2025 Nissan Armada First Look

Nissan's biggest SUV has a decidedly rugged attitude.

Andrew Ganz | 

Sep 18, 2024 | 4 min read

Nissan

Nissan's biggest SUV gets a major makeover for 2025, with fresh styling, a new engine, and a massive tech boost compared with its predecessor.

The 2025 Nissan Armada was unveiled in September at an event in Abu Dhabi and goes on sale in late 2024. It will be available in five trim levels: SV, SL, Pro-4X, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve.

Nissan

Armada's Fresh Face Gives Way to a Spacious, Tech-Heavy Interior

The new Armada is hardly sleek, but this large SUV has a much more modern appearance than the outgoing model. Complex LED headlights flank its big grille, the rearmost roof pillar features a distinctive angle, and a contrasting black roof is available. Massive wheel wells can accommodate wheels stretching from 18 to 22 inches.

The new-for-2025 Pro-4X trim has a different front-end treatment. Its unique bumper integrates a metal skid plate that's flanked by red tow hooks, and its unpainted fender flares bolster the rugged vibe.

Inside the cabin, most trim levels include a pair of 14.3-inch screens, and swanky touches such as quilted leather and open-pore wood trim are available.

In terms of features, the Platinum Reserve offers several high-end luxury touches. It's equipped with heated, cooled, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, heated second-row captain's chairs, and even a biometric cooling system that can adjust air-conditioning output when it detects overheated passengers in the front and second rows.

Third-row seating is standard, and there's a hefty 20.4 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rearmost seatbacks. That grows to 56.3 cu-ft behind the second row before topping out at a maximum of 97.1 cu-ft of cargo space. While those figures are an improvement over the old Armada, they still trail the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Nissan

Armada Offers Google built-in Tech, Hands-Off Driving

All but the base Armada SV use Google built-in infotainment connectivity with access to Google Maps, the Google Play app store, and the tech giant's voice-activated Google Assistant.

All Armadas also have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and six USB-C ports. A 12-speaker Klipsch audio system and a surround-view camera system with a simulated view of what's underneath the vehicle's hood are both available.

While all Armada models now include some form of Nissan's ProPilot Assist driver-assistance tech that centers the vehicle in its lane and maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front, higher-end trims offer a more advanced system. ProPilot Assist 2.1 lets drivers take their hands off the steering wheel while the Armada automatically accelerates, brakes, and steers on many mapped interstates and highways across the United States.

Nissan

Armada Goes Twin-Turbo, Offers Off-Road Tech

Last year's V8 engine has been replaced by a new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 rated at 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It sends power to the rear or, optionally, all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

A standard Class IV trailer hitch enables the Armada to tow up to 8,500 pounds. Top-end versions also include a trailer-brake controller, while every Armada now has blind-spot monitoring that also covers the trailer.

The off-road-focused Pro-4X and the snazzy Platinum Reserve have an air suspension that can lower at speed for improved aerodynamics.

While the previous Armada wasn't available in a dedicated off-road trim level, the new Pro-4X has a full arsenal of outdoorsy bits, such as skid plates and a locking rear differential. The Armada Pro-4X also comes standard with four-wheel drive, which is optional on other trim levels.

The decision to unveil the new Armada in Abu Dhabi was no coincidence. In the Middle East, the model is known as the Nissan Patrol, and it's well-regarded as a dune-bashing off-roader. Nissan says that the Armada has been tweaked for the U.S. market, but underneath, it's the same basic vehicle as the Patrol.

Nissan

The Armada Blurs the Line Between Luxe and Mainstream

If the Armada's specs and many of its features sound familiar, that's because it's closely related to the Infiniti QX80. The two vehicles have a shared overall design and use the same twin-turbo V6 engine.

Nissan hasn't said how much the 2025 Armada will cost, but it's safe to bet that it will undercut the new QX80. That model kicks off north of $84,000 and can crest $110,000 in its top trim.

The 2025 Armada will almost certainly be the most expensive vehicle in Nissan's lineup, as the automaker's six-figure GT-R will be discontinued after the 2024 model year.

Andrew Ganz

Andrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.