2022 Nissan Armada

　　

2022 Nissan Armada Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　If there's a Nissan that follows the "go big or go home" mantra, it's the 2022 Armada. This is a big three-row SUV powered by a big and thirsty V8 engine. It's essentially the same vehicle as the Infiniti QX80, but with less glam, fewer features and a lower price. This shared lineage with the Infiniti means the Armada is remarkably refined, but it also means the underlying design and engineering are more than a decade old.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$235/mo  for Armada S

　　Armada S

　　S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $49,900 MSRPS 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $52,900 MSRPSV 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $54,070 MSRPSV 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $57,070 MSRPSL 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) (Most Popular) - $57,760 MSRPSL 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $60,760 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $66,200 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $69,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Nissan refreshed the Armada last year, updating its styling and technology. Rugged good looks, a high-quality interior with simple analog controls, legit off-roading capability, and competitive towing capacity all make the Armada a viable pick for a large SUV among top rivals such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Jeep Wagoneer. Learn more about the 2022 Nissan Armada by reading our in-depth Expert Rating of this SUV.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below