2022 Nissan Armada

Despite a plethora of smaller crossovers, the list of three-row SUVs that can move the entire family and store their gear with a boat in tow remains small. A 900-mile test drive across California in the Nissan Armada proved it to be capable but not one of the top choices in the segment. 

The largest vehicle in Nissan’s lineup of SUVs and crossovers, the Armada is based on the global Nissan Patrol SUV platform. It measures 208.9 inches in length to fit seven or eight occupants across three rows. The current second-generation Armada debuted in 2017. Nissan gave the full-size SUV a mid-cycle refresh last year, revising some of the styling inside and out and adding a handful of new tech items.

As a result, the new Armada looks sharp, has comfortable front and second-row seating, good safety technology and adequate power. However, its drawbacks include poor fuel economy, soft handling and excessive body lean in corners, especially at slower speeds. The recent refresh made it a better vehicle, but it still needs a significant redesign to catch the category leaders, including the Ford Expedition, the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon twins and the newly redesigned Toyota Sequoia. 

All models are equipped with a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 pound-feet of torque and a truck-like 8,500-pound maximum tow capacity. That’s more than enough to haul the family and tow its toys. Armada’s tow rating and power output were at the top of its class, but both are about to be supplanted by the upcoming 2023 Toyota Sequoia that goes on sale this summer. Two-wheel-drive is standard on the Armada, and four-wheel drive is available on all four trims: S, SV, SL and Platinum.

The Armada comes with a good suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot alert. Balancing out this generous equipment, however, are mediocre or incomplete crash test data.

Many full-size SUVs that use body-on-frame construction tend to bounce along the road and shudder over larger imperfections, especially at slower speeds. The Armada, by contrast, provides a steady, even ride thanks to its front and rear independent suspension. It does, however, lean heavily when cornering. On the plus side, it offers 9.2-inches of ground clearance to easily handle the off-pavement terrain of a ranch or desert setting, but don’t expect to use the Armada as a rock crawler. Because it also shares the same gas-guzzling V8 engine as the Titan pickup, poor fuel economy is its main drawback. 

Performance: 11/15

The 2022 Nissan Armada is equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine that provides 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates with a seven-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is available across the lineup. The powertrain is acceptable, but it can’t match the smoothness and fuel economy of some of its latest rivals. 

The powertrain works well for towing and can haul a maximum of 8,500 pounds. There’s a standard trailer brake controller system to aid in towing, and SL and Platinum models also get trailer sway control.

While the SUV has good ground clearance, the Armada excels as a people mover. It can navigate dirt roads and trails to remote campsites, but only experts should try any technical off-roading with the Armada. Nissan doesn’t specify a fording depth, so crossing streams is best left to the confident.

Fuel Economy: 6/15 

The 2022 Armada is at the bottom of fuel economy ratings in the segment, especially in its heavier four-wheel-drive configuration. The two-wheel-drive version gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 mpg in city driving, 19 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in combined driving. The four-wheel-drive version is even more thirsty, returning 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. 

Its rivals are generally more efficient, except for the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon twins when equipped with the big 6.2-liter V8 engine option. Those get the same in all but highway driving, where they return 19 and 20 mpg in two-wheel and four-wheel drive, respectively. The Ford Expedition equipped with the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine and rear-0wheel drive is rated for 17 mpg city, 23 highway and 19 combined, one mpg less in each measure with four-wheel drive. The outgoing Sequoia burns more fuel, but the all-new 2023 model offers better fuel economy and a hybrid powertrain that tempers the financial sting of driving around a nearly 6,000-pound vehicle. 

Nissan makes up for the Armada’s poor fuel economy by equipping the SUV with a 26-gallon fuel tank.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15  

All Armadas come equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 advanced driver assistance system or ADAS. It includes forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, lane departure warnings, rear cross-traffic alert and rear automatic braking. The SUV also has adaptive cruise control, convenient for long highway journeys. 

Crash ratings aren’t out for the 2022 model, but the 2020 Armada scored a four-star rating out of five overall from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSTA). It received five stars in side crash tests but only three in rollover and frontal crash tests. That’s in line with the GMC Yukon but falls short compared to the Ford Expedition and its overall five-star rating. The NHSTA hasn’t evaluated the new Toyota Sequoia, and the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn’t crash-tested any of the vehicles in this full-size SUV competitive set.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

Although the Armada is fit to tow most recreational equipment, moving people is its primary occupation. To accommodate them, Nissan offers two interior configurations: a standard second-row bench to carry eight occupants or optional captain’s chairs on SL and Platinum trims to accommodate up to seven. 

