2021 Nissan Armada Review

Name: 2021 Nissan Armada Review
Brand: Nissan
Price: 27990 USD

Nissan Armada Platinum 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+128

The Armada certainly looks the part of a modern full-size SUV. But its recent updates can't fully mask that this is still a trucky, body-on-frame SUV. The sonorous V8 and its associated capability are nice, but overall the Armada lacks the refinement we've come to expect in this class. Other large SUVs have a broader range of talents.

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2021 Nissan Armada Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

High-quality, appealing interior
Smooth V8 engine delivers ample power
Quiet interior at highway speeds
Many standard safety features

Cons

No getting around the V8's poor fuel economy
Third-row seating isn't particularly spacious
Hard to lift items into the cargo area
New infotainment interface still feels dated

What's new

Refreshed front and rear styling
Redesigned dashboard with new 12.3-inch touchscreen
Advanced driver aids now come standard
Part of the second Armada generation introduced for 2017

Overview

The Armada is the biggest and baddest SUV in Nissan's lineup. Based on the same mechanical bits that underpin the Infiniti QX80, the Armada is a large three-row SUV that employs classic body-on-frame construction. These bones don't make for the most comfortable or exciting-driving SUV, but if you have to tow or venture off-road, the Armada gets the job done.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Nissan Armada S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$269/mo

$254/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

For 2021, the Nissan Armada receives a few key updates that Nissan hopes will keep the Armada competitive against the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition. On the outside, a new grille, redesigned bumpers, and reworked headlights and taillights. Inside, there's a restyled center stack that is less monolithic than before. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is perched on top, with a slim but clearly labeled row of climate controls underneath.

Overall, we like the updated Armada but find rival SUVs have broader appeal. Want to know more? Read our in-depth Expert Rating evaluation below for more detail.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

7.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Armada drive? The Armada's 5.6-liter V8 engine is stout. At the Edmunds test track, our test Armada sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is a second quicker than a similarly priced Chevrolet Tahoe with the 5.3-liter V8. The Armada also possesses impressive passing power at higher speeds. Just as impressive are the Armada's brakes, which stopped the big SUV from 60 mph in just 123 feet — that's nearly 10 feet shorter than the closest competitor. Around town, the brakes were dependable and consistent.

No one's expecting a large SUV to handle particularly well, and even though the Armada is one of the easiest to drive, its handling limits are modest at best. The steering is slow (you need to turn the wheel more than you expect) and there's not much in the way of feel.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the Armada? The Armada offers up a fairly quiet and well-isolated driving experience. The broad front seats are comfortable but offer little bolstering to hold you in place around turns. The optional second-row captain's chairs are well padded but can't slide forward and backward to enhance legroom. The third-row seats are rudimentary by today's standards.

The climate controls are very straightforward, and while we'd like larger vents for such a big interior, we were more disappointed at the way the climate system can't hold a consistent temperature when set to its auto mode. Our test Armada's ventilated seats were also fairly noisy without providing noticeable cooling.

The ride quality is definitely on the soft side. That pays dividends when driving over small and moderate bumps. But it's a liability on bigger undulations where you'll feel some shuddering and jostling. Other SUVs feel tighter and more in control. Our test vehicle's 22-inch wheels with the short tire sidewalls didn't exactly do the ride any favors either.

Interior

7.0/10

How’s the interior? The front seats have enough space, but the farther back you go, the worse it gets. The second-row captain's chairs are fixed in place (they won't slide like those in some rival SUVs), and the third-row seat is mounted low on the floor and hard to get in and out of. The Armada has a tall ride height too, and the side assist steps are pretty much a necessity, even for average-size adults.

The Armada newest dash design has a large infotainment screen and new climate controls. They're easy to use, but the controls and graphics look dated. Outward visibility in the Armada is OK, though the thick front roof pillars and big mirrors can block your view around sharp left turns. The available surround-view camera system goes a long way to alleviating parking stress.

Technology

7.0/10

How’s the tech? The touchscreen is big, but the graphics still don't look as modern as we'd like. It also takes some time for the system to boot up. Apple CarPlay (with wireless functionality) and Android Auto are standard. Either is preferred to Nissan's native and somewhat clunky infotainment interface. There aren't as many USB and power ports as we expect from a large SUV, and their placement, especially for second-row passengers, isn't ideal.

Fortunately, there are plenty of standard advanced safety features. They all operated well in our testing. The adaptive cruise control brakes and accelerates smoothly, though both functions are a little slow to react.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Cargo space is tight behind the third row. Loading items is hampered by the tall cargo floor and long reach over the large rear bumper. With the optional captain's chairs, the second-row armrest sticks above the cargo floor, complicating the loading of longer objects. Interior storage for front passengers is a little lacking. The front center console is big, but that's pretty much it. You'll likely end up using the front cupholders a lot to hold your other stuff.

