2020 Nissan Armada

When it comes to a commanding road presence, immense space inside and a great set of features, the Nissan Armada has been one of the most recognized names in the industry. The 2020 iteration of the same remains mostly unchanged from the 2018 variant other than the addition of Forward Collision Mitigation and Auto Emergency Braking as standard features.

With the prices starting at $47,100 for the base FWD variant, the Armada poses a threat to the territories of some well-established rivals such as Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Let's move ahead and find out if the 2020 Nissan Armada can make a name for itself in this rather crowded segment.

The 2020 Nissan Armada comes in a total of 4 Trims and can be bought in both 2WD and 4WD Avatars. A 5.6L V8 does duty on all the trims and generates the same 390hp and 394lbs-ft of Torque, all throughout the range. Prices start from $47,100 for the base SV trim with 2WD while the top of the line 4WD Platinum Reserve Trim tops off at $66,100.

Trim	SV	SL	Platinum	Platinum Reserve
MSRP(2WD)	$47,100	$51,900	$60,100	$63,100
MSRP(4WD)	$50,100	$54,900	$63,100	$66,100
Features	18 Alloy Wheels	20 Alloy Wheels	20 Tinted Alloys	20 Chrome Alloys
	LED Low beam Auto On/Off Headlights, DRL	Fog Lights and 120V AC power outlet	Fog Lights and 120V AC power outlet	Dark Chrome Grill and Door Handles
	Heated 10 Way Powered Driver's Seat, 8 Way powered Passenger Seat with 2 Way Power Lumbar Support	Memory function for Driver's Seat, Steering Wheel and ORVM	Climate Controlled Front Seats with Heating and Cooling Function and Heated outboard 2nd row Seats	Open pore wood Tone and Black quartz Trim
	Running Boards and Roof Rails	Powered lift gate	Power Sliding Glass Moon Roof	Dark Chrome Rear License plate Finish
	Power Folding ORVM with Turn Indicators	Heated ORVM with Puddle Lamps	Rear Step Lamp	Chrome Powered and Heated ORVM
	8 Touch Screen infotainment System with Mp3/CD and Radio Data	8 Touch Screen infotainment System with Mp3/CD and Radio Data	8 Touch Screen infotainment System with Mp3/CD and Radio Data	2nd Row fold-down captain's chairs with easy entry for 3rd row
	Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Start	Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror and Foot well Lights	Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror and Foot well Lights	Bose Premium Audio system with 13 Speakers and a Sub-Woofer
	Dual Zone Auto AC and Rear AC with Control	Dual Zone Auto AC and Rear AC with Control	Dual Zone Auto AC and Rear AC with Control	Second Row padded center console with Wood Trim
	Second and Third Row 60/40 Split Folding Seats	Power 3rd Row 60/40 Split Fold bench seat	Body Colored Over fenders	Second Row Fold Down Captain's Chair with Tip Up
	Rear Seat Heater Ducts	Rain sensing windshield wipers	Windshield Wiper De-Icer	Windshield Wiper De-Icer
	Leather Wrapped Steering wheel and Gear Shift knob	Leather-Appointed Seats	Heated Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel	2 Tone Leather Seats with Contrast Stitching

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The "SL" trim strikes the perfect note with its price for what it offers. You get a plethora of segment-leading features such as 20-inch Alloy wheels, powered liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control,  leather-wrapped seats and a lot more. Retailing at $54,900 for the AWD variant, it is the best bang for the buck out of the given options.

"The big 5.6-liter V-8 is strong, and its double-wishbone front and rear suspension is smooth and compliant"  -TheCarConnection.com

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 Nissan Armada comes powered by a 5.6L V8 Motor that shells out 390hp and 394lbs-ft of Torque. Talking about the numbers, these figures are the highest in the segment and the nearest competitor in terms of the power, exceeds the price of the Armada by nearly $5,000.

This immense power, makes the Armada a very capable and potent soft roader and off roader that can easily muscle its way through other vehicles while overtaking and while tackling tough terrains. In terms of Performance on the Interstates or Freeways, the Engine never feels like it isn't eager to overtake or requires more power.

