2021 Nissan Armada Review

　　

2021 Nissan Armada Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The Armada is the biggest and baddest SUV in Nissan's lineup. Based on the same mechanical bits that underpin the Infiniti QX80, the Armada is a large three-row SUV that employs classic body-on-frame construction. These bones don't make for the most comfortable or exciting-driving SUV, but if you have to tow or venture off-road, the Armada gets the job done.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Nissan Armada S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$234/mo  for Armada S

　　Armada S

　　S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $48,900 MSRPS 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $51,900 MSRPSV 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $52,900 MSRPSV 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $55,900 MSRPSL 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) (Most Popular) - $56,300 MSRPSL 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $59,300 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $65,300 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $68,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　For 2021, the Nissan Armada receives a few key updates that Nissan hopes will keep the Armada competitive against the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition. On the outside, a new grille, redesigned bumpers, and reworked headlights and taillights. Inside, there's a restyled center stack that is less monolithic than before. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is perched on top, with a slim but clearly labeled row of climate controls underneath.

　　Overall, we like the updated Armada but find rival SUVs have broader appeal. Want to know more? Read our in-depth Expert Rating evaluation below for more detail.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Armada drive? The Armada's 5.6-liter V8 engine is stout. At the zzdcar test track, our test Armada sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is a second quicker than a similarly priced Chevrolet Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V8. The Armada also possesses impressive passing power at higher speeds. Just as impressive are the Armada's brakes, which stopped the big SUV from 60 mph in just 123 feet — that's nearly 10 feet shorter than the closest competitor. Around town, the brakes were dependable and consistent.

　　No one's expecting a large SUV to handle particularly well, and even though the Armada is one of the easiest to drive, its handling limits are modest at best. The steering is slow (you need to turn the wheel more than you expect) and there's not much in the way of feel.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Armada? The Armada offers up a fairly quiet and well-isolated driving experience. The broad front seats are comfortable but offer little bolstering to hold you in place around turns. The optional second-row captain's chairs are well padded but can't slide forward and backward to enhance legroom. The third-row seats are rudimentary by today's standards.

　　The climate controls are very straightforward, and while we'd like larger vents for such a big interior, we were more disappointed at the way the climate system can't hold a consistent temperature when set to its auto mode. Our test Armada's ventilated seats were also fairly noisy without providing noticeable cooling.

　　The ride quality is definitely on the soft side. That pays dividends when driving over small and moderate bumps. But it's a liability on bigger undulations where you'll feel some shuddering and jostling. Other SUVs feel tighter and more in control. Our test vehicle's 22-inch wheels with the short tire sidewalls didn't exactly do the ride any favors either.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The front seats have enough space, but the farther back you go, the worse it gets. The second-row captain's chairs are fixed in place (they won't slide like those in some rival SUVs), and the third-row seat is mounted low on the floor and hard to get in and out of. The Armada has a tall ride height too, and the side assist steps are pretty much a necessity, even for average-size adults.

　　The Armada newest dash design has a large infotainment screen and new climate controls. They're easy to use, but the controls and graphics look dated. Outward visibility in the Armada is OK, though the thick front roof pillars and big mirrors can block your view around sharp left turns. The available surround-view camera system goes a long way to alleviating parking stress.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The touchscreen is big, but the graphics still don't look as modern as we'd like. It also takes some time for the system to boot up. Apple CarPlay (with wireless functionality) and Android Auto are standard. Either is preferred to Nissan's native and somewhat clunky infotainment interface. There aren't as many USB and power ports as we expect from a large SUV, and their placement, especially for second-row passengers, isn't ideal.

　　Fortunately, there are plenty of standard advanced safety features. They all operated well in our testing. The adaptive cruise control brakes and accelerates smoothly, though both functions are a little slow to react.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Cargo space is tight behind the third row. Loading items is hampered by the tall cargo floor and long reach over the large rear bumper. With the optional captain's chairs, the second-row armrest sticks above the cargo floor, complicating the loading of longer objects. Interior storage for front passengers is a little lacking. The front center console is big, but that's pretty much it. You'll likely end up using the front cupholders a lot to hold your other stuff.

　　The Armada does score well for towing. It has an 8,500-pound maximum tow rating when properly equipped, which is right around what you get from the Chevy Tahoe. Most trims come standard with a trailer brake controller.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Armada gets 15 mpg combined (13 city/18 highway) with four-wheel drive and 1 mpg better across the board with RWD. That's a few mpg less than other full-size SUVs. We achieved 16.5 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route, so at least the EPA estimates seem accurate. Premium fuel is required to get the most power, but the Armada drives just fine on 87 octane.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Armada a good value? Pricing is in line with other large SUVs, but the interior materials quality and last-generation technology fall well below current expectations. If your priorities include a powerful V8 engine and strong towing capabilities, the Armada should have some appeal. For those with more conventional needs, it will be a disappointment. Nissan's warranty is merely average.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Armada's styling is attractive, and the interior is about as close as Nissan is going to get to being near-luxury. If the Armada does one thing very well, it's making its corporate sibling, the Infiniti QX80, look overpriced. The Armada has no real vices, but with the exception of its stout and sonorous V8 engine, the Armada doesn't excel at anything either.

　　

Which Armada does zzdcar recommend?

Our choice for the Armada is the midlevel SL trim. The S and SV have a lot of standard safety features, but you'll appreciate having the SL's upgrades such as leather upholstery, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, power liftgate and trailer sway control.

　　

2021 Nissan Armada models

The 2021 Nissan Armada is a full-size SUV that seats up to eight passengers. It comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. All Armada trims have a 5.6-liter V8 engine. Maximum output is 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is optional. Other feature highlights include:

　　S

　　The base S model starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Tow hitch receiver with prewiring for a trailer brake controller Cloth upholstery Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable steering column 12.3-inch center touchscreen Four-speaker stereo system Apple CarPlay (with wireless functionality) and Android Auto smartphone connectivityDriver safety aids for the base S include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Armada and the car in front) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)SV

　　Adds to the S equipment with:

　　Roof rails Integrated trailer brake controller (can adjust the trailer's brakes from inside the vehicle) Six-speaker stereo system Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery Wireless device chargingSL

　　On top of the SV's features, it adds:

　　20-inch alloy wheels Sunroof Power liftgate Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway) Remote engine start Driver's seat memory settings Leather upholstery 13-speaker Bose stereo system 120-volt household-style power outlet 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Armada and its surroundings for tight parking situations)Platinum

　　Adds to the SL equipment with:

　　22-inch alloy wheels Automatic windshield wipers Power-folding third-row seat Heated steering wheel Ventilated front seats Heated second-row seats Power-reclining and power-folding third-row seats Rear-seat entertainment system Second-row captain's chairs are available on the SL and Platinum trims and reduce seating capacity to seven people. An available Midnight Edition package for the SL trim adds a blackout color scheme for the Armada's wheels and exterior and interior trim.

　　

2021 Armada Highlights

Trim: SSVSLPlatinumS

　　

Base MSRP	$48,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$234/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles