Driven: 2025 Nissan Armada Finally Feels Ready To Conquer America

If you told us to recommend a full-size family SUV, we’d probably send you to a GM dealership. Ford makes a pretty good one too, and the latest Toyota full-size SUV isn’t shabby either. Then there’s Nissan, mostly an afterthought, but it has always offered some great value in the segment. Enter the all-new 2025 Nissan Armada, priced similarly to its predecessor, but improved in every way that matters and finally ready to compete in a class of new/updated full-size SUVs.

The Armada enters its third generation for the 2025 model year, a long-needed update given that the second generation has been on sale since 2016. Like its luxury counterpart, the Infiniti QX80, the Armada drops its V8 engine in favor of a turbocharged V6 that’s related to the one in the Nissan Z sports car. Nissan also added new Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trim levels, giving this behemoth more off-road capability and elevating the luxury closer to Infiniti territory. This is easily the most compelling Armada since the original, but is it enough to combat America’s best full-size SUVs? DrivingOnRoad borrowed the top Platinum Reserve trim for a week to find out.

Exterior Looks: More Tough, More Fluff

The Armada gets a fresh design for 2025, which was sorely needed given the age of its predecessor. It’s still a boxy shape – necessitated by its need to carry eight people and tow a boat – but the details are more modern than ever. All-LED lights give the Armada a premium look with a full-width taillight adding some visual appeal. 18-inch black wheels come standard on the SV, while the SL and Platinum ride on larger 20-inch two-tone wheels.

The rugged Pro-4X rides on black 20-inch wheels as standard, but can also have black or bronze 18-inch Axis wheels from Nismo. This is the most off-road capable Armada ever, putting it more on-par with the Nissan Patrol sold in other markets. Our platinum tester is the most luxurious, wearing 22-inch wheels that match the largest size of the QX80. Some colors are trim-dependent, and the only no-cost options are Super Black, Gun Metallic, Brilliant Silver Metallic, and Deep Ocean Blue Pearl. We loved our tester’s Coulis Red Pearl ($425), but could also be talked into Alpine Metallic ($425), a greenish gray. Two-tone paint schemes with a black roof are available (ranging from $595 to $990) but only on the Platinum, Platinum Reserve, and Pro-4X trims.

Interior & On-Board Technology: Is This An Infiniti?

The Armada takes a massive leap in terms of interior quality and modernity. Charcoal leatherette is standard on the base SV, the SL gets nicer TailorFit material in Charcoal with Espresso or Chestnut with Rye, and the Platinum upgrades to quilted leather in Almond with Chai or Charcoal with Espresso. A unique Charcoal quilted leather interior with orange accents is available on the Pro-4X, while the Platinum Reserve gets quilted leather in Almond with Chai, Charcoal with Espresso, or an exclusive Chestnut with Rye (pictured here).

Eight seats come standard on the Armada, but you can upgrade to captain’s chairs in the second row (cutting capacity to seven people) for $750 on SL, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve trims. The SV and Pro-4X are only available with a second row bench. Heated and ventilated seats with massage are available on the Platinum Reserve, a first for any Armada. Platinum and Platinum trims get heated rear seats, but no heated third row or power-operated seats like the ones on the QX80.

The second row of seats is manually operated, and can easily be tilted forward to enable access to the third row. A power-operated third row is available, but it still rises and lowers slower than rivals. Cargo volume has been increased across the board compared to the outgoing Armada, but it still has less space than American competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Jeep Wagoneer, not even factoring in their long wheelbase variants. The Armada does hold an edge over the Toyota Sequioa, thanks to that vehicle’s hybrid battery that compromises cargo volume.

Infotainment: Full Pace Catch-Up Mode

The standard and optional infotainment system in the Armada is an upgrade that Nissan sorely needed in its interiors. Dual 12.3-inch displays come standard for the gauges and infotainment touchscreen, while the upper trims (Pro-4X and Platinum) upgrade to larger 14.3-inch units that are ripped straight out of the Infiniti QX80. The menu styles are slightly different, but the functionality is the same. To leave the QX80 feeling more premium, the Armada gets physical buttons for the climate controls rather than a second touchscreen. In our opinion, the buttons are actually better, so we like this much more. The SV comes with a basic six-speaker audio system, but every other trim gets a nicer 12-speaker Klipsch audio system with 600 watts and Active Sound Enhancement.

