2023 Nissan Armada Review: An Aging, But Solid Contender
2023 Nissan Armada Review Highlights:
- 2023 Nissan Armada: $50,700 – $70,020
- Pros: The Nissan Armada has a comfortable ride and impressive towing capability. It also has a surprisingly luxurious interior.
- Cons: Not-so-good fuel economy, an aging interior design, and an archaic V8 engine.
The Nissan Armada swims in a sea of full-size SUVs filled with stalwarts like the Toyota Sequoia, Cadillac Escalade, and Ford Expedition. Although the Armada is aging and due for a redesign, it keeps up with the rest of the pack with its big power, a surprising amount of poshness, and low price point.
We spent time in the 2023 Nissan Armada Platinum and were impressed by how well it drove and how nice its interior felt. It may be an older nameplate, but it is still a solid contender in the budding segment.
What’s new for the 2023 model year?
Nissan gave the Armada a facelift in 2021, so the changes for the 2023 model year are subtle. The most notable changes include Amazon Alexa compatibility in the higher trims, remote start, LED fog lights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Armada SL trim now comes with a heated steering wheel.
Which 2023 Nissan Armada trim level is best for you?
Shopping for a 2023 Nissan Armada is relatively easy, as there are only four trim levels to choose from:
- Armada S: $52,495
- Armada SV: $57,045
- Armada SL: $60,465
- Armada Platinum: $68,815
The mid-trim Nissan Armada SL brings the most value for its price point. The Armada SV has everything from the lower trims, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, 20-inch rims, a leather interior, a power liftgate, and a heated steering wheel. However, if you want everything on your Armada, we can recommend the Platinum trim level with its second-row captain’s chairs and rear entertainment system.
How does the 2023 Nissan Armada drive?
The 2023 Nissan Armada drives smaller than it actually is. Considering it’s 208 inches long and 80 inches wide, you would think that driving the Armada would be akin to driving a land yacht, but it’s not. The car’s steering feels light, and its turning radius is excellent, making it easy to maneuver.
The visibility out of all of four corners is great, given the three-row SUV’s boxy shape, and it’s easy to get in and out of, thanks to the side steps. The car’s suspension is soft as well, which was a nice surprise given its body-on-frame architecture. To be honest, we expected an unnecessarily firm and wallowy ride the resembled a Nissan truck from the past, but we were wrong. Instead, the Armada drove comfortably down the road and even handled well in the corners, as it didn’t feel like it would tip over.
The only downside was that the car tended to wander a little at highway speeds, but it was stable for the most part.
Is the Nissan Armada comfortable?
The Nissan Armada is surprisingly comfortable. Of course, it’s easy to feel that way, considering we were given the top-trim Platinum version. Its quilted leather seats, second-row captain’s chairs, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and rear-seat entertainment made the car feel more like an Infiniti than a Nissan.
Luxury accouterments aside, the Armada’s interior design is well laid out. The buttons on the center console are within easy reach, and the seats themselves feel like La-Z-Boy recliners as opposed to car seats. The room in the second row is excellent, and the captain’s chairs are adjustable and comfortable. The third row, however, can feel cramped for tall adults, but it’s perfectly fine for children. There are even cupholders, vents, and USB ports back there.
How is the tech in the Nissan Armada?
The Nissan Armada comes equipped with all of the tech-savvy features you want. Some of the most notable features include a 12.3-inch infotainment system, wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto, a dual-screen rear entertainment system with headphones, and auto-leveling suspension to maintain comfort while towing. A Bose premium audio system is also available.
What is the Armada powered by?
Every Nissan Armada trim level is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. It’s a little archaic compared to the turbocharged V6 engines found in some competitors, but it gets the job done. By that, we mean that the Armada can tow up to 8,500 pounds, which is impressive.
The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission that transmits the power to the rear wheels as standard equipment, but an all-wheel drive configuration is available. What’s not impressive, though, is the Armada’s fuel economy numbers.
The EPA estimates that the Armada can get up to 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway in rear-drive form. Opting for the all-wheel drive configuration drops each figure by one mpg. After our week of testing, we averaged 17 mpg when driving the car in mixed city and highway driving situations at a mile-high elevation.
How safe is the 2023 Nissan Armada?
The Nissan Armada was not rated by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, it still has plenty of safety features to keep its occupants safe in the event of a crash.
Some of those safety features include front, side, and side curtain airbags, a Zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones, and Nissan’s Safety Shield 360. That last feature is a safety tech suite that bundles many driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.
MotorBiscuit awards the 2023 Nissan Armada with a score of 8.2 out of 10
The experts at MotorBiscuit award the 2023 Nissan Armada an overall score of 8.2 out of 10. The Armada’s design may be getting a little long in the tooth as it’s due for a redesign in 2024, but it still keeps pace with the competition. We also liked the car’s V8 engine, which pushed plenty of power when needed and sounded great as well.
The Armada’s suspension is soft and compliant, which makes driving the car easier than we thought. We also liked all of the tech features it had to offer, even though the rear-seat entertainment system seems a little outdated. Overall, the Nissan Armada is a good choice for the money for any families in need of a comfortable three-row SUV.
