The Armada is Nissan’s biggest SUV and competes against other stalwarts including the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Jeep Wagoneer in the full-size SUV category. The Armada blends old-school body-on-frame construction with strong power, excellent towing capability and room for up to eight.
The Armada was launched for the 2004 model year, sharing its platform with the now discontinued Titan pickup. The Armada was redesigned for 2025 and is now in its third generation. For 2026, the new performance-oriented Nismo trim is added to the line-up.
The 2026 Armada comes in six trims: SV, SL, Platinum, PRO-4X, Platinum Reserve and Nismo. Starting prices range from $58,840 to $80,550. These prices are competitive in the full-size SUV segment.
Rear-wheel drive is standard on the SV, SL, Platinum and Platinum Reserve trims, and four-wheel drive is available for $3,000. The Pro-4X and Nismo trims come standard with 4WD.
All trims get a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This set up produces 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque in the five lower trims. The Nismo trim increases horsepower to 460 and gets a sport-tuned suspension and some styling tweaks.
The twin-turbo V6 delivers peppy acceleration and more torque compared to the old V8. Torque comes on quickly, helping with towing and highway passing. Power is smooth and plentiful, and the nine-speed shifts quickly and smoothly. The Armada handles similarly to a truck, which is not a surprise due to its body-on-frame construction. It feels like a big vehicle, and that’s especially obvious when you’re maneuvering on tight city streets or trying to park in crowded lots. Overall, the Armada is a capable and confident performer, but there’s no escaping its bulk.
When properly equipped, the Armada can tow up to 8,500 pounds, which is near the top of the class for a full-size SUV.
Fuel economy is about what you’d expect for a large SUV, which is to say not great. EPA ratings for my Nismo 4WD test vehicle are 16 mpg city, 19 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined. I got 17 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.4X Rear-wheel drive models do slightly better at 16 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. The Pro-4X is rated at 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
The cabin is roomy, functional and attractive, with soft-touch materials on many surfaces, even in the lower trims. There are hard plastics, but they look ok. There’s room for seven or eight passengers, depending on trim. The SV and SL trims have bench seating in the second and third rows with room for eight. The higher trims get captain’s chairs in the second row with room for seven; however, you can also opt for bench seating in those trims at no extra cost. Front seats are supportive and comfortable, as are the captain’s chairs in my test vehicle. The third row is fine for kids but adults may feel cramped, especially on longer trips.
Lower trims get two 12.3-inch displays on the dash. One is for the instrument panel and the other is the infotainment system touchscreen. The Platinum and higher trims come with bigger 14.3-inch screens. All trims have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment system is straightforward and user-friendly with logically arranged menus and quick response time.
The six trims are aimed at different buyers.
SV – MSRP $58,840 with RWD or $61,840 with 4WD. It’s well-equipped for the price but lacks the upscale feel of upper trims.
- 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital cluster
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Tri-zone climate control
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Safety Shield 360 driver assists
SL – MSRP $63,530 with RWD or $66,530 with 4WD. Arguably the best value in the line-up for its features and pricing.
- Adds 20-inch wheels
- Premium cabin materials
- Heated front seats and heated steering wheel
- 12-speaker Klipsch audio system
- Surround-view camera
- navigation
Platinum – MSRP $70,490 with RWD or $73,490 with 4WD. This is the entry point to the more luxurious trims, with tech upgrades and high-end materials.
- Upgraded to 14.3-inch displays
- Quilted leather seats
- Ventilated front seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- Ambient lighting
- Heated second-row captain’s chairs
Pro-4X – MSRP $74,300 with standard 4WD. This trim adds solid off-road capabilities.
- Electronic locking rear differential
- All-terrain tires
- Skid plates
- Adaptive air suspension
- Restyled front bumper with increased approach angle
- Tow hooks
Platinum Reserve – MSRP $70,490 with RWD or $80,550 with 4WD. This trim is the most luxurious in the Armada line-up, designed to compete with luxury full-size SUVs.
- Premium leather upholstery
- Massaging seats
- Adaptive air suspension
- 22-inch wheels
Nismo– MSRP 79,530 with standard 4WD. This trim is new for 2026 and is the performance-oriented offering.
- 460-hp version of the twin-turbo V6
- Sport-tuned suspension
- Sharper steering
- More aggressive exterior styling
- Red interior accents
Standard driver assistance technologies include
- Rearview camera
- Forward and reverse collision warning
- Forward and reverse automatic emergency braking
- ProPilot Assist (adaptive cruise control with lane centering)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Pedestrian detection
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Driver-attention monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
Available driver assistance technologies include
- Surround-view camera system
- Head-up display
- Digital rearview mirror
- ProPilot Assist 2.1 (Nissan’s hands-free automated driving system that works on certain highways)
Cargo space is decent for the class. There are 20.4 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 56.3 cubes with the third row folded, and 97.1 cubes with the second and third rows folded. A power liftgate and power-folding third row are standard on the SL and higher trims, and a hands-free liftgate is standard on the Platinum and higher trims.
The good:
Wide trim variety from basic to luxurious to off-road capable
Powerful twin-turbo V6
Comfortable ride
Good towing capability
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Handles like a truck
Third row is cramped for adults
Pricing info:
My 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo test Vehicle starts at $79,530. Two-tone premium paint is $1,450. Nismo carpeted floor mats are $565 and include a cargo area protector, cargo blocks and first aid kit. The destination fee is $2,190, bringing the grand total to $83,735.
Bottom line:
The 2026 Nissan Armada is a well-rounded full-size SUV and is offered in expanded trims so buyers can get the model that works best for them. The Armada has a comfortable ride, good towing capability and offers good value for the money.
