Used 2020 Nissan Armada SL for sale 

Armada comes in four variants, SV, SL, Platinum and Platinum Reserve. SL and SV are good enough trims in themselves but most premium features only unlock in the pricier models. For 2020, however, Nissan has made a lot of feature enhancements in the base trims as well. The fact to emphasize here is that there is absolutely no powertrain difference in any of these trims. All the trims of the Nissan Armada house a 5.6L V8 engine, churning out 390 hp and 394 lb.-ft. of torque. All the trims of the Armada offer a 4WD option for an additional sum of $3000.

Which model should you buy?

Our recommendation for the trim to buy is the SL which adds a handful of features including a top-down parking camera and leather upholstery. Going for the SL trim also opens the door for Premium package which is worth the coins you spend, it offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, rear automated emergency braking and sunroof. 

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See how spacious the Nissan Armada is on the inside

A mammoth of a car needs a mammoth of an engine to haul its hefty weight. Well, Nissan does take care of that, putting a naturally aspirated, high displacement 5.6 liters V8 engine pushing a healthy 390 horsepower along with 394 lb.-ft. of the peak torque, which kicks in at 4000 RPM. The V-8 produces enough power to match the humongous size and a mountain of mass to haul with a hearty engine grunt.

This V8 comes with a sole option of a 7-speed automatic transmission that routes all the power to either the rear wheels or all the 4 wheels, depending upon your choice of drivetrain. The transmission feels a little sluggish around the town which is enhanced by the floaty kind suspension setting, although on highways the ride is fairly smooth.

The Nissan Armada absolutely nails it in the power figures comparison, dominating every other contender of the segment. However, the issue with the Armada is that it offers just a 7-speed automatic transmission, while rivals such as the Ford Expedition, offer a 10-speed automatic transmission making for smoother upshifts and downshifts while giving out better fuel economy numbers.

How fast is the Armada?

As we all know, there is no replacement for displacement, the powerful 5.6 liters V-8 qualifies for superior acceleration and smooth transmission in most situations. The Armada sprints from 0-60 mph in a span of just 6.4 seconds, and clocks the quarter-mile lap in 14.9 seconds at a speed of 93 mph which is the segment best and at the same time pretty respectable considering the fact that it is the heaviest of the lot. 

Power is always available at the push of a pedal, stomp the pedal at a green light and Armada lunges off the line as a mammoth who has a rocket thruster up its behind. The vehicle, however, gives you an idea of the mass that is being pulled as there is a presence of a slight whiplash effect when you pin the accelerator. 

The Nissan Armada is the heaviest vehicle off the lot, yet the fastest. The Armada's sprinting figures, though are not absolutely blazing, and all the other competitors exhibit similar performance, yet the fact remains unchallenged that the Armada, though by the difference of only a few milliseconds, is still the best sprinter in the segment. 

How good is the Ride and Handling?

Despite the size of Armada, it handles surprisingly well, far from the sporty side though. Some people might find it hard to steer because of the ‘slow’ steering ratio which will make you turn the steering wheel farther than normal. The floaty and airy suspension has an incredible softness and does not affect the driver’s sense of control. Even on the optional 20-inch wheels, the ride is smooth and compliant.

Armada feels more refined than its GM rivals however, those rivals do possess better steering feedback than the Nissan. Body control in the Armada is impressive making it heave less on either front or back while braking or accelerating. Speaking of the car's corner tackling abilities, well, there's not much to say. There is a significant amount of body roll present in the Armada, which kind of restricts its abilities to dip in and come out of the corners at high speeds. Overall, the Armada is a good package for either long drives or running around town but, as size matters, parking in cramped spaces takes double efforts because of the slow steering ratio. 

How well does the Nissan Armada stop?

If you would see this mountain size car rushing your way, you will definitely feel something gooey in your pants. Yes, Armada is intimidating. However, the auto-marquee has ensured that this steroid injected dinosaur has enough braking potential to leash the 390 ponies, tucked underneath the hood. 

The Armada houses 13.8-inch ventilated disc brakes on all its wheels. Together, this braking arrangement can make the Nissan Armada come to a complete standstill from a speed of 60 mph in a distance of just 115 feet. 

What helps Armada to excel in braking is the largest brake rotors in its competition. While all the other cars get a 0-60 stopping distance which is above the 120 feet mark, the Armada simply impresses us with its emergency halting skills. 

How much can a Nissan Armada tow?

Towing capacity is a primary concern for a lot of SUV buyers and happily enough, the Armada can tow quite a lot of stuff. Not only is the engine potent enough, but with a trailer at the back, the Nissan feels easy to drive and well-composed around the roads. 

Try climbing over the hills or move up the paces in the countryside and you won't have much trouble, hauling trailers with the Nissan Armada.

When you stack the rivals up against each other, you'll find that the Ford Expedition manages to haul the most amount of load, owing to its trailering package. All the other 3 vehicles in this category are closely matched against each other, with merely 100 lbs of weight separating the 3.

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Click here to read an in-depth account of Nissan Armada's performance. 