Performance: E-Z Power

Every Armada comes with one engine: a new 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It has more power and torque than the V8 it replaces, and it should achieve slightly higher fuel efficiency (based on the gains in the Infiniti QX80). It also gets a new nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the aged seven-speed in the outgoing model.

Performance Impressions

Nissan does not quote a 0-60 time for the Armada, but we timed our rear-wheel-drive at 6.16 seconds to 60 mph. That’s slightly slower than the four-wheel-drive QX80 we recently tested (5.75 seconds), which might be explained by the Infiniti’s additional 25 hp. The QX80 has the same engine as the Armada, and the latter could match the former’s power by using premium fuel. Nissan’s new V6 is quicker than the outgoing V8, and it still emits a throaty engine note during acceleration thanks to its Z origins. A wave of torque delivers smooth acceleration with seamless shifts from the new nine-speed automatic transmission.

Ride and Handling

The Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims ride on adaptive air suspension that is not available on lower trim levels. While it can produce a truck-like bounce on some uneven surfaces, the Armada’s suspension is among the most comfortable and controlled in the segment. We have no complaints about the ride, nor could we complain about the lack of road noise. This is a quiet SUV that will keep your family relaxed on long trips.

Speaking of long trips, we do have one major complaint about Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1, which is optional on SL, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve trims for $3,300 to $3,370. This system is an upgrade over the hands-on ProPilot 1.1, adding hands-free capability on the highway. Unfortunately, we could only get hands-free driving to function for short stints, a phenomenon that was mirrored when we tested the QX80 with the same system. Nissan will need to make major improvements to make it worth the price. We do at least like the standard safety technology, which provides a strong lane-keep assist. Speaking of steering, the Armada switches from a heavy hydraulic system to a more relaxed electric system that we prefer.

Fuel Economy Info

Fuel economy for the 2025 Armada has not been released by the EPA, but we expect it to be similar to the Infiniti QX80 with the same engine. That vehicle sees a modest improvement over the outgoing V8, though only in city and combined ratings. On the highway, the twin-turbo V6 is just as thirsty as the V8. We averaged 17.5 mpg in our week of testing. Even with modest efficiency gains, we don’t expect the Armada to be more frugal than the Jeep Wagoneer or the Ford Expedition, but it should match the Tahoe and Yukon with their smaller V8s and beat them when equipped with their optional 6.2-liter engines.

Verdict & Pricing: Still A Value Buy, But Stronger

We previously considered the Nissan Armada as little more than a value play in the full-size SUV segment. Outdated and thirsty, but at least it offered bang for your buck. With the 2025 Armada, Nissan managed to keep the value proposition, with the base SV trim keeping last year’s starting price of $56,520 (4WD adds $3,000). That’s cheaper than a Chevy Tahoe, which comes with a less powerful engine. The SL trim adds more features for $62,970, while the Platinum gets more luxurious for $69,930. The new Pro-4X trim is an interesting proposal for $73,990, which is over $6,000 cheaper than a Tahoe Z71 with its optional 6.2-liter V8. Finally, the fully-loaded Platinum Reserve trim starts at $76,990, but can exceed $80,000 with options. A base Infiniti QX80 starts at $82,450, but you get more equipment in the top Armada.

It’s hard to call the Armada the most compelling vehicle in this segment – we still think the Tahoe and Suburban are excellent – but Nissan has made a stronger case for itself than ever before, and we’d be happy to cross shop it with Chevy. The new V6 engine is strong, the technology is much-improved, and the Platinum Reserve is nice enough to make us question buying an Infiniti. The QX80 has a few luxury touches that aren’t available on the Armada, but for the money you save, this is an excellent family vehicle. The Nissan Armada is no longer an afterthought; it’s a genuine contender.