Every brand has its own respective interpretation of "huge SUV." For mainstays of the genre like GMC and Cadillac, that means a gothic cathedral on wheels packing so much optional power that it could break all the HOA regulations In the state, for a marque such as BMW, this serves as an opportunity to showcase elegance and provide a platform for creativity, allowing them to redefine the limits of luxury. As for Nissan with their 2025 Armada, it presents a moment to revamp and reimagine their approach.
The 2025 Nissan Armada Platinum Reserve that appeared at my place measured an impressive size. Its dimensions include a length of 209.7 inches, width of 83.3 inches, and height of 76.5 inches. With a weight of 5,891 pounds, this vehicle certainly stands out as quite substantial. Although these figures might seem enormous, they actually position it marginally below the Cadillac Escalade in terms of overall size. Despite this, it feels The dual-tone "Deep Ocean Blue Pearl" paint job makes oceanic analogies more intuitive. Since I reside near the Chesapeake Bay, I'm quite familiar with sizable sea vessels.
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Nissan's Maritime SUV
The 2025 Armada marks a fresh start for this era. Similar to its truck-derived rivals, it features a body-on-frame design. Research online indicates that it shares architecture with the Nissan Patrol, an SUV not available in North America. The vehicle also boasts a brand-new engine setup. Specifically, it uses a 3.5-liter bi-turbo V6 delivering robust performance at 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. Furthermore, it incorporates air suspension technology to provide a smooth ride, minimizing your awareness of the road’s imperfections.
The towing capability is set at an impressive 8,500 pounds, which is 400 pounds higher than what you get with the Escalade. Following the nautical theme of its naming—similar to the Armada—the towing limit exceeds the requirement needed for hauling a vintage 40-millimeter Bofors anti-aircraft cannon from World War II, weighing approximately 5,500 pounds.
Just as you'd anticipate from a high-end SUV featuring air-ride suspension that’s about the size of a mansion, driving it feels heavenly. By nautical terms, “armada” refers to a fleet of vessels heading into battle. However, this vehicle does not convey a sense of impending combat; instead, it cruises smoothly and effortlessly, suggesting it behaves more akin to a peaceful “flotilla.” It's not the USS Missouri. It leans more towards being a yacht. Despite the warship terminology, the Armada is clearly aiming for luxury status. Rather than going up against family-oriented vehicles such as the Chevy Traverse or lower-tier models, it positions itself differently. Toyota Grand Highlander. It’s aiming at Cadillac and Mercedes (the pricing will be discussed later, but the extensive options list clarifies that aspect).
As a Consequence of Much Hard Work
The Armada I tested came equipped with seven seats, though it’s also offered as an eight-passenger model. Cruising around in the Armada brought back memories of sailing the Chesapeake Bay aboard my former roommate's father's Pursuit sports yacht; both experiences exude comfort and a sense of freedom. This SUV provides a truly enjoyable ride. The engineers at Nissan have done an excellent job fine-tuning the suspension and powertrain—while undeniably robust, they manage not to overwhelm. Instead of jolting you ahead, it glides smoothly along.
My guests really liked the Armada as well. Driving to various record shops in such a large SUV isn’t particularly challenging, yet it didn’t feel burdensome to operate or handle, even with its size. Finding parking spots was somewhat tricky, though this issue isn’t specific to just the Armada.
The cabin of the Armada evidently required considerable investment from Nissan. The central control panel and entertainment display were meticulously arranged with actual buttons for driving modes and climate settings, which I greatly appreciated.
It Doesn't Feel Like It’s Made By Nissan
Leather covers every surface; the front seats offer heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Actually, an idea had been lingering at the back of my mind throughout the week. This vehicle doesn’t seem like your typical modern Nissan. While the Nissan Altima The Kicks and Sentras I previously evaluated were decent vehicles; none of them stood out as particularly innovative or unexpected. While they offered good value for their price, they did not distinguish themselves in any significant manner.
On the contrary, the Armada distinguishes itself as an exceptionally fine SUV. Its appearance is appealing—Nissan consistently gets the hues just right—and it offers both comfort and capability along with unexpected agility for its size. Driving it feels straightforward without unnecessary complications. The infotainment system avoids flashy gimmicks focusing instead on useful features within convenient reach, ensuring all essential controls remain easily accessible.
I most certainly do not fall into the target market for an expensive $80,000+ eight-passenger luxury SUV, yet I can easily imagine how appealing this could be compared to well-known brands like Cadillacs and BMWs. This SUV is quite enticing and evidently shows that Nissan hasn’t thrown in the towel or settled on just producing fleet vehicles destined for obsolescence. Clearly, there’s a dedicated team at Nissan striving to create a luxurious SUV that consumers genuinely desire. If this endeavor will pull Nissan out of its current financial downturn remains uncertain, but the battle is far from lost.
About That Price Tag
The issue now revolves around the expense. The Armada comes with a hefty price tag. A basic two-wheel drive SV version begins at an almost reasonable $57,520. Nevertheless, the four-wheel drive Platinum Reserve variant I tried has a starting point of quite exorbitant for Nissan standards—$79,990. The feature set provided as standard is rather comprehensive, hence please be patient through this detailed list.
The 2025 Nissan Armada Platinum Reserve features tri-zone automatic temperature control, twelve-way adjustable powered front seating, heated captain’s chairs in the middle section, a vast sunroof, sixty-four color options for mood lighting, full leather upholstery, a high-end fourteen-point-three inch touchscreen entertainment interface, multiple cameras for assistance during parking and driving, head-up display technology, twenty-two-inch rims, a dual-range four-wheel-drive transmission, and heating elements in the side mirrors.
The sole add-ons available on the Armada I tested included Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1 driving aid system for $2,900, bi-color paint at an additional cost of $990, splash guards priced at $400, and floor mats costing $550. Adding the $2,010 delivery fee pushes the grand total up to quite a luxurious sum of $86,840 – akin to what you might expect from a high-end European SUV. While it's certainly a fine vehicle, you’re undoubtedly shelling out top dollar for it.
2025 Nissan Armada Verdict
What issues did I have with the Armada? Honestly, nothing significant came to mind. However, no vehicle is flawless: Its fuel efficiency, which one would expect considering its dimensions, was dismal at an average of 18 mpg combined. During my time driving through various stores, I discovered that it could plummet even lower to about 14 mpg. Although a hybrid system may have been more suitable for such a large vehicle, I understand why Nissan opted for the likely less expensive twin-turbodiesel V6 instead. The powertrain isn’t exactly what sells the Armada anyway.
However, the 2025 Armada was truly impressive. It blends in perfectly with the other high-end SUVs I've tested And I view it as an attractive choice when you've got roughly $90,000 to spend. You'd still end up saving a bit compared to getting something like an Escalade. starts At $90,095), or BMW; even the Armada’s counterpart, the new Infiniti QX80 , may be experiencing some pressure. Many individuals won’t find themselves in such a decision-making role, yet it’s pleasant to know there’s an alternative available. This approach is quite different from what we typically see from Nissan, which isn’t necessarily negative. Achieving this level of ease in driving has required considerable effort.
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