Vehicles that do jobs often hold serious resale value. Just look at what lightly used subcompact cars or cargo vans command compared to their prices when new, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. This leaves people who tow in a bit of a pickle. Late-model trucks are pretty pricey, and most full-size SUVs from the same period command serious moolah. Thankfully, there’s an exception to every rule, and that exception is the second-generation Nissan Armada.
The Armada is a great example of sticking to a solid formula, and although it might not have made the same showroom impression as a GMC Yukon, you can now pick up a gently used Armada for way, way less than one of its competitors and feel confident in keeping it for the long-haul.
Truthfully, I’d pushed the Armada to the back of my mind until member Stephan emailed us to share the fantastic experience he’s been having with his second-generation Armada. It’s a perfectly cromulent SUV, with moderately posh appointments thanks to twinning with the Infiniti QX80, and it’s now a screaming bargain.
While the Armada originally launched as a Titan pickup truck-based SUV, for 2017, it basically became a rebadged Nissan Patrol, a major Land Cruiser competitor in other markets. That means it’s appointed more like an Infiniti than a regular Nissan, with available creature comforts like semi-aniline leather, heated and cooled front seats, a 360-degree camera system, and woodgrain galore. An update for 2021 added a new center stack and a bunch of tech including wireless Apple CarPlay, making the Armada a pretty nice rig to put some miles on.
Under the hood sits a 5.6-liter VK56VD V8 engine pumping out 390 horsepower and 394 lb.-ft. of torque, increased to 400 horsepower and 413 lb.-ft. of torque for 2021. Hitched to a fairly solid seven-speed automatic transmission, this combination lets the second-generation Armada tow up to 8,500 pounds, a respectable if not class-leading number. However, the real appeal of this powertrain isn’t just predictable power delivery, it’s that other than irregular tolerances in a few 2017 model year engines, it just keeps on trucking. Avoid the first model year just in case, simply do the routine maintenance, and it’ll treat you alright.
It’s the same deal with the platform. Sure, it might still use hydraulic power steering and the ride quality isn’t as buttoned-down as on a Chevrolet Tahoe, but the solid rear axle is simple stuff, and both brakes and suspension parts are reasonably priced. As a bonus, the second-generation Armada seems to have fixed the differential issues and cracked manifolds that affected first-generation models, so it really is a solid, if slightly outdated-feeling performer with a relaxed attitude. As Car And Driver wrote in a road test of the 2021 model:
The posh ambiance of the Platinum model is a prelude to how the Armada conducts itself on the road. There’s effortless power underfoot; the last Armada we tested got to 60 mph in less than six seconds, and we expect the same of the new one. Its ride is pleasantly hushed, and it traverses bumps and ruts with admirable suppleness despite rolling on 22-inch wheels. This is a relaxed cruiser with not a whiff of playfulness to its steering, brakes, or handling. But the Armada does drive competently and comfortably—which for a lot of SUV buyers is more than enough. Towing capacity is a stout 8500 pounds.
On the road, the second-generation Armada has the confident, trustworthy feel of a GMT800 Tahoe, but with a far nicer interior. However, even if it isn’t as roomy as the domestic competition, rock-bottom pricing can do a lot to sway buying influence. Want leather, four-wheel-drive, and the confidence of a certified pre-owned warranty? Here’s a 2023 Armada SL with 61,006 miles on the clock up for sale at a Nissan dealer in Texas for $36,883. That’s right, this thing’s only two years old.
However, if you’re willing to look at non-certified pre-owned examples, aren’t picky on trim, and don’t mind a bit more mileage, that’s where things get really cheap. How about a 2022 Armada SV with four-wheel-drive and 71,689 miles on the clock for $26,994? This black example’s listed for sale in Connecticut, and it’s physically an immense amount of car for the money.
Oh yeah, and things can get even cheaper from here if you’re okay with a pre-facelift model with higher mileage and a minor hit on the Carfax. This 2019 Armada SL Premium has 91,207 miles on the clock, and it’s up for sale in New Jersey for a mere $18,990. You likely aren’t getting an American full-size body-on-frame SUV this new for this cheap, making the Armada a serious deal.
So, if you need to tow something big and need a recent body-on-frame SUV for compact crossover money, why not take a 2018 or newer second-generation Nissan Armada for a spin? It’ll get you and your trailer where you need to go, and from where I’m sitting, it looks like a screaming deal.