Models	Nissan Armada SV	Ford Expedition XLT	Chevrolet Tahoe LS	GMC Yukon SLE
MSRP	$47,100	$53,425	$49,195	$50,795
Engine	5.6L V8	3.5L V6 Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded	5.3L V8 Gas/Ethanol	5.3L V8 Gas
Transmission	7 Speed automatic	10 Speed automatic	6 Speed automatic	6 Speed automatic
Horsepower	390hp@5800 rpm	375 hp@ 5000rpm	355 hp@5600rpm	355 hp@ 5600rpm
Torque	394 ft-lbs@4000rpm	470 ft-lbs@ 3500rpm	383 ft-lbs@ 4100rpm	383 ft-lbs@ 4100rpm

The powerful motor has been mated to a 7 speed automatic transmission, built specifically to handle such amount of massive power. The Transmission is slick to shift gears and does realize quickly when to shift and when not. Power is channeled pretty linearly as compared to the rivals while the gear changes are smoother than the rest as well.

Acceleration

Despite its heavy weight, the Nissan Armada, with its powerful V8 motor manages to beat the competition with ease in a 0-60 drag. Same can be said for the quarter mile timings as the 390hp motor does provide good power throughout the rev range, resulting in under 15 seconds timings for the quarter mile mark.

Models	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
0-60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.7 sec	6.7 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter mile	14.9 sec	15.1 sec	15.2 sec	15.3 sec
Engine	5.6L V8	3.5L V6 Regular Unleaded	5.3L V8 Gas/Ethanol	5.3L V8 Gas
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	11	N/A	10.4	N/A

The Competition isn't far behind when it comes to comparing the cars neck to neck with most of the Cars reaching the 60mph mark in nearly the same time. The Transmission powers the Rear Wheels in the default setting but can be made to power the 4 wheels, when going with the 4WD trims. The Transmission is very robust and plenty able to tackle all kinds of loads.

Drivability and Handling

The Armada is a big SUV from all proportions BUT it doesn't drive like one. Its powerful engine propels it to high speeds in no time while producing a superb tone from the exhaust. The Chassis feels compliant and perform well while tackling mountain roads or twisties. We do however feel that the steering lacks feel and is little waywardly on highways.

Cornering in the Armada is confidence inspiring and composed. Good amount of grip is offered at all times while the Body roll is not pronounced, unlike its rivals. Most people will be left impressed by the composure of the Armada, considering its weight and stance.

Braking

In terms of Braking performance of the Armada, not many people including us will find faults or problems with the same. The pedals feel good to operate and provide immense assurance during application. Braking is predictable and powerful, while drastically shorting the time to come to a sudden halt from high speeds. The 115ft stopping distance is one of the segment leading figures for braking and a good benchmark for others to follow.

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
Brake Front (in.)	13.8	13.9	N/A	13
Brake Rear (in.)	13.8	13.6	N/A	13.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5822	5815	5355	5379
60-0 MPH (ft.)	115	121	121	125

What is surprising is the fact that being a near 6000lbs vehicle, the Armada has the best stopping distance from the rest. The closest in terms of competition is the Ford and the Chevy with 121ft of distance while the slightly heavier GMC has the biggest distance.

Towing Capacity

The 2020 Nissan Armada doesn't make any significant breakthroughs in terms of the Towing Capacity it offers. The 8500lbs of Towing Capacity is a segment standard and is common to all Cars other than the Ford Expedition. The powerful engine however makes towing this weight a piece of cake and effortless due to the powerful motor.

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition	Chevrolet Tahoe	GMC Yukon
Engine	3.5L	3.5L	5.3L	5.3L
Drive Train	4WD	4WD	AWD	AWD
Capacity (lbs.)	8500	9300	8600	8500

The Ford Expedition manages to outsmart its competition with its 9300lbs towing capacity while the others, including the Nissan hover around the 8500-8600 range. The Chevy Tahoe is the second best in terms of numbers with its 8600lbs of capacity.

This is one section, which Armada "Fan Boys" should skip reading immediately. Call it the Achilles Heel of the Armada but the MPG figures of the 2020 Nissan Armada are nothing to gloat about. With just 15MPG of Overall Efficiency figure, the Armada lags behind all other SUV's in the segment. However, we shouldn't be too critical about the Nissan, considering the massive weight of the same and the immense performance on offer (as the Armada is the most powerful of the Lot).

