2025 Nissan Armada review

The third generation of the Armada continues to share its body-on-frame platform with the Infiniti QX80, but this time around it has greater torsional rigidity and lateral stiffness. The vehicle is only 0.7 of an inch longer, but at 3.4 inches wider, it has a far more comfortable third-row area and continues to seat up to eight.

Under the hood, the Armada trades the 5.6-liter V8 for a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that improves power while maintaining the same 8,500-pound maximum towing capacity when properly equipped

. The new nine-speed automatic transmission teams with the engine to improve fuel economy to as high as 18 mpg combined (16 city/20 highway) for rear-wheel-drive models.

Once again, the Armada offers four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. A new Pro-4X model gets an air suspension to add ground clearance, four additional off-road driving modes, skid plates, a raised bumper with tow hooks, and all-terrain tires. For 2026, Nissan adds a Nismo model that ups the engine’s power, adds a body kit, and switches to stickier tires.

After the first-generation Armada leveraged the Titan pickup’s body-on-frame platform, the second generation received its body-on-frame architecture from the Infiniti QX80 and the Nissan Patrol sold in other markets. The change brought a 2.2-inch shorter wheelbase, but the vehicle was 1.2 inches longer and sat 2.2 inches lower.

The powertrain remained a 5.6-liter V8, but the addition of direct injection, variable lift, and variable valve timing increased horsepower significantly. A new seven-speed automatic transmission replaced the prior five-speed. These changes contributed to slightly improved fuel economy at 16 mpg combined (14 city/19 highway) with rear-wheel drive

. Towing capacity dropped slightly to 8,500 pounds, which still led among full-size SUVs.

Inside, the Armada still sat up to eight, but the changes to the platform sapped both shoulder room and legroom for the third-row passengers, making life back there challenging. Up front, however, improved interior materials made for a more pleasant environment. Drivers could interact with an eight-inch touchscreen initially, and that grew to 12.3 inches for the 2021 model year.

Nissan utilized the body-on-frame platform from the Titan full-size pickup to create the full-size Armada SUV for the 2004 model year. The Titan’s frame, four-wheel-drive system, and V8 power gave it impressive capabilities, allowing it to tow up to 9,100 pounds

.

That V8 was a 5.6-liter engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The first-generation Armada mostly stood pat for its 12-year run, but the engine added more power for the 2007 model year. The four-wheel-drive system offered a two-speed transfer case that enabled low-range gearing for some real off-road capability. Inside, the Armada had three rows of seats to accommodate up to eight passengers. It also offered as much as 97 cubic feet of cargo space so it could perform at Home Depot as well.

Predictably, fuel economy was poor, with EPA ratings that topped out at 15 mpg combined (13 city/19 highway) with rear-wheel drive for its final model year

.