[Hat-tip to Stephan!]
Top graphic credit: Nissan
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We’ve had our 2020 for 2 and a half years now, it’s been rock solid. It tows 5-6k lbs with ease, but you need to keep the relatively short wheelbase in mind. That means a 25 ft 2 axle camper is about the largest thing you want to tow long distance even if you’re well below 8500 lbs.
MPG is not great but it’s a heavy 4WD beast with a V8.
They have some common problems that are good to be aware of:
Overall 2017-2019 seem to have way more problems, 2020 and up are much better.
2021 had some fan clutch problems, I haven’t heard or seen anything about 2022-2024 models.
Drove a QX80 as rental a couple times. Liked the power and it was pretty comfy; preferred the Tahoe or Expedition in the class, but I’d take these over a Wagoneer.
I guess I’m getting old but paying 15k plus with that kind of mileage feels too expensive to me.
I lost hope 3 paragraphs in. Can we stop writing articles that take 4 paragraphs to get to the point?
This entire article (including a 107 word quote) is 850 words, half the length of a standard high school essay. Is your attention span so fried from social media that you can’t sit and read for a little longer and need everything fed to you ASAP?
Realiable? Anecdotally, I’d disagree.
Those I know who own one love them, but are constantly down for repairs.
So despite having replaced (all in less than 5 years) rear suspension airbags, charging system, shift linkages, countless batteries, and more – it starts to feel that it comes pretty close to this barge’s fuel consumption
These are a super popular caravan tow vehicle here in Australia.
Also, these have an independent rear suspension – not a solid axle.
My father’s Izuzu Axiom recently went to the scrapyard. Got anything with 4wd or awd in the that depreciated into the sub $4000 range?
My in-laws rented a ’22 Armada for a family trip over the holidays this past winter, and I ended up doing most of the driving. Here’s a forum thread I found at the time…yes, I was spending time on vacation trying to figure out what was wrong with the damn thing, and apparently it’s extremely common. When the clutch fan kicked on, it was loud as all get out, super sluggish, and gas mileage went way down, and over the course of a few days the problem went from intermittent to almost all the time.
There was also a constant clicking sound at highway speed from a piece of misaligned trim at the top of the windshield, but for all I know the windshield had been replaced. Anyway, my impression was not positive.
I am not one to defend the Armada, but please do not blame a windshield replacement on a manufacturer. I have had a wiper blade come loose, rust caused by their gasket cutting wires, and two instances of plastic cowling trim broken (and hidden both times). Last week my daughter was wondering why her windshield washers were no longer working (ironically a week after a windshield replacement). We were able to diagnose what they missed over a video call, fortunately. I hate to generalize, but windshield replacement technicians are generally mouth-breathers. I cannot pin their work on a specific model of car. Nor will I blame Infiniti for the cheapest Chinese tire the Avis could locate on my QX56.
I am not one to defend the Armada, but please do not blame a windshield replacement on a manufacturer. I have had a wiper blade come loose, rust caused by their gasket cutting wires, and two instances of plastic cowling trim broken (and hidden both times). Last week my daughter was wondering why her windshield washers were no longer working (ironically a week after a windshield replacement). We were able to diagnose what they missed over a video call, fortunately. I hate to generalize, but windshield replacement technicians are generally mouth-breathers. I cannot pin their work on a specific model of car. Nor will I blame Infiniti for the cheapest Chinese tires the Avis could locate on my QX56.
I suspect a windshield replacement, but had no way of knowing, and if that was the case of course I wouldn’t hold it against Nissan. Certainly they have a problem on their hands with the clutch fan issue, however.
This thing still had a mechanical fan clutch?
I hate these fucking things. I get them and their infiniti counterparts as rental cars way too often. Probably because Nissan can’t sell them to retail customers. If you want a great deal on a towing machine on a budget, look at a full size van. If you must have an SUV, the Durango is can tow as much and is a far better driver.
FYI – not a solid rear axle
Thank you for succumbing to my shameless Armada propaganda. They are magnificent stupid machines sold at sub-Outback prices with capabilities that give the segment a run for its money, and a look only a mother could love.
Compared to Tahoes, Yukons, and even the QX80 twin or fugly Wagoneer, these are downright rare near me. I’ve always heard good things about them, and they’re about as unpretentious as a large SUV can get. I’m happy with a minivan, but if I needed towing and light offroading, this is a sold choice.