2023 Nissan Armada SUV

　　

2023 Nissan Armada Review

byBrian WongSenior Reviews Editor

　　Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.

　　, rating written byBrian WongSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Just about the only SUVs that you can get these days that are still truck-based are the big ones, and that includes the 2023 Nissan Armada. The three-row SUV competes against other giants like the Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon, and Jeep Wagoneer. Its solid backbone and powerful V8 engine give it more capability and presence than the smaller Nissan Pathfinder, as evidenced by its 8,500-pound maximum tow rating. The Pathfinder can only manage 6,000 pounds. But the Armada does come with compromises.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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) - $50,700 MSRPS 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $53,700 MSRPSV 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $55,300 MSRPSV 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $58,300 MSRPSL 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $59,120 MSRPSL 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $62,120 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $67,370 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) (Most Popular) - $70,370 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　In contrast to the Pathfinder, the Armada is less comfortable and much more thirsty. The Armada also loses some of its shine when going head-to-head with the other large SUVs. Its V8 is less fuel-efficient than the Expedition's turbocharged V6 or the Chevrolet Tahoe's V8 or optional diesel engine, for example. The Armada's design is also looking pretty dated compared to the fresher Jeep Wagoneer and redesigned Toyota Sequoia. Unless you can get a screaming deal on an Armada, these rivals are all worth checking out first. Read our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more about the Armada's hits and misses.

　　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 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