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
MPG (city)	13	17	15	15
MPG (highway)	18	24	22	22
MPG (combined)	15	20	18	18
Range (miles) (city/highway)	338/468	418.2/590.4	390/572	390/572
Tank Capacity (gal)	26.0	24.6	26.0	26.0

In terms of the Competition, the Ford Expedition manages to return the best MPG figures and the 24.6 Gallon fuel tank, adds to the overall driving range of the SUV. The Tahoe and the Yukon deliver slightly lower than the Expedition but their massive 26 Gallon fuel tank, helps them to provide a good driving range.

"The Armada uses a dizzying number of buttons and controls, but they're all easily mapped and handy after just a few hours"   -TheCarConnection.com

Seating and Comfort

In terms of the Seating, Nissan claims that the 2020 Armada, currently on sale in the US can easily fit in 8 passengers. These passengers however, won't complain while sitting inside the Armada for long durations because of the supreme levels of comfort on offer. The Cabin offers plenty of room and the Interior fit and finish, feels a notch higher than the competition. The variety of adjustments on offer for seats make for a commanding driving position for the driver while the Big Doors allow for easier Ingress/Egress from the Cabin.

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
Passenger capacity	8	8	8	8
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.9/63.8/41.9	42/64.9/43.9	42.8/64.8/45.3	42.8/64.8/45.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.0/63.4/41.0	40/64.8/41.5	38.7/65.1/39.0	38.7/65.1/39.0
Third(Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.)	36.4/60.5/28.4	37.3/64.2/36.1	38.1/62.6/24.8	38.1/62.6/24.8

Passengers won't complain about the comfort offered from both the seats and the ride in general offered by the Armada. The Seats have been beautifully and thoughtfully designed while the Ventilations on them, make for a comfortable ride for when it's Hot or cold on the outside. The Suspension has been well tuned to soak up all the bumps and potholes that the road has to offer while the 20" tires and good sound proofing makes for a noise free ride in the inside.

Infotainment

As is the trend today, manufacturers are not shying away from loading their vehicles with the best in terms of Technology. The 2020 Nissan Armada is no different and Nissan has ensures that its big SUV gets all the features, what Tech Savvy People would want from this SUV.

These are the features, you will come across the 2020 Armada

• 8" Touch Screen Infotainment System
• 2 Wireless Headphones and HDMI Input
• Home link Universal Transceiver
• Bluetooth and Nissan Connect
• DVD Player with Remote Control
• Bose Audio with 13 Speakers and a subwoofer
• 5 USB port and AUX Input
• Radio Data System
• Nissan Navigation system

In addition to these, you also get SiriusXM radio with 3 months complimentary trial access and HD Radio in all the Trims while Voice recognition comes standard as well. Illuminated steering mounted controls for the Audio Adds to the convenience of the driver for changing music on the go.

Interior Features

Like the Infotainment System, Nissan has left no stone unturned while providing the best in terms of the creature comforts that can be provided inside the Cabin of an SUV like the Armada. Some of cool Features inside the Armada includes

• Heated Leather Wrapped Steering wheel
• Wood Tone Trim
• Heated outboard second row seats
• Climate controlled front seats
• Second row fold down captain's seat
• Auto dimming rear view mirror
• Dual Zone Auto Climate control
• Remote Engine Start Stop
• Power Sliding Moon roof with tilt feature
• Height Adjustable driver seat with memory settings

Other than these features, you also get Leather upholstery and 2 tone seats for the added levels of luxury and premium feel inside the cabin.

Cargo Capacity

In terms of the Cargo Capacity on offer, the 2020 Armada has its Head held high over most of its rivals in the market. The Nissan offers a massive 16.5 cu. Ft. of space behind its 3^rd Row and an Amazing 95.4 cu. Ft, when both the 2^nd and 3^rd rows have been folded down. What accentuates the usability of the Cargo space is the Easy 3^rd Row seat folding mechanism that allows for easy access into the Cargo area and the flat load floor.

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	16.5	20.9	15.3	15.3

In terms of the Competition, the Ford Expedition offers a slightly higher space behind the 3^rd row, with 20.9 cu. Ft. of space on offer while the GM stable offerings namely the Tahoe and the Yukon feature an identical 15.3 cu. Ft. of space.

