Impressing the experts is hard when it comes to large SUVs. Consumers are looking for fuel-efficiency, space, and versatility, making it harder for brands to make quality, best-selling large SUVs. In order to earn respect from the experts, large SUVs must compete with stiff adversaries.

The 2020 Nissan Armada is one such SUV that just cannot seem to earn any respect in the segment. But does it deserve more?

The 2020 Nissan Armada: how it scores with the experts

U.S. News experts evaluated the 2020 Nissan Armada and according to the findings, the large SUV fared decently. The experts at U.S. News give the 2020 Nissan Armada a cool overall score of 7.1 (out of 10), receiving a 7.5 in Critics’ Rating, 7.4 in Performance, 6.6 in Interior, and a 3.5 (out of 5) in Reliability.

The features that receive the most notice, and highest ratings, include the Nissan Armada’s powerful, V8 engine, “impressive interior quality,” and comfortable passenger seating.

Even the tough critics at Car and Driver enjoyed the 2020 Nissan Armada and scored it accordingly. Not only does the 2020 Nissan Armada come with an impressive Car and Driver Rating of 8.5/10, but it’s also landed a spot as this year’s Editor’s Choice.

Car and Driver also rave about the Armada’s “mighty powertrain” and upscale style. Its entry-price, which is lower than many others in the segment, also works in Nissan’s favor.

Why competition is the biggest battle the Nissan Armada has to face

While its average score from U.S. News is not bad, the Nissan Armada is pushed to the bottom of every competitive list. Although a 7.1 overall score is certainly not awful, others in the segment score so much higher than the Armada.

It falls into the number-four spot in U.S. News’ Large SUVs list (out of only six) and all the way into the twenty-first spot in the SUVs with 3-Rows list. This means that nearly every competitor in the segment scored higher than the 2020 Nissan Armada.

Consumer Reports’ testing in the segment also proved difficult, with the 2020 Nissan Armada landing an average overall score of 63 (out of 100). But even the highest-scoring SUV in the segment only receives an overall score of 73.

This means the Nissan Armada doesn’t trail far behind the best of the best. With competition so stiff, however, even a small loss of 10 points lands the 2020 Nissan Armada at the bottom of Consumer Reports Large SUV list.

Is it a bad SUV?

The 2020 Nissan Armada’s scoring with experts makes it clear that it isn’t a bad SUV. Although most of the rankings place the Armada directly in the middle, the experts also have plenty to say about what its biggest shortcomings are.

These shortcomings are even more apparent when compared to the stiff competition in the large SUV segment. With highly-impressive SUVs to compare it to, the Nissan Armada’s drawbacks certainly won’t be gaining any more respect.

In fact, most of the negative claims made by U.S. News experts against the Armada are solicited only when comparing it against others in the segment.

Even Car and Driver experts, which seemed to particularly like the improvements made to the 2020 Armada, say that it “is the unconventional choice among conventional SUVs.” Although the 2020 Nissan Armada appears more than capable, full of style, and loaded with Nissan’s known safety and reliability, it just may not deserve the same attention as its more popular contenders.