The Armada does score well for towing. It has an 8,500-pound maximum tow rating when properly equipped, which is right around what you get from the Chevy Tahoe. Most trims come standard with a trailer brake controller.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Armada gets 15 mpg combined (13 city/18 highway) with four-wheel drive and 1 mpg better across the board with RWD. That's a few mpg less than other full-size SUVs. We achieved 16.5 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route, so at least the EPA estimates seem accurate. Premium fuel is required to get the most power, but the Armada drives just fine on 87 octane.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Armada a good value? Pricing is in line with other large SUVs, but the interior materials quality and last-generation technology fall well below current expectations. If your priorities include a powerful V8 engine and strong towing capabilities, the Armada should have some appeal. For those with more conventional needs, it will be a disappointment. Nissan's warranty is merely average.

Wildcard

7.0/10

The Armada's styling is attractive, and the interior is about as close as Nissan is going to get to being near-luxury. If the Armada does one thing very well, it's making its corporate sibling, the Infiniti QX80, look overpriced. The Armada has no real vices, but with the exception of its stout and sonorous V8 engine, the Armada doesn't excel at anything either.

Which Armada does Edmunds recommend?

Our choice for the Armada is the midlevel SL trim. The S and SV have a lot of standard safety features, but you'll appreciate having the SL's upgrades such as leather upholstery, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, power liftgate and trailer sway control.

2021 Nissan Armada models

The 2021 Nissan Armada is a full-size SUV that seats up to eight passengers. It comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. All Armada trims have a 5.6-liter V8 engine. Maximum output is 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is optional. Other feature highlights include:

S
The base S model starts you off with:

18-inch wheels
LED headlights
Tow hitch receiver with prewiring for a trailer brake controller
Cloth upholstery
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable steering column
12.3-inch center touchscreen
Four-speaker stereo system
Apple CarPlay (with wireless functionality) and Android Auto smartphone connectivity

Driver safety aids for the base S include:

Forward collision mitigation (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Armada and the car in front)
Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

SV
Adds to the S equipment with:

Roof rails
Integrated trailer brake controller (can adjust the trailer's brakes from inside the vehicle)
Six-speaker stereo system
Heated front seats
Simulated leather upholstery
Wireless device charging

SL
On top of the SV's features, it adds:

20-inch alloy wheels
Sunroof
Power liftgate
Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)
Remote engine start
Driver's seat memory settings
Leather upholstery
13-speaker Bose stereo system
120-volt household-style power outlet
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Armada and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Platinum
Adds to the SL equipment with:

22-inch alloy wheels
Automatic windshield wipers
Power-folding third-row seat
Heated steering wheel
Ventilated front seats
Heated second-row seats
Power-reclining and power-folding third-row seats
Rear-seat entertainment system

Second-row captain's chairs are available on the SL and Platinum trims and reduce seating capacity to seven people. An available Midnight Edition package for the SL trim adds a blackout color scheme for the Armada's wheels and exterior and interior trim.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#3 out of 16 among Fullsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Armada from 2008-2022.}

$522/yr

vs. $614/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.44x/yr

vs. 1.59x/yr
for Average Fullsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

13.9%

vs. 16.7%
for Average Fullsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Nissan Armada.

5 (49%)

4 (13%)

3 (13%)

2 (11%)

1 (14%)

3.7

37 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 37 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Continues to be a Great SUV!

