Pros:
- Classy cabin
- Smooth, powerful engine
- Good value vs luxury brands
Cons:
- Patchy ergonomics
- Suspension tuning needs more work
- Cabin access could be easier
Ready for a Nissan that costs US$79,990 C$105,000 (C$105,000)? The Japanese marque has muscled its way into the luxury conversation by launching a Platinum Reserve grade of the all-new, 2025 Armada, the body-on-frame, full-size SUV that is known internationally as the Patrol.
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Mass-market competitor brands are few in this segment: the Detroit Three, Toyota, and, er, that’s it. But brand loyalty is high, so doing an average job is no guarantee of sales. And with high margins available, getting it right can be a lucrative move: in 2024, GMC sold ten times more Yukons in the US than Nissan did Armadas, for example, so there’s room for growth. We spent a week with the new luxo-Nissan to see whether it can put some pressure on its bigger-selling rivals.
Performance: How the Twin-Turbo V6 Actually Drives
- Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
- Horsepower: 425 hp
- Torque: 516 lb-ft
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: 4WD standard in Canada; RWD or 4WD in the U.S.
Under the hood of the Made-in-Japan behemoth is a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 with 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It’s common to all Armadas and replaces, outperforms and consumes less fuel than the outgoing model’s 5.6-litre V8. We recorded a weekly average of 13.7L/100km (21mpg), which is right on the official combined consumption figure – bravo, Nissan, for not overstating your real-world economy number.
Unfortunately, the accompanying nine-speed automatic transmission uses pushbuttons for gear selection. It’s a clunky interface: no ergonomic match for a rotary dial, in our opinion, and not very premium-feeling.
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Ride Quality vs. Luxury Expectations
The power delivery is smooth, though, and as you’d imagine, you’re never short of torque. The standard air suspension keeps body movements in check but, working with 275/50 R22 Bridgestone all-seasons, did a poor job of snuffing out impacts from sharper edges in the road surface. That’s unfortunate because again, a less-than-plush ride is at odds with the Nissan’s luxury pretensions.
Like the Spanish fleet suddenly appearing off the English coast, you won’t miss the Armada. In line with its class competitors, it’s massive…
Four-wheel drive is standard in Canada, optional in the US. We’ve no doubt that it’s a capable off-road vehicle on the right tires, but this Platinum Reserve is clearly targeted at the urban jungle rather than the Amazon. A Class IV tow hitch is included and it’ll pull 8,500 lb.
Interior: Big Space, Big Comfort (and a Few Design Quirks)
I’m not short, but I found it harder than expected to climb up into the Armada. Thankfully, the interior is worth the ascent. The elegantly designed, very well-insulated cabin is surely where the Armada plays its strongest suit.
Related – The Nissan Armada Just Got a Major Interior and Exterior Refresh
Space, Seating, and Everyday Usability
To begin with, there’s more space than in the previous Armada because the 2025 edition is 320mm (12.5 inches) wider than before (its other dimensions are nearly unchanged). Filling it here are seven seats rather than the standard eight: the test vehicle came with the optional-in-Canada two captain’s chairs in the second row (C$1,000 – standard in the US) in place of a three-seat bench.
The quilted upholstery on the leather seats is fabulous. They are very comfortable, have a massaging function for driver and passenger, and look like something from the luxury segment. Occupants in the second and even the third rows get plenty of legroom. Behind the electrically folding final row, the trunk space is 24% larger than before, presumably due in part to the extra width, although the load floor is sloped.
The dashboard shaping, switchgear and 14.3-inch flat-panel display all check the luxury box, too, while Alexa and Google are built-in (including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store). It’s a pity, then, that we felt the screens were harder to use than they needed to be, and some controls were a long reach away from the steering wheel. If in doubt, use the wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. However, the chunky HVAC controls are a welcome change from the shift elsewhere to fiddly screens, and the head-up display helps keep your eyes on the road, even if it appeared to be mounted not-quite horizontally in our Armada.
Styling: Leans Heavy and High-End
Like the Spanish fleet suddenly appearing off the English coast, you won’t miss the Armada. In line with its class competitors, it’s massive, and while it scored well for pedestrian crash prevention in recent IIHS testing, the hood line is so high and the front-end so bluff that there would only be one winner if you did hit someone.
There’s only so much you can do with a vast, two-box SUV but the styling cues of the Armada are at the same time premium and unmistakably Nissan. Our car was finished in attractive, three-coat Everest White pearl paint that ought not to cost an extra C$300 (US$750) on a vehicle this expensive.
Takeaway
The 2025 Nissan Armada deserves to perform better in North America than its predecessor managed. The top-spec Platinum Reserve has an admirable go at stepping into luxury territory, with its new powertrain and interior the real highlights. It certainly makes a convincing argument for itself compared with more expensive, luxury-badged alternatives like the close-relative Infiniti QX80 or Cadillac Escalade. With a smoother ride and a more intuitive user interface, it would be even better.
Pros
- Classy cabin
- Smooth, powerful engine
- Good value vs luxury brands
Cons
- Patchy ergonomics
- Suspension tuning needs more work
- Cabin access could be easier
