3 days ago
Test-Driving The 2025 Nissan Armada
The first Armada hit dealerships when George W. was President and Facebook had just launched, not to rub its age in. It's still the poster child for when people talk about dinosaur-sized SUVs in a positive or negative way.
Featuring an unmistakably rugged design, the first-ever Armada PRO-4X — the most capable in model ... More history — tackles the toughest terrains with effortless capability.
But fan or foe, the handsome, redesigned 2025 Arvada does what it does very well, and if your aim is a sublime, smooth ride, this is it. It's also gotten one of the most radical and smart-looking overhauls it's ever had this year.
Visually, the 2025 Armada is more modern and squared-off than before, and the result is a plush-looking big guy, 'big' meaning 209.6 inches long and over 83 inches wide, with all the presence you can imagine. Curb weight ranges from about 5,677 to just under 5,900 pounds, depending on trim and options. It features new LED lighting, a tall, upright grille, and more sculpted sheet metal by the acre.
2025 Nissan Armada Pro-X Cockpit
The interior gets a massive ramp-up with the redesign. Go for the top trims and you'll get quilted leather seats, contrast stitching, massaging front seats and a panoramic sunroof. Second-row captain's chairs are optional and will drop seating from eight to seven, but even the third row can fit (not-large) adults on short trips. The fit and finish are much improved over prior models, with soft-touch surfaces throughout.
2025 Nissan Armada
Techwise, Nissan's leveled up with front and center twin 14.3-inch displays - one for the digital gauge cluster and one for infotainment. Google Built-In is included, bringing you native Maps, Assistant and Play Store functionality.
There's also a rich-sounding Klipsch 12-speaker premium audio system as well as a wireless phone charger and multiple USB-C ports scattered throughout the cabin. A built-in dash cam, trailer brake controller and up to seven drive modes are available.
2025 Nissan Armada
Under the hood, that new V6 delivers strong numbers but don't expect a hybrid or electric version just yet. Fuel economy is rated at 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway in 2WD models, but it's a slight improvement over the previous V8's figures and real-world drivers are reporting closer to 17–18 mpg combined.
Available trims are the SV, SL, Platinum, PRO-4X and my tester, the Platinum Reserve. Check them all out here.
Nissan
On the road, the Armada pulls like a freight train and it takes some getting used to, but even a small or short person can handle it just fine. Acceleration is sweetly effortless and merging onto the highway feels more like a sport sedan than a lumbering SUV. Brakes are strong as well as easy to modulate - you don't need a heavy foot.
2025 Nissan Armada
Handling is still truck-like but body roll is controlled and steering is light, making it ideal for long-distance or cross-country cruising. Ride comfort is excellent. It's a pleasure to drive and can feel like a nice sanctuary during inclement weather or when you've had it up to here with people and just want a lovely drive with a great sound system.
Nissan includes Safety Shield 360 as standard, bringing automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and more. It has earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation, making it one of the safest choices in its class.
The new infotainment system can lag occasionally. Also, while the Armada is huge inside, its cargo space behind the third row still trails some rivals.
Conclusion: For fans of heavy, mighty-mighty vehicles, it really doesn't get much better.
