2021 Nissan Armada - Driven
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Nissan Armada - Driven
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Nissan’s full-size SUV has been updated with fresh tech, but does that make it good enough?
The Nissan Armada started life back in 2004 riding on Nissan Titan underpinnings and was built in Canton Mississippi. All that changed when the second-generation was launched for the 2017 model year, with production shifting to Yakuhashi, Kyushu, Japan as Nissan based the second-gen on Nissan Patrol underpinnings that feature some very specific modifications to make it suitable for the North American market. As of 2021, the Nissan Armada has been updated to feature a prettier face, a new center console inside, and some updated technology. As is the case with all refreshed models, we’ve been wondering if Nissan did enough to keep the Armada relevant in such a brutally competitive market. Does it hold its own against the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition? Well, let’s find out.
Latest Nissan Armada news and reviews:
2022 Nissan Armada Retains The 2021 Model Year Pricing
2022 Nissan Armada prices Armada S 4x2 $48,900 USD Armada SV 4x2 $52,900 USD Armada SL 4x2 $56,710 USD Armada Platinum 4x2 $65,300 USD Armada S 4x4 $51,900 USD Armada SV 4x4 $55,900 USD Armada SL 4x4 $59,710 USD Armada Platinum 4x4 $68,300 USD
2021 Nissan Armada - Driven
The Nissan Armada started life back in 2004 riding on Nissan Titan underpinnings and was built in Canton Mississippi. All that changed when the second-generation was launched for the 2017 model year, with production shifting to Yakuhashi, Kyushu, Japan as Nissan based the second-gen on Nissan Patrol underpinnings that feature some very specific modifications to make it suitable for the North American market. As of 2021, the Nissan Armada has been updated to feature a prettier face, a new center console inside, and some updated technology. As is the case with all refreshed models, we’ve been wondering if Nissan did enough to keep the Armada relevant in such a brutally competitive market. Does it hold its own against the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition? Well, let’s find out.
The 2021 Nissan Armada Is More About Tech Updates Than Appearance
Modern-day vehicles see new generations and models come in every 5-6 years on an average. Nissan, however, milked the first-gen Armada for over a decade before bringing in the second-generation in 2016 as a 2017 model. So, expecting a lot out of a mid-cycle refresh would be a cardinal sin.
Nissan has updated the full-size Armada for the 2021 model year and it comes with a refreshed face and derriere, and some major tech improvements inside the cabin. These are the things you expect from a refresh, but given Armada’s history, we are pleasantly surprised to see these many changes.
2020 Nissan Armada - Driven
Nissan launched the second-generation Armada – the brand’s full-size, flagship SUV – in 2017 and, while it was a huge step forward in terms of luxury (relatively used, of course) and rigidity, it was also knocked for its lack of technology. Comfortable seating and cabin space rank high on the list of notable features, but things like the infotainment system and instrument cluster feel dated. With this kind of impression, we thought it would be a good idea to spend some time with the 2020 Nissan Armada to see just what it has to offer and if it can really compete with models like the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition. It was a long week, and this is what our experience taught us about the Nissan Armada.
2017 - 2020 Nissan Armada
The new Armada is a giant leap forward for Nissan. Its comfort levels, active and passive safety features, and rigidity within the ladder frame and body structure are all vastly improved. It also bookends the automaker’s complete revision of its SUV and crossover lineups over the last three years, with new editions of the Pathfinder, Murano, and Rogue.
As before, the Armada sits atop the Nissan SUV lineup as the flagship. It offers the highest levels of available luxury and comfort, especially in its range-topping trim, the Platinum. Lower trim levels include the “base” SV and mid-grade SL trims.
Update 2/5/2020: Nissan has updated pricing for the 2020 model year and introduced a new wheel package. Learn about the updated pricing and everything else you need to know in our “What’s New for 2020” section below.
Towing Capacity: 7 SUVs From 2016 that Can Tow the Most
When it comes to choosing an SUV, there are a number of different factors to consider. We often talk about power, performance, fuel economy, and design like they matter the most, and while it can be argued that they do, items like towing capacity, cargo space, and payload capacity are just as important as any of them. from 2016 that offer the best of these worlds. You might be surprised at what we found out.
2018 Nissan Armada Mountain Patrol
Remember the Nissan Armada Snow Patrol from the 2018 Chicago Auto Show? Well, Nissan is moving from cold to hot with the new Nissan Armada Mountain Patrol – a concept designed for the rugged outdoors with everything you need to survive outside of a built-in fire pit and a toilet. It’s even powered by Nissan’s 5.6-liter V-8 with some 390 horsepower on tap and an 8,500-pound towing capacity. So what all does this concept offer and why do you wish Nissan would offer it as a production model? Keep reading to find out.
