Used 2018 Nissan Armada SL for sale 

The SUV seats eight passengers and there are four trims to choose from. Trim levels start at SV, move up to mid-grade SL, and finish with the fully loaded Platinum and Platinum Reserve. The second row comes standard with a three-seat bench in all the trims however Platinum and Platinum Reserve can be dressed up with individual bucket seats and a full center console. A 5.6-liter V-8 engine paired with the seven-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive is standard on all trims. While you have the option choose the four-wheel drive.

The Armada comes mated to a 5.6-liter V-8 engine rated at 390-horsepower and 394-pound-feet of torque. There is not much to choose from as the Nissan Armada leaves us with a sole V-8 engine. A seven-speed automatic transmission along with a rear-wheel-drive is standard while a four-wheel-drive comes optional. 

The engine feels zesty and quick, and also delivers more horsepower than many of its rivals. Despite its heft, this Nissan never feels sluggish and offers a smooth ride over most road surfaces. The transmission holds the engine back as it constantly hunts for gears while its engine makes a steady, rising growl, which feels pleasing and is accompanied by brisk acceleration.

It is the Nissan Armada that gains the title of the most powerful SUV in this segment. The Ford Expedition may be low on power but makes 470 pound-feet. The GM cousins stick back at the last row due to their low engine outputs. Also, with a starting price tag of $46,090, the Armada is really the best pick here.

How quick is the 2018 Nissan Armada from 0-60 MPH?

Acceleration is excellent in the 2018 Nissan Armada. The V-8 engine provides the Nissan with solid acceleration but at the expense of fuel economy, of course. It is brisk and never feels slow on performance. Passing maneuvers are easy to execute as the Armada takes 6.5 seconds to make 0-60. 

Considering the rivals, these numbers put up a great show as the Armada also beats others when it comes to covering a quarter-mile. It takes 15 seconds to cover the quarter-mile run. However, the top speed of the Armada is limited to 120 mph. 

The Nissan Armada is the best performer in both the sections and takes the elevator to reach the top spot. The GMC Yukon does perform well in the 0-60 mph test but lags in the quarter-mile run. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Tahoe lags by just 0.2 seconds in the acceleration test and 0.1 seconds in the quarter-mile run to the Armada while the Ford Expedition is a decent performer. 

How does the 2018 Nissan Armada handle?

Once upon a time, large SUVs floated like a boat and handled just about as well as one but the latest crop of large SUVs impressed a lot of buyers. At nearly 6,000-pounds, it is a gargantuan SUV. It manages its weight reasonably well on a curvy road and offers a smooth ride over the jagged pavement. 

The Armada, unlike its pricier cousin the Infiniti QX80 with which it shares many characteristics, comes with a fully independent suspension consisting of the coil rather than an air spring setup that soaks up most of the bumps in the road. The Armada also has a 20-inch wheel instead of a 22-inch wheel found on the Infiniti QX80 which only makes things better for this Nissan hauler.

How are the brakes on the 2018 Nissan Armada?

Considering its 3-ton of weight it is hard to find any fault with the brakes. The pedal feels smooth while the hauler takes 128 feet in coming to a halt from 60 mph.

Despite its heavy curb weight, it manages to take a competitive stopping distance. The pedal travel is also quite less and the braking behavior is quite good. 

The Ford Expedition leads the segment with 121-feet of stopping distance which is followed by the Chevrolet Tahoe with 125 feet. The Nissan Armada grabs the third spot on the table while the GMC Yukon rests at the last position due to its poor braking system.

What’s the towing capacity of the 2018 Nissan Armada?

The Nissan Armada is rated to tow up to 8,500-pounds when equipped properly. These are good numbers for a large SUV, and its ample capacity for towing recreational vehicles like small boats, dirt bikes, or ATVs (all-terrain vehicles). With the help of Tow mode, the Armada makes towing things easier. 

The Ford Expedition is the leader in the towing department. It has a towing capacity of 9300 pounds and no other rival is close to that. The Chevrolet Tahoe comes in second while the Nissan Armada and the GMC Yukon finish together at third. 

Fuel economy is not at all impressive considering it is a full-size SUV as rivals offer better mileage. With so much weight to lug around, the hauler is one of the thirstiest SUVs in the market today. You get 14 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg combined with the rear-wheel drive. The number slides further when you opt for the four-wheel drive as it returns 13 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined. 

Nothing can beat the impressive fuel economy of the Ford Expedition. It delivers 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Closest to it are the GM cousins and its driving range is also the highest in the segment. Meanwhile, the Nissan Armada is the least fuel-efficient SUV in this segment. 

The Nissan Armada's interior is good-looking and accommodating while getting in and out of the SUV is made easy by the big doors and grab handles. There are lots of physical buttons to master however they are all clearly marked but remain at a distance from the driver’s reach. Meanwhile, the cabin remains roomy, and the interior fit-and-finish proves its worth for the money you pay.

It gets a good amount of seat height adjustment in the driver's seat which makes it easy for most to settle in and reach the pedals. Even the telescoping steering wheel comes with a substantial range of adjustments. Drivers enjoy a commanding view of the road and a 360-degree camera comes in handy while parking and backing up.

