Nissan is a brand that is near and dear to me, a brand I grew up with, street racing with friends in 240SX with JDM SR20 swaps, the old Patrol on the family ranch, and restoring a classic Z with my best friend. Over the years Nissan has lost some of the fun and uniqueness that made the brand so endearing, for a while there I assumed they were following the same path as Mitsubishi. But recently they turned a corner, the new Frontier won our 2022 truck of the year award, and the new Z has injected some enthusiasm into the brand, and they might be on the road to recovery.
But there are some segments that Nissan has just not been able to make inroads into, and full-size trucks and SUVs, some of the most profitable and popular segments, have been one of their biggest challenges. Why the Armada hasn't caught on, is kind of a mystery, since its introduction 20 years ago, it has never sold more than 35,667 units in a single model year. That same model year (2017), the Chevrolet Tahoe sold 98,961 vehicles and the Ford Expedition did nearly 52,000 in sales. While the Armanda does sell more than double the Toyota Sequoia every year it is still lagging far behind domestic SUV manufacturers, after driving it I don't really know why.
The Armanda I am driving is well equipped, smooth, quiet, and just under $60,000. Refreshed in the 2021 model year, the styling is sharp and contemporary. When looking at the build options the SV offers a lot of what most customers want, but if you are looking at an Armada spend a little more and get the SL trim level, as it gets you a 13-speaker Bose premium audio system, 20-inch rims, power liftgate, remote start, and sunroof. For just a few hundred more than the SV with a few options like the SV Appearance Package. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as is a wireless charging pad for your phone. I will say that the layout of some of the knobs and dials feel a bit out of reach and awkward, but overall the infotainment and controls are easy to use.
A third row is standard, second-row captain's chairs are offered on the SL and Platinum trim levels which drops your seating capacity to seven. The third-row is surprisingly roomy, but because the Armanda doesn't offer a long wheelbase version, using the third-row means sacrificing most of the cargo for passengers.
The tried and true Nissan 5.6-liter V8 makes 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque and is offered in two or all-wheel drive. The V8 is the only option so no matter what trim level you purchase so you don't save any gas by buying a base model, expect around 15-16 mpg average. For those of you that tow, the Armada can pull 8,500 pounds regardless if it is two or all-wheel drive.
While it doesn't feel as refined as a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe, it is on par with the Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia. With the Ford Expedition Limited starting at $67,055 and the Platinum trim level starting at $79,560, the Armada trim for trim is not just a little less, but thousands. Looking at a top-line Armada vs the Expedition Platinum trim levels the difference in the base price is over $10,000 and that is before the dealer markup. With demand for Yukon, Tahoe and Expedition recently we know someone who paid $6,000 over MSRP, the Aramdas at our local dealer are selling at or just below MSRP, making them an even better deal.
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