Nissan Once Again Beats The Winter Blues With Armada Snow Patrol In Chicago
For those of you who may be unaware, the Midwest has been under siege this winter, as a series of heavy storms have dropped tons of the white stuff on the regular throughout the region. But while some are freaking out over it, Nissan isn’t deterred, as its got just the right lineup of customized powder machines to make the most of the frozen landscape. Back in 2016, the Japanese brand headed to Chi Town with a trio of tread-equipped SUVs dubbed the Winter Warriors, and now, its returning to the 2018 Chicago Auto Show with more of the good stuff, including this one-off Armada that shows what can be done to beat the winter blues.
Continue reading for the full story.
2018 Nissan Armada Snow Patrol
There must be something about the Chicago Auto Show that brings out Nissan’s creativity. Two years ago, the Japanese automaker unveiled the Winter Warrior Concepts, a collection of outrageously engineered Pathfinder, Murano, and Rogue SUVs that featured snow tracks instead of actual wheels. This year, Nissan is returning to the Windy City with a pair of concepts that might as well be spiritual successors of the Winter Warriors. One of these concepts is a fresh take on the Nissan Armada, called the Snow Patrol. It’s not as outlandish as the Winter Warriors or its present counterpart, the Nissan 370Zki, but the Armada Snow Patrol is unique in its own right for a variety of reasons.
There’s no going around Nissan’s objective with the Armada Snow Patrol. Billy Hayes, the vice president of Nissan North America’s Commercial Vehicles and Trucks, called it a “return to roots” concept for the Armada model. “(The Armada) has a long off-road heritage as the Nissan Patrol, a global expedition vehicle,” he said. "As part of our celebration of winter at the Chicago Auto Show, we wanted to remind our growing family of Armada owners and enthusiasts that this full-size SUV stands ready to take you to the mountains, or at least safely through Chicago streets covered in lake effect snow."
One look at the Nissan Armada Snow Patrol and you’ll see exactly what Hayes is talking about.
2017 Nissan Armada Named SUV of Texas
The 2017 Nissan Armada was named the SUV of Texas in the 2016 Truck Rodeo competition held by the Texas Auto Writers Association. The grueling, two-day evaluation process took place on the 1,632-acre Longhorn River Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas and included more than 70 trucks, SUVs, and crossovers from across the industry. More than 70 TAWA members, yours truly included, drove the vehicles in a variety of on-road and challenging off-road courses that pushed vehicles to their limits. As voting concluded, it was the all-new Armada that scored more points for the title honor of SUV of Texas.
"We’re honored to have the all-new 2017 Nissan Armada recognized by the SUV experts of the Texas Auto Writers Association," said Fred Diaz, division vice president and general manager of North America Trucks and Light Commercial Vehicles. "Armada provides a unique combination of luxury, power, and utility, including best-in-class standard towing and a suite of advanced Nissan Safety Shield technologies such as Predictive Forward Collision Warning and Backup Collision Intervention."
As Diaz points out, several of the Armada’s features stand out. Its towing capacity is rated at 8,500 pounds thanks to its 5.6-liter Endurance V-8 it shares with the Titan and Titan XD. The engine kicks out a respectable 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque though a seven-speed automatic transmission and optional full-time 4WD system with low range.
The Armada’s active and passive safety systems rank high with families. The suite includes Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Backup Collision Intervention, and the 360-degree Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection. Interestingly enough, the Armada is the only SUV to offer Backup Collision Intervention, which automatically stops the vehicle should something come inside its path.
While the Armada is based on the global Nissan Patrol and shares most of its parts with the Infiniti QX80, the Armada’s lower price point make it a better value. A RWD Armada in the base SV trim starts at $44,400. Opting for a 4WD version with the range-topping Platinum trim sends the price to $59,990 before options. The Armada joins the 2017 Ford Super Duty and 2017 Volvo XC90 in TAWA’s top honors. The Super Duty was named the Truck of Texas and for the second year in a row, the XC90 earned the CUV of Texas.
Continue reading for more information.
Watch the 2017 Nissan Armada Tackle the Trails: Video
The Nissan Armada is all-new for the 2017 model year, dumping the old, first-generation Titan-based platform for something new. Yep, the Armada is based on the highly regarded Nissan Patrol, an old-school, body-on-frame SUV Nissan sells just about everywhere but North America. Nevertheless, the U.S. is now blessed with the second-generation Armada, filled with new tech, a plushy new interior, all wrapped in good looks.