Matt B, 07/28/2019

2019 Nissan Armada Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

This review is being updated for the 2019 Nissan Armada Platinum 4x4. We now have over 33k miles on it, including multiple family road trips, sporting event weekends with kids, and near daily city/suburban driving. Bottom line: our family of 6 is still very happy with our purchase! The 2019 Platinum Armada comes equipped with just about every bell and whistle that you could want. … While the tech and layout are somewhat outdated compared to newer competitor models, the Armada continues to provide a comfortable ride with tons of safety features and it's actually fun to drive. While it may be somewhat outdated, the tech that the Armada offers is decent. The driver display and cabin layout are efficient and easy to learn. The maps and Navigation system are accurate and work well, but the system is cumbersome to input an address into. You can import locations/addresses via your smartphone, but this is still a chore and I never fully got the hang of it (or honestly cared to). That being said, it still is functional and works well. There is no Android Auto or Apple Car Play in the Armada, which as I previously said is weird because other Nissan models have it, but oh well. Our family has both Android and Apple and everybody can connect their phones to the system via Bluetooth or USB. There are 4 x accessible and usable USB ports: 2 x in the front and 2 x in the middle row, which work great. As I said in my previous review, we are coming from a Honda Odyssey minivan, which has the central TV screen. The Armada has the dual, built in TV screens in the back of the front seat headrests. The middle row USB can control their respective side TV screen to independently play/stream media, if desired. Or you can play DVD from the front console (only DVD, not BluRay). Additionally, we haven't had any issues or complaints with our kids viewing the TV screens from the back seats. Finally, the sound system is awesome. I'm not sure if this is from the Bose sound system, the sound dampening interior, or combination of both, but whether it's music, podcasts, or movies playing, the sound is great. The seats are very comfortable and there is more than enough passenger comfort space in the front and middle row captain chairs. The front seats are ventilated/heated and can be multipositioned. The middle seats are heated, can be reclined/inclined, and are still very plush, roomy, and comfortable. The 3rd row in the back is definitely not the same. I'm 6'2" and can fit back there, but I wouldn't want to go more than an hour riding in the back. Our family of 6 with 2 x dogs can still take road trips (see luggage/cargo concern below). I still like all of the safety/driver aids. The adaptive cruise control holds speed and standoff distance like a champ. The collision warning/self breaking can be harsh, so check your settings, but it works well. The lane keeping assist can be overbearing at times, but it's easy to disable if you don't like it. I only enable it on long road trips and it's nice once you learn the nuances. The blind spot warning and intervention works well and the cameras offer true dimensions and great lines of sight. We have found the Armada to be very responsive and it handles much better than you would expect from a big SUV. It turns sharply, handles well and thanks to the V8, you most certainly can get up and go if needed. City and highway driving are nice thanks to the high ride with excellent lines of sight. The only blind spots I have issues with are the right front and rear bumper regions - and thanks to the bird's eye view, safety cameras, large mirrors, and warning systems, this really isn't an issue. It offers a smooth, level ride despite any turns or potholes encountered. We haven't really needed the 4WD, but on the 2 x occasions we used it, it performed well and we didn't get stuck in mud. We haven't really been in icy/snowy conditions much, but so far, the Armada has handled well in all environments. My only concerns continue to be the relative poor fuel economy and lack of luggage space with all 3 rows in use. With respect to the fuel economy, it's a 3 ton SUV with a large V8, so expect it to be bad. We're still averaging 14 mpg mixed with city and highway driving. We have found that true city stop and go driving gets in the 10-12 mpg range and highway driving gets in the 16-20 mpg range. With the middle row Captain's Chairs installed, there is actually a fair amount of internal storage space in the cabin, so the personal space is awesome, but the back luggage area will barely fit 2 full size suit cases unless the 3rd row seats are straight 90 degrees. We ended up getting a trailer tow hitch with a cargo bag to overcome this. It's a hassle, but well worth it (side note - minimal, if any, effect on gas mileage). Final note, we towed a small travel trailer (~4000 lbs) and the Armada handled it as though it wasn't there, with the exception of the trash fuel economy (we averaged 8-9 mpg while towing).

Armada save 10K OVER the others

Big Ed, 07/20/2019

2019 Nissan Armada SL 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

My first impression when looking to buy a new large SUV was that the Nissan gave me more for less. Have experience in R&D for a key supplier for the automotive manufacturers, I also know there is no free lunch. GM interiors stink in part on the quality of the plastics they specify. The gaps, finishes wearing off items, it is all related. Ford is better/tighter in its specs and the …

We are very pleased with our purchase!

Zac, 08/28/2019

2019 Nissan Armada Platinum 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

We bought our 2019 Armada Platinum about a month ago. This is our 2nd Armada. We’ve racked up about 800 miles so far and it’s everything we hoped it would be. Comfortable, quiet ride. Very roomy. Kids love the captains chairs in the back as well as the DVD player. I keep hearing folks talk about the gas mileage, what do you expect when you buy a beast. You can’t have everything. Go buy …

Great riding vehicle

KW, 10/31/2019

2019 Nissan Armada SV 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

I have rented Armada's many times and always enjoyed driving them. So much so, that i finally bought one. I cannot think of a car that rides better than this vehicle, and my other car is a Lexus, and i will drive this one any day over that vehicle. Smooth, quiet, and powerful.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Nissan Armada, so we've included reviews for other years of the Armada since its last redesign.

See all 37 reviews of the Nissan Armada

Write a vehicle review

2021 Armada Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$48,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$269/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Armada models:

Blind-Spot Warning: Warns the driver if there is a vehicle in the Armada's blind spot.
Automatic Emergency Braking: Monitors proximity to the vehicle ahead. In an imminent collision, the Armada can apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate impact.
Intelligent Around View Monitor: Displays a 360-degree top-down image of the car to fine-tune parking maneuvers.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover23.7%

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2021 Nissan Armada Review

2021 Nissan Armada Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Nissan Armada S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Armada does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Nissan Armada models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Continues to be a Great SUV!

Armada save 10K OVER the others

We are very pleased with our purchase!

Great riding vehicle

2021 Armada Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Nissan Armada S 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}