"In many ways, the Armada looks like a casually dressed Infiniti QX80." :-TheCarconnection.com

Design

In terms of the design, not much has been changed in the 2020 Nissan Armada, when compared to the 2018 variant. The SUV looks big from all angles and you can't escape the generous amount of sheet metal, used in the SUV. The Design of the Armada, may remind many people of the Infiniti QX80 as both have similar proportions.

The Armada however has a pronounced and bold front grill with the signature "V" Nissan grill and generous use of chrome. The sides resemble the QX80 heavily while the rear end looks a little bland as compared to the other parts of the SUV. A big cladding below the Rear Bumper adds to the Sporty appeal of the SUV.

Exterior Dimensions

In terms of the dimensions alone, the Nissan Armada ranks amongst the Biggest SUV's in its class. The Armada is one of the longest in its class, occupying a massive 208.9 inches and tall as well, at 75.8 inches. These dimensions come at a cost as the big proportions, adds to the weight of the Nissan and makes it, one of the heaviest vehicles in its category.

Model	Nissan Armada	Ford Expedition XLT suv	Chevrolet Tahoe LS suv	GMC Yukon SLE suv
Curb weight (lbs.)	5822	5815	5355	5379
Length(in)	208.9	210	204.0	203.9
Width(in)	79.9	79.9	80.5	80.5
Height(in)	75.8	76.6	74.4	74.4
Ground clearance (in)	9.1	9.8	7.9	8.0
Wheelbase (in)	121.1	122.5	116.0	116.0

One of the highlights of the Expedition 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 under belly getting damaged or scraped.

Exterior Features

The 2020 Nissan Armada comes with a lot of striking features on the Outside that looks the part and is also functional as well. Some of the most striking features of the 2020 Armada includes

• 20" Dark Chrome Clad alloy wheels
• LED Auto On/Off Low Beam Headlights with LED DRL's
• Fog Lights
• Power Folding and Heated ORVM with Memory Function
• Front and Rear Sonar System
• Powered Lift Gate
• Intelligent Around View Monitor
• Dark Painted Roof Rails
• Tow Hitch Receiver

The Nissan Armada, was not particularly famous for its Safety but with the 2020 Iteration, Nissan wants to change things. Nissan is offering a lot of Safety Equipment as standard on the 2020- Armada and has standardized features like Forward Collision Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control which was an optional equipment last year. Other Safety features include

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Keep Assist
• 360 Degree View Camera
• Blind Spot Monitoring System
• Front and Rear parking Sensors
• Active Lane Control
• 6 Airbags
• Rear Cross Traffic alert
• Traction Control with ABS and EBD
• Rearview Camera

NHTSA Rating

The NHTSA has given a 4 Star overall rating to the 2020 Nissan Armada in the tests conducted by it. While this may not be the best in class, it's certainly respectable. What is commendable is the fact that some safety features that were available as option last year have been standardized for 2020 by Nissan

Nissan Armada vs Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe is one of the most popular SUV's in the segment. The Tahoe offers a lot of Equipment in the Technology front yet fails to offer the kind of Interior Space that the Nissan offers. It likewise contains lesser amount of Cargo than the Armada as well. The Armada, then again, has the higher towing limit and delivers superb performance with its big Engine. Overall, if you are one of those people, who prioritizes Performance over anything else, then the Nissan is the one to go for.

Nissan Armada vs Ford Expedition

The Nissan Armada is the Japanese rendition of what a "Big Full Size SUV" should be against the American dominated SUV's. The Armada offers a lot of value and practicality in its interiors like the ford but offers a better built interior. In terms of the Engine power as well, the Armada beats the Ford by a good margin. However, the expedition manages to tow a lot more than the Armada and be much more fuel efficient than the same, without compromising on the performance.

 

The 2020 Nissan Armada ticks most of the boxes, when it comes to being a proper full size Luxury SUV that does everything, without breaking your Piggy Bank. The Armada offers superb acceleration, be it on the highway or the city courtesy of a super powerful V8 motor. In the Interiors as well, people will be utterly ecstatic with the High quality Materials used for the Cabin. All in All, if a big brawny SUV that does it all is what you are looking for and you are ok with frequent visits to the Gas Station, the 2020 Armada is the SUV for you to buy.