2023 Nissan Armada®
Overview
There’s a reason why the Nissan Armada has been around for nearly 20 years. Its fans love the power, roominess, and comfort. This full-sized, three-row SUV, the biggest in Nissan’s lineup, got its last makeover in 2021. Not much has changed since then, apart from adding more features to the standard list. Still truck-based, the 2023 Nissan Armada sits high off the road, affording excellent visibility. More importantly, it still ranks as one of the least expensive full-sized SUVs on the market, without sacrificing creature comforts and some genuine luxury touches, especially on the pricier trims.
The Perfect Ride for …
Drivers who want a multipurpose hauler that won’t poop out in the passing lane. The 2023 Nissan Armada can haul eight people (seven if the second row has captain’s chairs instead of bench seats), 92.6 cubic feet of cargo (when both rear rows are folded), and all the towable toys needed for weekend getaways—from boats to RVs. The V-8 engine won’t crack a sweat, even when towing the maximum capacity of 8500 pounds. Moreover, the Armada will handle all this in style, with a quiet, smooth ride, upscale interior appointments, intuitive infotainment technology, and a long list of standard safety features.
Drive and Handling
All four trims (ranging from the base S to the top-of-the-line Platinum) are powered by the same 5.6L V-8, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with AWD available on all trims. The engine generates an impressive 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. The acceleration rate is laudable, especially for such a big vehicle: sprinting up to 60 mph in well under seven seconds. Alas, all that power has its expected downside in fuel economy: The RWD Armada gets 14 mpg in city driving, and 19 mpg on the highway. That lackluster rate drops one mpg with AWD.
The 2023 Nissan Armada might not be a rugged rock climber, but it can handle moderate off-roading tasks, thanks to the AWD option (with special drive mode for slippery conditions), the front skid plate, and 9.6 inches of ground clearance.
The base trim includes such luxury touches as push-button start, automatic LED headlights, a 10-way power-adjusted driver’s seat, an 8-way power adjustable seat for the front passenger, a large (12.3”), user-friendly infotainment touch-screen, satellite radio and dual-zone climate control. Moving up to the next trim, the SV gets you synthetic leather upholstery, wireless device charging, LED fog lights, and heated front seats. The two top trims are the most popular. Standard features in the SL include leather seats, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system. The top-of-the-line Platinum adds 22-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, quilted leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, and for the rear seats, two 8-inch entertainment screens with wireless headphones.
Key Features
Creature comforts aren’t the only features worth noting about the 2023 Nissan Armada. It boasts a wealth of standard safety technology: a rearview camera, both forward and reverse collision warning and automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams and front, and rear parking sensors. Available options include a surround-view camera system, traffic-sign recognition, rain-sensing wipers, and a digitized rear-camera mirror that streams images of whatever lies behind the car, even when a loaded cargo space obscures the view.
Multiple features, some standard, improve towing capabilities. The base S trim has a prewired tow hitch receiver, while the SV has a trailer brake controller. Trailer sway damping is a standard feature on the SL. For all trims, automatic suspension leveling enhances stability while towing.
Alternative Options
Looking for something smaller for your next adventure? Take a look at the Nissan Pathfinder. Drivers who want a versatile truck should consider the Nissan Frontier. Not sure? The Hall Nissan Virginia Beach team is here to guide you, from test drive to service and beyond. Contact us today or take a look at our inventory to get started.
Image Credit: Nissan