2019 Nissan Armada

The 2019 Nissan Armada SL is the trim that is most optimally priced for most people and it also adds luxury with the introduction of leather upholstery. It also has larger wheels, a power liftgate, memory settings, a surround-view camera, and also power-folding third-row seats. Also recommended is the 4WD setup for a premium of $3000. Moreover, add the Premium Package for the extra driver-assistance features on offer.

The 2019 Nissan Armada comes in three distinct trims. The SV starts at $47,100 and the Platinum is the top-tier trim at a hefty $60,330. Each trim can either be had in a 2WD or 4WD configuration. The 4WD models are priced at a premium of $3000 on top of the base price. All the trims are powered by the same 5.6L V8 engine and the 7-speed automatic gearbox. Furthermore, all trims offer an impressive list of features too.

As you can see, even the base model sports an impressive array of features. However, leather is only introduced in the SL trim and upwards for maximum luxury. There are three primary packages available for upgrade. The Driver Package includes an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, power liftgate, trailer towing harness, etc. The Premium Package will add driver-assistance features such as Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Back-Up Intervention, Intelligent Distance Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a power sliding moonroof. Finally, there is the Platinum Reserve package for the top-end trim, which adds cosmetic upgrades such as dark chrome exterior trim on the grille door handles, mirrors, etc along with 20” Dark Chrome Alloy wheels and a bunch of other exterior upgrades.

The fuel economy is where the good run of the 2019 Nissan Armada comes to a crashing halt. It offers one of the worst fuel economies in the segment. EPA estimates for the Armada are at 14 MPG for the city, 19 MPG for highway and 16 MPG for combined driving; in the FWD configuration. The AWD sips more fuel and returns 13/18/15 MPG for city/highway/combined driving respectively. The hungry V8 sips a ton of fuel for its performance, which makes it very inefficient at this segment of luxury SUVs.

The gas tank is a size of 26-gallons, which is quite big, but it still only offers 364/494/416 miles for city/highway/combined driving respectively; for the FWD. The AWD returns 338/468/390 miles for the same. While the range might look impressive on paper, the rivals simply outclass it with way more distance to run. The Expedition is the most fuel-efficient, while the Armada sits at the bottom of the list.

The 2019 Nissan Armada features a fresh take on the interior front different from most other Nissan vehicles. The Armada interior has a refreshing design, featuring high-quality materials. Not just that, the build quality is commendable and reliable. The dashboard in the higher Armada trims sports a wood interior trim which enhances the beauty. The base trim features cloth upholstery, while the SL and Platinum trim brings in leather upholstery, on most surfaces.

There are three rows inside the Armada. The second row can optionally be equipped with captain’s chairs for maximum comfort. The base trim features a heated 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat including 2-way power lumbar support. The passenger’s seat is 8-way power-adjustable including 2-way power lumbar support. The Armada Platinum trim features both heated and ventilated front seats with driver seat memory. The captain’s chairs are pretty comfortable and they are cooled too, in the highest trim. The first and second row, in general, is pretty spacious. However, the third row is very congested and only fit for children or teenagers. The Japanese SUV sits way high off the ground and visibility is also not an issue.

Cargo spacing is not a stronghold of this SUV. With the third-row seats up, you are allocated 16.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With the third row of seats down, which are power-folding in the higher trims, you are greeted with 49.9 cubic feet. Finally, with the 60/40-split rear seats down, the area is expanded to 95.4 cubic feet, which is pretty massive for any sort of storage.

Standout interior features:

• Heated and cooled front seats
• Driver seat memory
• Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel w/ auto-tilt away
• Voice-activated tri-zone climate control
• Simulated wood trim
• Leather-appointed seat trim
• Door mirrors and steering wheel memory settings

This is another aspect where the 2019 Armada falls behind the competition. The standard system is an 8” NissanConnect infotainment touchscreen integrated into the dashboard. It’s not very modern and as a result, can get pretty slow. Not the most intuitive and also not the most responsive. The base trim offers a host of standard features, such as a Nissan navigation system w/ enhanced voice recognition, SiriusXM Radio, SiriusXM Traffic, HD radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, and speed-sensitive volume control.

