting prices range from $47,100 to $65,030.
There are five trim levels in the 2020 Toyota Sequoia lineup: SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, Platinum, and TRD Pro. Their starting prices range from $49,905 to $64,030.
2020 Nissan Armada Key Features and Pricing by Trim
SV: $47,100
- 5.6-liter V-8 engine
- Seven-speed automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive
- Brake assist
- Auto-leveling rear suspension
- 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
- Automatic-on/off headlights
- LED low-beam headlights with integrated signature
- LED daytime running lights
- Dark-painted overfenders
- Chrome grille and door handles
- Power, heated, body-color mirrors with integrated turn signals
- Acoustic front glass
- Tinted rear glass
- Dark-painted roof rails
- Dark-painted running boards
- Tow hitch receiver
- Dual-zine automatic climate control
- Rear air conditioning with controls
- Rear air ducts
- Keyless open and ignition
- Power windows with one-touch-up/down
- Power door locks
- Rear door alert
- Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Intermittent rear wiper
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Dual front map lights
- Dual second- and third-row reading lights
- Overhead sunglasses holder
- Cargo-area under-floor storage
- Eight cargo tie-down hooks
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- Eight-way power passenger’s seat
- Two-way front-seat lumbar adjustment
- Heated front seats
- 60/40 split-folding seconds-row captain’s chairs
- 60/40 split-folding third-row bench
- Cloth upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Wood-tone trim
- NissanConnect® infotainment system
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Navigation
- SiriusXM® Traffic and Travel Link®
- NissanConnect® services powered by SiriusXM®
- Nissan voice recognition
- Hands-free text messaging
- Bluetooth® connectivity with audio streaming
- 13-speaker Bose® premium audio system
- SiriusXM® satellite radio
- HD Radio™
- MP3 compatibility
- Four USB ports
- Steering-wheel-mounted controls
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Rearview camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Hill-start assist
SL: $51,900
- All SV features, plus
- 20-inch machine-finished alloy wheels
- Fog lights
- Chrome mirrors
- Puddle lights
- Auto-dimming side-view mirrors
- Power liftgate
- Trailer-brake prewiring
- Remote engine start
- HomeLink universal home remote
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- 120-volt power outlet
- Footwell lights
- Memory for driver’s seat, steering wheel, and outside mirrors
- Power-folding third-row seat
- Leather seating
- Leather door trim with double stitching
- 360-degree camera
Platinum: $60,530
- All SL features, plus
- Speed sensitive steering
- 20-inch machine-finished, tinted aluminum-alloy wheels
- Body-color overfenders
- Power moonroof
- Windshield wiper de-icer
- Rear step light
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Tri-zone entertainment system
- Dual rear 8-inch monitors
- DVD player
- Two rear wireless headphones
- HDMI input
- Five USB ports
- Following-distance monitor
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking
- Blind-spot monitoring with automatic braking
- Rearview camera mirror
Platinum Reserve: $65,030
- All platinum features, plus
- 22-inch 14-spoke forged aluminum-alloy wheels
- Dark-chrome grille and door handles
- Dark-chrome mirrors
- Dark-chrome license plate applique
- Second-row fold-down captain’s chairs
- Second-row padded center console
- Two-tone leather seating with contrast stitching
- Open-pore wood-tone and black quartz trim
2020 Toyota Sequoia Key Features and Pricing by Trim
SR5: $49,905
- 5.7-liter V-8 engine
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive
- Engine skid plate
- Towing hitch receiver with wiring harness and four- and seven-pin connectors
- 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
- LED low- and high-beam headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- LED fog lights with dark-silver surrounds
- Chrome grille surround with cark-silver insert and accent
- Dark-silver lower-bumper accent
- Color-keyed power outside mirrors
- Color-keyed door handles
- Power moonroof
- Variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Windshield wiper de-icer
- Tinted rear glass
- Darkened taillights bezels
- Color-keyed rear spoiler
- Silver roof rack
- Black running boards
- Automatic tri-zone climate control
- Fabric seating
- Eight-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way manual passenger’s seat
