We drive the 2021 Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada has established itself as one of the original large SUVs. The Armada has always been big, powerful and very capable. With the new 2021 version, the Armada receives more luxury and features as well to keep up with the competition.

We first saw the Armada in 2003 as a full-size SUV based on the Nissan Titan. The first generation Armada was assembled in Mississippi until 2015 when production was moved to Japan. The Armada received a refresh for the 2008 model year, but was basically unchanged for most of its life. In 2017, the second generation Armada was introduced and this time it was based on the Nissan Patrol architecture. This allowed Nissan to save money by just using one chassis worldwide. For 2021, Nissan has provided some freshening up of the Armada, and it is now much improved yet still based on the Patrol chassis.

The refresh for 2021 does not mean that the Armada has grown soft. It is still a body on frame construction SUV which means it is a very serious truck. Armada’s rugged yet refined exterior matches its capability, with a more squared and chiseled appearance from the A-pillars forward.

The new front fenders, grille and bumper are framed by a new LED headlight design with more than 50 LEDs in each headlamp, helping create a wide, bright headlight pattern. In the rear, new combination lights with 70 LEDs in each light help provide a highly visible, modern appearance.

The interior of the old car was looking dated, so the interior has received a lot of attention with upgrades. It looks more like an Infiniti than a Nissan with all the luxury appointments. Most noticeable is a standard 12.3-inch display screen. The high resolution 1920 x 720 screen provides clearer images and crisper graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto is now standard, as well as wireless phone charging.

We are not sure why you can’t have wireless Android Auto, but you can have it with Apple CarPlay. Included for the first time on Armada is Nissan Concierge, which provides owners 24-hour access to a live assistant at the push of a button.

Family adventures are a little more enjoyable thanks to the roomy, 8-passenger Armada interior that offers 40.0 inches of 2nd row headroom and 41.0 inches of 2nd row legroom. The standard seating configuration includes front heated 10-way power-adjustable bucket seats with a large center console, second row fold flat 60/40 split bench seat and third row 60/40-split folding bench seat, which folds flat into the floor for extra cargo carrying flexibility. The third row folding feature was power operated on our Platinum grade model.

The Bose audio system features AM/FM/SXM/MP3/CD with 13 speakers, subwoofer and digital amplifier to make those long trips less tiring. We did have a few hiccups with the system where it locked up but came back when we restarted the system.

People who buy large SUVs usually want to do big things with them and expect lots of power. The Armada has a 5.6-liter V8 under the hood with 400 horsepower. It is mated to a standard 7 speed automatic transmission. The combination is good for towing up to 8,500 pounds for both 4WD and 2WD models (when properly equipped).
A great feature for those that are interested in towing is the standard integrated trailer brake controller with tow hitch receiver on SV, SL and Platinum grades.

When you have a large SUV that weighs about 6000 pounds that is powered by a big V8 engine, you can expect fuel economy to be less than ideal. The Armada is rated at 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway for the 4WD models.

The Armada has a heavy-duty feel to it. It is big and tall and has tons of room inside. The new luxury features have really brought the Armada to a new level, but driving something this thirsty can get expensive if you drive a lot.

Armada prices are actually quite reasonable, with the base 2WD S starting at $48,900. Our top-of-the-line Platinum 4WD was $20k more at $68,300. If you are in need of a large heavy-duty SUV, the Armada is an excellent choice, especially if you can skip the upper trim levels. The S or SV models are bargains when you consider the standard features.

Specifications