The surprising part is the absence of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, even in this modern day and age. But even the base trim enjoys a 13-speaker Bose premium sound system, with Bose AudioPilot. The Platinum trim gets dual 8” rear entertainment screens, along with two wireless headphones. There’s also a DVD player to keep your rear occupants entertained.

The 2019 Nissan Armada does have a polarizing exterior design. Some people might like how it looks, some people might not. Its huge frame is not intimidating but can be attractive to a lot of people. The front fascia features the huge “V”-shaped Nissan chrome grille. The headlights are carved on the edge of the “V”. The front bumper is also quite large. The SV trim also features front fog lamps. The sides feature running boards to help to get into the car.

The side profile makes this humongous actually look humungous. The windows have a beautiful chrome outlining. The rear sees two rather normal-looking tail lights with a pretty normal rear design. The SL trim rides on 18” alloy wheels. The SV trim rides on 20” machined finished painted alloy and the Platinum trim rides on 20” machine-faced chrome wheels. Also, you get LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Overall, the heft of the SUV is sure present, but it looks decent, without being too outlandish.

The Expedition comes with a massive wheelbase, which allows it to have the most spacious rear row and cargo. The wheelbase of the GM sisters is shorter, that's why they suffer the most. Also, the Expedition and Armada have the highest ground clearance.

Standout exterior features:

• 20” machine-faced chrome with tinted CC
• Tow hooks in the front and rear bumper
• Heated auto-dimming side mirrors with power folding
• Running boards
• LED DRLs
• Front fog lamps
• Roof rack rails

The 2019 Nissan Armada’s huge body is not unsafe. Nissan has made sure to offer a strong chassis, but it still is far from perfect. As such, NHTSA rates the Armada a 4-star overall out of 5. The overall front star rating is just 3 stars with the driver’s side receiving only 2 stars. But the overall side ratings are all a flawless 5-star. The rollover rating is a 3-star. Unfortunately, IIHS has not yet rated the Armada, but we guess they would come to similar conclusions. So, overall, the Japanese SUV’s front side seems to be its weakest link. But that doesn’t stop Nissan from offering most of the modern safety and driver assistance features.

Standout safety features:

• NissanConnect Services Emergency SOS
• Forward Collision Warning with AEB
• Blind Spot Intervention (higher trim)
• Lane Intervention Lane Keeping Assist (higher trims)
• Lane Intervention Lane Departure Warning (higher trims)
• Intelligent Around View Monitor (higher trims)
• Intelligent Distance Control (optional)
• Intelligent Back-Up Intervention (optional)

2019 Nissan Armada vs 2019 Ford Expedition

The 2019 Ford Expedition has a larger wheelbase than the Armada, not only making it even more humongous but also offering excellent third-row spacing and cargo spacing. Fuel economy is another bonus. The performance is decent, but not on par with the Japanese SUV. It rides and handles well too. Overall, the Japanese Armada is a clear choice, but the Expedition is more practical.

2019 Nissan Armada vs 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Tahoe is a strong offering from Chevy, but it too cannot match the Armada’s quick acceleration. It also has lesser power to offer, and it's also not the most practical three-row SUV out there. However, it's got a better infotainment system with an array of OnStar safety features. It also looks more modern and cooler than its Japanese counterpart.

The 2019 Nissan Armada stands tall as a tough rival to all of the American three-row SUVs in its class. Offering a host of standard features with a very luxurious interior, paired with the Armada’s quick acceleration and fun handling, makes it even more competitive. However, its terrible fuel economy and lack of modern infotainment features make it susceptible to lose against rivals such as the Ford Expedition.