- 40/20/40 split-folding, sliding, reclining second-row bench
- 60/40 split-folding, power-reclining third-row seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- Touch-to-unlock front doors and liftgate
- Keyless ignition
- Power windows with one-touch up/down
- Power locks
- Overhead console with storage
- “Sequoia”-stitched floor mats
- Audio Plus infotainment system
- 7-inch touchscreen
- Eight-speaker audio system with HD Radio™ and SiriusXM® satellite radio
- One USB media ports and two USB charging ports
- Bluetooth® connectivity with audio streaming
- Apple CarPlay®
- Android Auto™
- In-vehicle Wi-Fi®
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
TRD Sport: $52,620
- All SR5 features, plus
- 20-inch TRD black-painted alloy wheels
- Chrome fog light surrounds
- Black grille insert and accent
- Chrome lower-bumper accent
- Gloss-black mirrors
- Black TRD logos
- Black badging
- Black roof rack
- Performance-tuned Bilstein shocks
- TRD Sport performance-tuned anti-sway bars
- Second-row captain’s chairs
- TRD shift knob
- “TRD”-stitched floor mats
Limited: $58,915
- All SR5 features, plus
- 20-inch machine-finished split-spoke alloy wheels with dark-silver accents
- Chrome fog light surrounds
- Chrome-accented lower front bumper
- Chrome outside mirrors
- Auto-dimming side-view mirrors
- Chrome door handles
- Power liftgate
- Chrome bodyside molding
- Black running boards with color-keyed surround
- Leather seating
- Heated front seats
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- Six-way power passenger’s seat
- Second- and third-row retractable sunshades
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- HomeLink universal home remote
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Premium Audio infotainment system
- Navigation
- 12-speaker audio system
Platinum: $65,945
- All Limited features, plus
- 20-inch machine-finished split-spoke alloy wheels with silver accents
- Chrome grille insert
- Power-folding mirrors with reverse-gear tilt-down and memory
- Puddle lights
- Adaptive variable suspension
- Air suspension
- Rear-seat Blu-ray disc player
- Rear 9-inch display
- Two wireless rear headphones
- Rear audio system
- 120-volt rear power outlet
- Rear RCA jacks
- Perforated leather seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Bird’s-eye maple-style steering wheel accents
- Bird’s-eye maple-style accented shift knob and door panels
- 14-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier
- Two-position memory for driver’s seat
TRD Pro: $64,030
- All SR5 features, plus
- Four-wheel drive
- Limited-slip center differential with locking feature
- TRD Pro front and rear TRD FOX shocks with piggyback reservoirs
- Transfer case skid plate
- 18-inch black BBS forged-aluminum TRD Pro alloy wheels
- Rigid Industries LED fog lights
- “TOYOTA” grille with color-keyed surround
- Color-keyed, auto-dimming side-view mirrors with power folding
- Mirror-integrated turn signals
- Black TRD Pro logos
- Power liftgate
- Black badging
- Black TRD roof rack
- Cast-aluminum black running boards
- TRD front skid plate
- Black TRD Pro leather seats with red contrast stitching
- “TRD Pro”-stitched headrest
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- Six-way manual passenger’s seat
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- HomeLink® universal home remote
- TRD shifter knob
- TRD Pro all-weather floor mats
- Premium Audio infotainment system
- 14-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier
- Navigation
Who Should Buy the 2020 Nissan Armada
The 2020 Nissan Armada is a great option for buyers who area willing to sacrifice a little space for more features and value. Plus, shoppers who need to maximize towing capacity will get tons more in the Armada.
Who Should Buy the 2020 Toyota Sequoia
The 2020 Sequoia doesn’t offer the value the Armada does, but it suits two types of buyers well. First, are buyers seeking a sportier model. They will love the TRD Sport. Second, buyers who love off-roading will find all the ruggedness they need in the Sequoia TRD Pro.
Is the 2020 Nissan Armada the right SUV for your Bradenton area family? Swing by the Nissan of Bradenton new-car showroom serving Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding areas to take one of our in-stock Armada models for a test drive and see what it can offer you. Can’t make it to our new-Nissan showroom today? You can also navigate to our online inventory page, choose a few Armada models that fit your needs, and set up a test drive around your schedule.
