2018 Nissan Armada Road Test and Review

With fuel prices pulled down from the stratosphere and the economy on the upswing, consumers have reignited their love affair with full-size SUVs. Unlike the early 2000s, however, it’s unibody crossovers, not body-on-frame SUVs, that seem to appeal most. With car-like handling and significantly better fuel efficiency, it’s understandable why most shoppers favor a crossover.

That doesn’t mean rugged, four-wheel drive SUVs are out of style. These vehicles communicate a sense of authority — backed up by immense towing capacities and off-road stamina. You may not be towing a giant trailer or hitting the trails every weekend, but when inspiration hits, only a durable rig will do. In this segment, the 2018 Nissan Armada competes with Chevrolet’s Tahoe, Ford’s Expedition, and Toyota’s Sequoia in the premium-lite, body-on-frame SUV segment. Redesigned for the 2017 model year, the Armada is more comfortable, upscale and powerful than its predecessor. Are these upgrades enough to unseat the class leaders? Let’s find out.

After a complete redesign last year (which marked the transition from a Titan pickup-based platform to Nissan’s global-market Patrol SUV chassis), Nissan’s changes for the 2018 model year are minimal. The most notable new feature is a digital rearview mirror, which can be toggled on at a moment’s notice. This feature is especially useful when driving with rear-seat passengers or — as we found out — when transporting furniture. Simply flip on the rearview monitor, and any obstructions in the cabin disappear.

Nissan also adds the Platinum Reserve trim for 2018, establishing a new range-topping configuration. Highlights of the Platinum Reserve trim include open-pore wood trim, two-tone leather seats, 20-inch chrome wheels, and unique chrome trim on the grille, door handles, and mirrors.

If you’re going to be a plus-size SUV, you’d better own it. The Armada doesn’t shy away from its footprint, utilizing muscular bodywork, color-contrasting fenders, thick tire sidewalls, and chrome-trimmed V8 badging. “Attractive,” isn’t the right word for the Armada’s exterior design — but we wouldn’t describe any full-size SUV that way. Powerful? Certainly. Imposing? Absolutely. That’s why people buy these things.

At the front, a black painted grille is contrasted against V-shaped chrome bars and integrated headlamps. A silver-finish chin plate juts forward (matching a rear bumper guard) to emphasize the SUV’s machismo. 20-inch black-painted wheels adorn our Armada Platinum test vehicle and complement gunmetal gray fender flares. We are particularly fond of the “forged copper” paint color, which flickers between burnt orange and cognac brown in different lighting.

The first thing to note about the Armada’s interior is its eerie similarity to the refreshed 2018 Infiniti QX80 (which shares the same platform). We struggled to find the quality and creature comfort differences that validate the QX80’s $20,000 premium. While that isn’t great news for Infiniti, it’s excellent news for Nissan. The Armada’s cabin is comprised of supple leather seating surfaces, soft and/or textured plastics, and eye-catching contrast stitching. Hard, cheap plastics are hard to find — something that can’t be said for every SUV in this class. Nissan calls our tester’s interior color “almond,” and while it offsets the copper exterior well, the standard-issue wood grain trim is a little much. Textured wood of the same color might work, but this coated, shiny accent downgrades an otherwise appealing cabin.

The Armada seats eight passengers with a second-row bench seat or seven if you instead opt for captain's chairs. Both setups offer generous leg and headroom for all riders. Cargo capacity isn’t best-in-class, but it's solid. 17 cubic feet is available behind the power-folding third row, and up to 95 cubic feet is available with the second and third rows folded. To put those numbers into perspective, we fit two giant armchairs in the back without much hassle.

Every Armada comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with navigation, push-button ignition, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system. While the Armada hasn't yet been crash-tested, standard driver assistance features include a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors. At the Platinum grade, you gain a surround-view camera system, power liftgate, remote start, digital rearview mirror, tri-zone climate control, heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control, and a rear entertainment system. Upper trims also add blind-spot monitoring, backup collision intervention, forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. That’s a whole lot of content for the money.

Unfortunately, not all of these gadgets are up to snuff. The infotainment, especially, feels dated. Nissan has soldiered on with its current system for the better part of a decade with little more than processing updates. In terms of resolution and features, only Toyota's Entune module is more archaic. Most notably, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available on any trim level.