The Armada has a quiet cabin and the material quality is top-notch. The base Armada with a second-row bench has seating for eight while a second-row bucket seat in the top trim drops the capacity to seven. The front seats are comfortable and provide a good amount of head and legroom but still lag behind the GMC brothers. Space in the second row is at par with the rivals while the third row is only good enough to accommodate kids.

In terms of head and legroom, the Nissan Armada is one of the best in this segment. Bur things can get awry in the third-row as the Armada offers the least space compared to its rivals. The GM cousins certainly step forward with no drawbacks in this segment while the Ford Expedition is the best in terms of creature comforts. Some of the interior features include:

• Cloth upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Reclining second-row seats
• Heated front seats
• Leather upholstery 

How intuitive is the 2018 Nissan Armada’s infotainment system?

The Nissan Armada comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display. A control knob and physical buttons help to make the adjustments on the screen. The Armada was redesigned last year but still, it has one of the most outmoded infotainment systems in the class.

It looks and feels outdated and does not even support smartphone features like Android Auto or the Apple CarPlay. The touchscreen is also at a distance from the driver’s reach. The Bose audio system with 13 speakers is a touch for music lovers. Some of the other infotainment features include:

• Navigation system
• HD Radio
• Bluetooth
• Satellite radio
• Rear seat entertainment system with two 8-inch screens
• Four USB-ports
• Voice recognition

How much cargo capacity does the 2018 Nissan Armada offer?

Many people assume that full-size SUVs must have large cargo compartments but that’s not necessarily true. The Armada offers 16.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet overall. These numbers are uninspiring for a full-size SUV.

The second and third-row seats fold flat making it easier to store longer items while a power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats are available. Loading heavy objects might take a toll due to the high liftover height of the Armada.

The Ford Expedition takes the upper hand in this segment with an astounding 104.6 cubes of space. The Nissan Armada is the second-in-line with a maximum cargo capacity of 95.4 cubic feet though it offers less space with third-row folded. Finally, the GM cousins sit down last for its least practicality. 

The Nissan Armada does not look pretty from the outside, in fact, it looks dowdy. It resembles the QX80 in one way or the other but with less chrome work and fender flares. Nissan designers have although worked hard to make things more interesting by adding a lot of curves around the body but still failed to impress.

In the segment, the Armada is the tallest and has an impressive 9.1-inches of ground clearance, even after which it is not suitable for off-roading because of its massive body mass. The suspension is also not strong enough to take those big rocks and the Armada also lacks the multi-terrain traction control system which the Infiniti QX80 boasts.

Nissan's Armada may be the longest in the segment with standard wheelbase but the GMC's Yukon XL with an extended wheelbase and 224.4-inches in length beats every other vehicle in the segment. Also, the Armada offers a higher ground clearance than the others which comes in handy while touring rough terrains. 

The new Nissan Armada received a good response from NHTSA. It earned an overall safety rating of four stars out of five which is good enough to sustain serious crashes. Meanwhile, IIHS ignored the Armada to test its crashworthiness. The Armada also comes with Nissan’s advanced six airbags system that covers the driver and the passenger’s seat. The side curtain airbag runs all the way to the third row. The Armada is well-equipped with standard safety features and offers more as optional. 

• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
• Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• A 360-degree surround-view camera
• Rear-Cross-Traffic Alert
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Lane Keep Assist
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic Emergency Braking

Nissan Armada Vs Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe ranks high in the large SUV segment because of its plush interior feature and intelligent design. The Tahoe seats nine as compared to eight in the Armada although the third row in both these SUVs is cramped.

Tahoe also scores ahead with its intuitive infotainment system which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, unlike Armada. Chevy also offers better handling and fuel economy than its Nissan rival and is a better all-round vehicle.

Nissan Armada Vs GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon boasts one of the nicest cabins in the class and it also can seat nine, which is more than the Nissan's Armada. The Yukon also boasts one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems and offers features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with a Wi-Fi hot spot-none of which is available in the Armada.

GMC also offers a quiet ride and gets better fuel efficiency than the Nissan. The Yukon is a better SUV in the long run and should be preferred over Nissan Armada.

Nissan Armada Vs Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is an outstanding SUV and it has best in class cargo capacity and towing capacity. It features a powerful V-6 engine which never feels short on power and also provides far better fuel economy than the Nissan Armada. The Expedition is also a capable off-roader, unlike Armada which is not suitable for the job.

Ford is a class leader in the segment but a fully-loaded Expedition can coast almost as much as a luxury SUV. Even the base model costs $5000 more than the Nissan. However, the Expedition justifies its price and offers a lot more than the Armada.

The 2018 Nissan Armada is a muscular SUV but it has some notable flaws. It has less cargo capacity than most in the class while the infotainment system feels antiquated. However, there are certain things that this juggernaut is good at. It has a peppy engine and acceleration is quick. Armada also offers a higher towing capacity than some of its rivals along with a quiet and well-built interior. If you are out looking for a full-size SUV, there are definitely better options available in the market but still, Armada is not a bad option to go with.