The Armada shares the same 5.6-liter Endurance V-8 with the 2017 Titan pickup. It now comes with direct injection, an improved variable valvetrain system, and a new seven-speed automatic transmission. The double overhead cam V-8 kicks out 390 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque to either the rear wheels, or to all four when the part-time 4WD option is ordered.
The Armada has all the right ingredients to a solid off-road machine – four-wheel independent suspension, a fully boxed steel ladder frame, and a two-speed transfer case with low range gears. The Nissan also boasts 9.1 inches of ground clearance. And though it doesn’t have mechanically locking differentials, its electronic traction control can modulate braking independently to send power to wheels with the most traction.
Now all of this does come at a price. The base Armada carries a sticker of $44,400. The one our friends over at TFL Truck tested came in at $61,435. That’s not all that cheap. Nevertheless, the Armada does seat seven or eight (depending on seating options chosen) in cushy comfort with all the modern technology and safety features.
So how does the Armada handle a moderately challenging mountain trail? You’ll have to watch TFL Truck’s video to find out.
2016 Chicago Auto Show – Best And Worst In Show
The gates are open at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, and with those pesky journalists finally out of the way, the public can now enjoy all the vehicular goodness that North America’s “largest” auto show can muster. Special editions, refreshes, and brand-new models all dropped cover this year, with crossovers and SUVs served up as the main course, and new sedans and sports cars added as a tasty side dish. Picking winners and losers here is not exactly easy, but hey, this isn’t some elementary school talent show. Time to be ruthless.
There were a few clear standouts for Best In Show right from the start, but cutthroat competition to fill the remaining slots quickly followed. Picking vehicles for Worst In Show was also pretty tricky, but that’s why they pay me the big bucks.
So, without further ado…
Continue reading for the Best and Worst In Show at CAS 2016.
2017 Nissan Armada Unveiled
We’re still a day away from the official launch of the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, but Nissan is getting an early start with the unveiling of the new 2017 Armada. Now entering its second generation, the flagship full-size SUV receives significant updates to the exterior, interior, and drivetrain, all of which fall in line with additional refreshes seen across Nissan’s crossover/SUV lineup.
Let’s start with the exterior, which gets a new look upfront with a chromed-out V-motion grille. The headlights are fitted with LEDs for the low beams and daytime running lights as standard, and you’ll find LEDs used in the taillights as well.
Customers will have three trim levels to choose from: SV, SL, and Platinum.
The spacious, eight-passenger interior was also redesigned, and Nissan claims a “library level” of interior noise at idle thanks to new acoustic glass and additional sound deadening material. Standard features include the Nissan Navigation system with NavTraffic and NavWeather, as well as an 8.0-inch display screen, heated front seats, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system. There’s fresh safety tech as well, such as Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Backup Collision Intervention, Around View Monitor, Intelligent Cruise Control, and Lane Departure Warning.
Both two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive are available. Power comes from an updated 5.6-liter Endurance V-8 engine, which now comes equipped with a new fuel injection system and variable valve system for even more output – up to 390 horsepower, besting the outgoing model’s 317 by a whopping 73 ponies. A new seven-speed automatic gearbox replaces the outgoing five-speed automatic. Standard towing capacity is rated at 8,500 pounds.
Expect the 2017 Armada to go on sale this summer, but you can see it now at the Chicago Auto Show. We’ll be bringing you all the latest from CAS, so stay tuned!
We’re sure that Nissan still wants its full-sized Armada to do well, but there’s just a number of things about it that makes the though of it burning up the sales floor a pipe-dream. In a market that includes the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan isn’t doing the Armada justice by keeping its outdated looks going.
That’s the biggest concern we have of the Armada, but its not the only one. The SUV does have a lot of optional equipment available, which is a good thing if the Armada’s basic template was already good enough to stand on its own. But it’s not, and Nissan should’ve just done its customers a solid by at least adding some of this equipment as standard features.
It’s performance numbers is up-to-par with its competitors, which is a sigh of relief. But for the most part, the Armada really deserved better than what Nissan’s giving it in it in 2014.
So we’re hoping that a next-gen model is in the works. Otherwise, the Armada will likely continue to loiter in obscurity, as its rivals take most of its sales away.
Updated 10/14/2014: Nissan announced prices for the 2015 Armada which is now on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide. For the 2015 model year, the SUV received a series of small updates, limited especially to some new exterior paints, new wheels and some interior upgrades. Prices will start from $38,060 for the 4x2 SV version.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan Armada.