The base S model’s 10-way power driver’s seat and eight-way power front passenger’s seat are outfitted with cloth material. Heated front seats are found on SV trims and higher, but only Platinum models include ventilated seats, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and a heated second-row bench seat.

While the first and second-row occupants enjoy the cavernous cabin, the Armada skimps on comfort for its rear-most passengers. With only 28.4 inches of legroom, third-row seating is tight for older teens and adults for more than a short drive, especially compared to the 36.1 inches of third-row legroom found in the Expedition and 34.9 inches in the Tahoe.

Infotainment: 12/15

The most drastic changes from last year’s refresh are found in the dash. The interior is anchored by a 12.3-inch color touchscreen—the largest in its class, according to the manufacturer. The configurable jumbo display features high resolution, which helps visibility for the rearview camera. However, Nissan has angled it back toward the windshield just enough to make it hard to reach depending on the driver’s size or seating position. A seven-inch driver information display and gauge cluster are easily operated with steering wheel-mounted controls.

The infotainment unit has the latest features, including door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Wi-Fi. Wireless phone charging is standard on SV trims and above. In addition, every Armada gets Nissan Connect services, including concierge services and remote start. 

Platinum models also include a rear entertainment system and an intelligent rearview mirror, which displays a camera view when the regular mirror is blocked by people or cargo. Two USB-A and two USB-C ports are available in the cabin, and Platinum models have a 120-volt power outlet.

Cargo Space & Storage: 9/15

As a big vehicle, the Armada has lots of cargo space, but it doesn’t match up well with the other SUVs in this class. The 2022 Armada offers 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 behind the second row and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows down. Those aren’t small numbers, but they’re well below the competition. The Tahoe leads the pack with 25.5 cubic-feet of stowage behind the third row and 72.6 cubic-feet behind the second. However, roof rails on the Armada SV trim and higher expand its cargo-carrying ability. A second-row console helps keep the cabin organized when outfitted with captain’s chairs and is removable when the need for maximum cargo space arises.

Style & Design: 9/10

The Armada makes no apologies for its hulking size and zero attempts to hide it. The model’s recently revised exterior styling embodies the square-jawed classic full-size SUV design ethos. It features a bold new grille, muscular new hood and front fenders, which exude the mass and ruggedness buyers expect in a big SUV. The headlights are now full-LED with 50 individual lighting units in each lamp. The taillights receive a similar treatment, now shining with 70 LEDs.

Nissan still pulls off the chrome aesthetic well, highlighting trapezoidal air vents on the front fenders that align with the chrome door handles and window surrounds. The optional Appearance Package ($2,500) on the SV trim replaces the standard 18-inch wheels with 20-inch counterparts and adds fog lights and other minor upgrades. The Midnight Edition package ($1,990) available on the SL trim blacks out much of the exterior brightwork and interior cabin materials.  

Is the 2022 Nissan Armada worth it? Which trim is the Best Value? 

The Armada offers a good value across the lineup. That’s especially true for the entry-level Armada S 2WD model priced below its comparably equipped competitors at $50,395 (including the $1,495 destination charge). However, neither heated front seats nor second-row captain’s chairs are an option in the base model. Instead, buyers must step up to the mid-level SV ($54,495) or SL ($58,305) grades for those creature comforts and an upgrade to a Bose audio system. The top-level Platinum trim is the most lux and adds quilted leather appointments, ventilated seats and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. Although it starts at $66,895, it’s still lower than some of the top trims of its competitors. Adding four-wheel is a $3,000 premium across the board. That said, the SV trim with all-wheel drive still comes in around $58,000 offering a good blend of equipment while still undercutting similarly equipped models in its competitive segment.  

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Nissan Armada?

Full-size SUVs are surprisingly reasonable to insure in general terms. Our research suggests that a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,160 for an Armada Platinum, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,050 for the GMC Yukon, $2,123 for the Ford Expedition King Ranch and $1,990 for the Toyota Sequoia Limited. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.