[Auto / Moto]2025 Nissan Armada Ditches the V-8 but Promises More Capability

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• The Nissan Armada is redesigned for 2025 with a new look and plenty of fresh features.
• The old model's 5.6-liter V-8 gives way to a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
• We don't yet have pricing, but the new model should start at around $60,000.
• The outgoing Nissan Armada was an oft-forgotten but underrated full-size SUV, having adopted the strong bones of the global Nissan Patrol when the second-generation model arrived in the U.S. in 2017. For the new third generation, Nissan is strengthening the connection between the 2025 Armada and the Patrol in an attempt to give the U.S. nameplate a taste of the recognition and reputation that the Patrol has garnered in global markets over its long history.

• In other words, the new Armada finally gets access to some of the Patrol’s features that were previously withheld from the U.S. market, including an optional height-adjustable air suspension and a locking rear differential on four-wheel-drive models. Nissan says it still sees key full-size-SUV competitors as the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia, but it hopes that the Armada's fortified capabilities will give it additional appeal.

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  The new Armada is slightly longer than the model it replaces, and Nissan claims additional cargo space behind both the second and third rows of seats in addition to a lower floor. It still offers either seven- or eight-passenger capacity depending on whether you choose the standard second-row bench or the optional captain's chairs. Its new look incorporates a chrome-heavy front end with C-shaped LED accent lights, while the rear end has a "floating roof" effect at the D-pillar and now has an LED light strip running the width of the tailgate.

• Like the related Infiniti QX80, the Armada ditches the 5.6-liter V-8 in favor of a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6. For those worried about the new engine's smaller displacement, the six attempts to silence doubters with its huge 516 pound-feet of torque and the same 8500-pound max tow rating as before. It has 425 horsepower, a competitive number for this segment, and uses a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive optional.

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  Armada Pro-4X

  A Pro-4X trim level joins the lineup and comes standard with off-road goodies and a more rugged look. Nissan says its different front and rear bumpers give it better approach and departure angles, and it also has skid plates, Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires, and red-accented tow hooks. The top-spec Platinum Reserve trim is also new, and it's loaded with nearly as many luxury items as the QX80 offers, including quilted leather upholstery, 22-inch wheels, and a Klipsch audio system (though the Nissan's setup only has 12 speakers to the Infiniti's 24). The SV and SL trims round out the lower end of the Armada lineup.

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  Dual 12.3-inch screens are standard, acting as a digital gauge cluster and central infotainment display, and the higher trims have a 14.3-inch center screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Google built-in apps are offered on the SL and above. Most driver-assistance features come standard, and Nissan's latest ProPilot 2.1 technology is optional and allows for hands-free driving under certain circumstances.

  We expect the 2025 Armada's starting price to be around $60,000 when it goes on sale early next year. The Platinum Reserve and loaded Pro-4X trims will likely approach $80,000, meaning there will be plenty of overlap between the Nissan and its Infiniti sibling at that level.

• https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61957640/2025-nissan-armada-revealed/