The Armada is Nissan’s fifth model built on the F-Alpha platform. It joins models like the Titan pickup truck, Xterra SUV, Frontier pickup truck, and Pathfinder SUV, all built on the same platform. The Armada was unveiled in 2004 with only a small update in 2008 that brought on a new exterior style and a more luxurious and refined interior.
Over the years, the Nissan Armada hasn’t changed much in terms of power. It has always received a 5.6-liter V8 that delivers a total of 317 HP and 385 lb-ft of torque. The engine is combined with an advanced 5-speed automatic transmission, heavy-duty fully boxed ladder frame, and comfortable double-wishbone suspension It also offers a towing capacity of more than 9,000 lbs.
For 2012, the Armada remains virtually unchanged and will be offered in three trim levels: Armada SV, Armada SL, and Armada Platinum. Each model is offered in a choice of 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive, with prices starting from $38,490.
Hit the jump to read more about the Nissan Armada.
Nissan today announced prices and details on the 2011 Armada large SUV. For 2011 Armada will be offered in three well-equipped models, Armada SV, Armada SL and Armada Platinum with prices starting at $37,910.
The 2011 Armada will be powered by a 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine that delivers a total of 317 HP and 385 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an advanced 5-speed automatic transmission, heavy-duty fully boxed ladder frame and comfortable double-wishbone suspension.
Depending on each model, the 2011 Armada will be offered as standard equipment with overhead console with multi-storage capacity, Dual Zone Automatic A/C, power windows and door locks, power adjustable pedals, Nissan Intelligent Key, leather-appointed seating, RearView Monitor, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, premium Bose® audio system with 11 speakers and subwoofer, power-folding 60/40-split 3rd row seat and auto-leveling rear air suspension, heated front seats and steering wheel, power rear liftgate, moonroof, DVD Family Entertainment System and Nissan Navigation system.
Press release after the jump.
With the last facelift received in 2008, the Armada SUV continues to be one of the most successful SUVs on the market. For 2010 Nissan is offering two trim versions, 4x2 and 4x4, but also two special editions: Titanium Edition and Platinum Edition.
All models are powered by a 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine rated at 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, along with an advanced 5-speed automatic transmission, heavy-duty ladder frame and double-wishbone suspension.
For the 2010 model year Nissan is offering new two-piece body-color side moldings with chrome strip treatment and contrasting interior stitching for the Titanium and Platinum models, revised available wood grain finisher appearance, the addition of standard front seat side-impact supplemental air bags for the SE 4x2 model and three new exterior colors.
Press release after the jump.
Nissan today announced pricing on the 20010 Armada SUV and also a new value package for the 2009 Murano. The 2010 Armda will go on sale in mid May and prices will start from $37,210 for the 2010 Armada 4x2 SE and $42,810 for the Armada 4x4 SE.
The new 360 package for Murano is priced at $1,450 and adds: Nissan Intelligent Key™, Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System, iPod® adaptor, metallic-finish 18-inch alloy wheels, silver-finish roof rails and Murano’s signature dual-panel moonroof. It is available only for the Murano SL FWD or AWD with Premium and Leather packages.
Press release after the jump.
Nissan announced pricing on two new 2008 vehicles, the Nissan Titan full-size pickup and Nissan Armada full-size SUV.
Both go on sale today at Nissan dealers nationwide.
02008 Nissan Titan0
Originally launched in 2004, the Nissan Titan pickup lineup expands for 2008 with the addition of two new long bed configurations and a new PRO-4X grade, which is available in both King Cab and Crew Cab 4-wheel drive standard bed configurations.
In addition, the 2008 Titan features revised front (...)
Nissan Armada powers into 2008 with improvements that add to its appeal as the full-size family SUV. With a more luxurious and refined interior, enhanced technology features, new exterior style, new colors and new option packages, Armada continues its award-winning ways.
Nissan and Marc Ecko have revealed what happens when two of the most design-forward companies in the automotive and fashion industries unite. At a VIP event held at New York’s Splashlight Studios, Nissan and Marc Ecko showcased the results of their recently announced partnership – the Nissan Pathfinder and the Nissan Armada customised by Marc Ecko, and the Nissan-inspired line of apparel and accessories from the *ecko unltd. and Marc Ecko Cut & Sew collections.
“Nissan and Marc Ecko are (...)
Nissan’s Armada SUV continues in 2006 to be a full-size SUV for full-size lives. Featuring a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine, three-row, eight-passenger seating and up to 9,100-pound maximum towing capacity, the Armada is primed for adventures of all sizes.