Every Armada uses a 5.6-liter V8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. Compared to the previous generation, today's Armada makes 73 more horsepower, for a total of 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. While most competitors offer slightly more output in range-topping variants, this is enough power to motivate the Armada’s 5,600-5,900 pounds (depending on drivetrain) from standstill to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. Power delivery is excellent from a dig, but passing at highway speeds (50-80 mph) requires more patience. The seven-speed automatic prefers not to drop a gear unless the throttle is pinned, which may be for the best, considering the Armada’s fuel economy.

Rear-wheel drive models return 14 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined. Four-wheel drive versions lose 1 mpg. Among four-wheel drive competitors, the Chevrolet Tahoe averages 18 combined mpg, the Ford Expedition achieves 19 combined mpg, and the Toyota Sequoia trails the Armada at 14 combined mpg. Four-wheel drive Armadas are capable of towing 8,500 pounds, just under the class-leading Expedition’s 9,000-lb rating. 

Part of the reason for Nissan’s transition to its global-market Patrol SUV platform for the new Armada was to improve the vehicle’s driving behavior. Though the Armada is available with a two-speed transfer case and 4WD (to go with its 9.0 inches of ground clearance), few people will take the SUV far from paved roads. With several inches between you and the ground, though, it follows that the Armada’s ride quality is good; this makes for a great road trip solution. Alas, cornering at nearly any speed leads to significant flop on the outside wheels. We didn't believe the Armada was about to topple over, but it’s rather disconcerting to round a bend.

Around town and on highways, the Armada is relatively easy to place and smooth in transition. Of particular note is the Armada’s tight turning circle. On several occasions — in parking lots or U-turns — the SUV either saved us from another point in the turn or simply cut a corner more sharply than expected. For an SUV of this size, a tight radius is a major plus.

Prices for the 2018 Nissan Armada start at $46,090, plus $1,295 for the destination fee. Four-wheel drive adds $2,900 to any trim. Standard features of the base SV include the NissanConnect infotainment system (with an 8.0-inch touchscreen), navigation, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, eight-way power adjustable heated front seats with driver memory, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, two USB ports, parking sensors, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The SL trim ups the starting figure to $50,850. Moving to the Platinum grade is a big jump in equipment and cost — $59,190. Topping the range is the Platinum Reserve ($62,190), which includes 20-inch dark chrome wheels, two-tone heated/cooled leather seats, a digital rearview mirror, open-pore wood trim, tri-zone climate control, remote engine start, adaptive cruise control, and unique badging.

Highs:
- Upscale exterior and interior
- Numerous convenience features for the price
- Supremely comfortable seats
- Super-tight turning radius

Lows:
- Outdated infotainment system
- Glitzy wood trim
- Among the worst fuel economy in its class

We’ve outlined the competition thus far, but here we can make a few more comparisons:

The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe is priced from $47,500. Powered by a 5.3-liter V8, the Tahoe delivers 355 horsepower. When equipped to match the Armada Platinum 4WD’s features, the 5.3-liter Tahoe Premier 4WD is approximately $4,000 more expensive.

The 2018 Ford Expedition starts at $51,695, powered by a 3.5-liter 375-hp turbocharged V6. Equipped to match the Armada Platinum 4WD, the Expedition XLT 4WD is also about $4,000 more expensive.

The 2018 Toyota Sequoia is priced from $48,400 and features a 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower. The Sequoia Platinum costs approximately $3,000 more than a comparably equipped Armada Platinum.

Americans love their trucks (and truck-based SUVs) and have strong opinions about which brands build great products. Is the Nissan Armada a competent full-size SUV? Absolutely. Would it stand to be a volume player in the same price bracket as the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia, or the off-road-focused Toyota Land Cruiser? Probably not.

Fortunately for Nissan, the Armada’s undercutting price strategy gives people sufficient cause to second guess their default Chevy, Ford, or Toyota purchase. When buyers do evaluate Nissan’s offering, they’ll find a nicely equipped, powerful, and durable SUV that’s worth every penny of its budget-friendly bill.