Two of the biggest automotive reviewing outlets have got their hands on a Nissan Armada. Putting it through their rigorous evaluation, two differing opinions emerged. 

One thought it did great, while the other felt the Armada could’ve done better. Car and Driver, awarded it as the Best Large SUV in its class, tied with the Suburban. But Consumer Reports rated it sixth in their ranking of large SUVs. Let’s see what each of these reviewers agreed and disagreed on, starting with some things Car and Driver raved about. 

What did they agree with on the 2020 Nissan Armada?

Both Car and Driver and Consumer Reports agreed on a few things with the Armada. One of them was the powertrain, that Car and Driver was more than pleased with.

The 5.6-liter V8 engine coupled with a seven-speed automatic transmission provided plenty of power to move it down the highway with ease. Neither one was thrilled that the cost of that power was a significantly limited fuel economy rating of 14 mpg overall.

The Armada’s braking performance also impressed them with its ability to stop at a distance of 182-feet from 70 mph. Similar competitors couldn’t quite match up to the short-stopping distance the Armada could bring, even though it’s quite a huge vehicle coming to a complete stop. 

The Nissan Armada can tow up to 8,500 lbs, which is pretty good for a large SUV. Both Consumer Reports and Car and Driver thought this was one of the biggest reasons to buy it so that you can haul pretty much anything you might want for your travels. 

One other area that the two outlets agreed on has to do with the interior of the vehicle. Both liked the luxurious feel of the materials, the large number of features on the dash, and the comfortable seating it has.

Plus, they both praised the quietness of the cabin, chalking it up to the insulation keeping the road and engine noise out. 

What did they disagree on?

While they both loved certain features of this SUV, there are still areas that they disagreed on. One of the biggest ones is the way the Armada handles while driving. 

Consumer Reports was less than impressed with the steering and handling on their testing drive. They felt that the suspension was good, but it jostled around too much, like a pickup would. Car and Driver thought it handled pretty well, despite the fact that it was a large SUV.

As far as how it compares to some of its rivals, Car and Driver thought it was more refined in styling than most of its competitors. But Consumer Reports disagreed. They liked the upscale styling but felt other competitive vehicles fared better and offered more luxurious features. 

Do they recommend the Nissan Armada?

Despite the different opinions, these two outlets both recommend the Nissan Armada. Both of them also stated that the best trim choice to go for is the SL package. 

While the base model comes standard with heated front seats, heated mirrors, and a dual-zone climate control system, the SL trim adds a few more useful features. Some of those include the surround-view monitor and a powered liftgate in the back. If you add the premium package to the SL trim, you can also get more useful driver’s assistance features, like blind-spot warning.

Depending on whom you want to believe, the 2020 Nissan Armada is either the best large SUV in its class or one that falls mid-range in the market. Either way, it’s still a decent SUV with many luxury features to enjoy.