None of the gargantuan SUVs have an impressive fuel economy, the same trend continues with the Armada. While the Armada does almost everything right, the point where it lags behind is fuel efficiency. The gas-guzzling V8 bears the blame, which when made to pull the 5500 pounds of the Armada, results in poor fuel-efficiency numbers. The Nissan Armada can spin through 14 city miles or can expedite through 19 miles on the highway. Summing it up, we get a combined mpg of 16. 

This huge engine is indeed thirsty, getting a fuel economy of 16 mpg, however, the emphasis here should be laid on the fact that the Armada is the heaviest and the most powerful vehicle in this segment. Competitors such as the Expedition and Tahoe offer a slightly better fuel economy than the Armada, but that's mainly due to the fact that they are less powerful than the Armada and also weigh less. 

Armada’s interior feels and looks much like the Infiniti QX80, which is a good thing to say as Infiniti is quite on the pricier side. Open the wide and heavy door of the Armada and you are greeted by an interior scheme that's aptly adorned with plush wood trim and a typical SUV like dash design. The leather-seats provide a good contrast to the wood finished surfaces. The cabin of the Armada feels quite spacious owing to the availability of humongous headroom. Furthermore, the wide windows stimulate this roominess.

How comfortable is it on the inside?

This three-row SUV can carry up to eight passengers with a decent amount of cargo. The front seats are nicely cushioned providing comfort for long journeys and aptly bolstered to hold you in place, without hindering the process of getting in and out of the car. The second row can be optioned to have captain chairs, which are wider, flatter and softer than the standard chairs on offer, but opting for this option brings down the Armada's seating capacity to seven. 

If you are not satisfied with the regular interior you could go for the Platinum Reserve trim that gets upgraded leather upholstery and other design elements like Platinum Reserve badging which further accentuate the ride's premium vibe. A cushy and spacious interior supplements the Armada’s classy outer shell, the cabin is well insulated with a considerable improvement from previous generations. Most of the road, engine, and wind noises are kept at bay in the 2020 Nissan Armada. 

The top of the line Platinum Reserve comes with a two-tone theme with quilted seats and imitation open-pore wood trim. Inside, a curvey dash reminds you of QX80, again a pro. This could easily be ranked as the best interior in the Nissan lineup. 

Armada’s step-in height is slightly high and maybe the third-row access could be a problem for some people. The power-folding third-row (standard on the SL and up) can be adjusted via buttons in the cargo area or on the third row's armrests, but the sole problem here is that snails move faster than the time needed for the seats of Armada to fold. 

What to expect on the Infotainment front?

One department where Nissan really needs to up its game is the infotainment panel on offer in the Armada. While the 8-inch touchscreen panel is definitely easy to use, the panel still feels obsolete. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not on offer even on the top trim, and the panel is typically laggy to respond to the user inputs. Even some controls on the central console are difficult to reach.

The NissanConnect infotainment system on offer though gets some useful bits which include navigation, power outlets, and 13-speaker Bose audio system which do sound good. The priciest model adds an 8inch touchscreen at the rear as well, however, the case remains the same with this screen as well, as it is annoyingly laggy to respond. 

What creature comforts to expect on the inside?

The infotainment panel on the Nissan Armada though feels outdated, it still packs in a number of features, that can keep you entertained on the go while consummating most of the vital infotainment needs of an SUV like this. Some of the most prominent infotainment features on-board the Nissan Armada are:

• Bose Premium Audio System With 13 Speakers Including Subwoofer
• 10-Way Power Driver'S Seat, Including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support
• 8-Way Power Passenger's Seat, Including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support
• Climate-Controlled Front Seats (Heated And Cooled)
• Memory System – Driver’S Seat, Steering Wheel, And Outside Mirrors
• Nissan Connect 8" Touch-Screen Display
• Nissan Voice Recognition For Navigation And Audio
• Tri-Zone Entertainment System With Dual 8" Monitors, Dvd Player With Remote Control, Two Wireless Headphones, And Hdmi Input
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
• Five USB Ports

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Click here to read a full in-depth account on the interior part of the Armada

How much would the top-end Platinum Reserve trim set you back for?

How much cargo can the Nissan Armada carry?

The Nissan Armada can haul up to 7 of your folks at a time, which makes it an ideal car for some gangland outings, however, along with that, the ride can also carry a decent amount of luggage for you. The Nissan Armada, with all seats in place, offers 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

Fold-down the third row of seats and the 16.5 cubic feet of space translates to 49.9 cubic feet. Fold-down the second row of seats as well, and you can simply spend a month in the Armada, as it can carry all your essentials in its 86.2 cubic feet of cargo area length to seat 1. 

Speaking of the cargo space on offer, with all seats in place, the Ford Expedition absolutely dominates the market with almost 21 cubic feet of space. That means that the Ford Expedition can haul a total number of 7 passengers, and their luggage for a weekend getaway, quite easily. The Nissan Armada ranks second with 16.5 cubic feet of space, finally followed up by the Tahoe and the Yukon. 

The 2020 Nissan Armada might seem like an old SUV even with the new iteration but stands confidently with the bold design and the broad and brawny stance. The design of the Armada resembles the Infiniti QX80, and why not, since both the vehicles are based on the same platform.  The front fascia of the Armada is dominated by a big signature "V" Nissan chrome grille. The Nissan Armada might seem intimidating for some people but that is what this huge thing stands for. The thick A-pillars give it a stance that sure will make you take a second glance. 

The design department at Nissan tried to go old school with the Armada thinking of the legendary Patrol. The bold status of the Armada does not compare with the modern-looking SUVs like the Ford Expedition but it sure is one hell of a statement maker and has a mighty road presence. 

One of the unique selling propositions of the Nissan Armada comes in the form of its 9.1 inches of Ground Clearance, which makes it one of the easiest cars to do water wading in and going off-road, without worrying about the underbelly getting damaged or scraped.

Exterior Features

The Nissan Armada may not look chic like other modern-day SUVs such as the Ford Expedition, however, that does not abide this ride from being one hell of a statement maker. The Nissan Armada is a true blue SUV and surely looks the part. Some of the most noteworthy exterior features of the Nissan Armada are:

• Automatic On/Off Headlights
• Led Low-Beam Headlights With Integrated Signature
• Led Daytime Running Lights
• Fog Lights
• Dark-Painted Overfenders
• Body-Color Overfenders
• Chrome Grille And Door Handles
• Dark Chrome Grille And Door Handles
• Power Heated And Folding Body-Color Outside Mirrors With Turn Signal Indicators
• Power Heated And Folding Chrome Outside Mirrors With Turn Signal Indicators
• Side Mirrors With Puddle Lights
• Auto-Dimming Outside Mirrors
• Power Sliding Glass Moonroof With One-Touch Open/Close And Tilt Feature
• Power Liftgate
• Dark Chrome Rear License Plate Finisher
• Acoustic Windshield And Front Side Windows
• Rear Privacy Glass
• Platinum Reserve Exterior Badging
• Dark-Painted Roof Rails
• Dark-Painted Running Boards
• Tow Hitch Receiver
• Trailer Brake Pre-Wiring

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For this generation, Nissan has made several enhancements in the safety features on offer in the Armada. The Armada earned a four-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sure is a good score. Every model has a host of driver assistance technology such as forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. Some of the other most eminent safety features on-board the Nissan Armada are:

• Standard automated emergency braking
• Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Nissan Advanced Airbag System With Dual-Stage Supplemental Front Airbags With Seat Belt And Occupant-Classification Sensors
• Driver And Front-Passenger Seat-Mounted Side-Impact Supplemental Airbags
• Roof-Mounted Curtain Side-Impact Supplemental Airbags With Rollover Sensor For Rollover Head Protection For All Outboard Passengers
• Child-Safety Rear Door Locks
• Side-impact bars
• Electronic stability
• Four-wheel ABS brakes
• Traction control
• Daytime running lights
• Anti-whiplash front head restraints
• 6 airbags

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Nissan Armada vs Chevrolet Tahoe

In this comparison, Nissan is both powerful and efficient, the 5.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline Endurance V8 engine has 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. This engine gives the 2020 Nissan Armada ability to tow up to 8,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity. Paired with the 7-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching, the 2020 Nissan Armada has more power at lower speeds and a quieter engine at high speeds. In comparison to the 5.6L V8 on offer in the Armada, the Tahoe gets a 5.3L V8 engine, belting out 355 hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. Although in terms of looks some people might find Chevy to be acing this criterion. However, all included, Chevy takes a blow here messing with the Armada.

Nissan Armada vs GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon has the same powertrain dimensions as the Tahoe, with a 5.3L V8 belting out the very same power figures. In terms of seating, you'll be able to fit about the same number of people in the GMC Yukon and the Nissan Armada. You'll be able to fit about the same amount of groceries in the GMC Yukon as you will in the Nissan Armada. Armada at a lesser price gives premium features while the GMC does that with a slight increment in the price tag.

Nissan Armada vs Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition outclasses the Armada in almost every conceivable way, making it Nissan's prime competitor. The Expedition's ride is more comfortable, it has a modern tech interface, and there's more room in the third row. Ford's towing limits are higher, and its twin-turbo V6 is more efficient than Nissan's V8. The Expedition offers a larger cargo area, and you can upgrade to the Expedition Max if you want even more storage. The only downside is the Expedition's price tag, which rockets quickly as you start adding options.

The 2020 Nissan Armada has a strong V8 engine and impressive interior quality, the ride ticks almost all the boxes to be a perfect full-size SUV. However, there are certain aspects, where we feel Nissan could have done a lot better, such as updating the infotainment panel on-board. The Armada offers superb acceleration, be it on the highway or the city courtesy of a super-powerful V8 motor. So, to conclude it all, the Nissan Armada is one of the few cars left in today's time which can satisfy your lust of full-size macho, robust SUVs, and if you don't mind frequent gas station visits, the Armada is an ideal match for you.