2025 Nissan Armada Pro-4X Review

The 2025 Nissan Armada Pro-4X is the outdoor-oriented version of the automaker’s largest SUV, which was redesigned into an all-new generation for this model year.

While the rest of the lineup is more about luxury, while the Pro-4X, a designation also used on the Frontier pickup truck, adds features to better tackle the rougher stuff. It’s priced at $97,093 before tax but including freight ($2,095), making it a $10,000 proposition compared to the cheapest trim.

Styling 8 / 10

The Armada wears its boxy shape well thanks to its intriguing rear-pillar styling and well-integrated lights. The Pro-4X’s cues include Lava Red tow hooks and pillar accent, along with black exterior accents, LED fog lights, and all-terrain tires. Inside, the seats get red stitching and embroidered logos. The “1951” emblem on the console honours the year of Nissan’s inaugural Patrol off-roader.

Safety 9 / 10

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t yet rated the redesigned Armada at the time of this writing, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it the highest Top Safety Pick+ for 2025. That means it achieved the highest “Good” in all crash tests, including the update moderate front overlap that now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger, as well as to those in front. It also got top marks for its emergency front braking and child seat anchor ease-of-use, and next-step-down “Acceptable” for headlight performance.

Driver-assist features on all trims include emergency front and rear braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage, trailer back-up assist, and lane-keep assist. The standard wide-angle panoramic camera includes an “invisible hood” view of what’s under the front wheels, handy for parking curbs or what’s ahead on the trail. Adaptive cruise control is standard, but a hands-free version is only available on the top trim.

Features 9 / 10

All trims include tri-zone climate control, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, heated seats, power-folding third-row seats, and a wireless charger. The entry SL has a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen with Google Built-In and wireless connectivity, but my Pro-4X tester and up swap it for a 14.3-inch screen. The Pro-4X also adds heated second-row seats and ventilated front seats, although only upper trims have front-chair massage. Only the top Platinum Reserve offers second-row captain’s chairs, with all others getting a bench.

The Pro-4X exclusively adds those 20-inch all-terrain tires, along with an electronic locking rear differential, a better approach angle, and underbody skid plates. It and the Platinum Reserve include adaptive air suspension. On the Pro-4X and up, the front cameras create a dash cam that automatically records in the event of a collision.

User-Friendliness 9 / 10

The Armada’s buttons and switches are preferable to searching and tapping a screen for simple functions such as climate. I’m not quite as keen on the push-button gear selector, but getting into the off-road settings is easy, along with a dial for drive modes. It’s easy to tumble the second-row seats forward to access the third row. The squared-off cargo opening, with buttons to raise or lower the air suspension’s height, makes it easy to load items in.

Practicality 8 / 10

The Pro-4X may have off-road chops, but its sheer size, and the idea of scraping something this pricey against a tree branch, pretty much limits it to wide-open spaces. Its cargo capacity with the rear seats up trails its close rivals, but with all of them, you’re not going to pick up a full house at the airport and have room for all their luggage.

If that’s a regular occurrence, you’ll have to opt for one of the longer-length versions of models like the Ford Expedition or Jeep Wagoneer, since Nissan doesn’t offer one. The Armada’s towing capacity is 3,856 kg (8,500 lb), while rivals range from 3,447 to 4,354 kg (7,600 to 9,600 lb).

Comfort 8 / 10

The Armada’s seats are comfortable and supportive in the first- and second rows, and as is generally the case with three-row models, flatter in the third. Leg- and headroom are about average with its rivals. Tri-zone climate control is standard and the cabin is quiet, and it’s generally a nice place to be.

Power 8 / 10

All Armada trims are powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine making 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, and mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It has a great growl that sounds like eight cylinders, and it can sneak up to here’s-your-ticket speed before you realize it’s going that fast. However, it can be a bit twitchy under moderate acceleration, rather than entirely smooth and linear.

Driving Feel 8 / 10

The steering is smooth and well-weighted, and while it handles itself better than expected around a curve, the Armada nevertheless doesn’t let you forget just how big it is. The redesign gave it a new and stiffer frame, and the ride is generally smooth although it can wallow over uneven ground, especially with the all-terrain tires. It eats up highway miles effortlessly, but the adaptive cruise control can be a bit jerky when responding to other vehicles.

The Armada features full-time four-wheel drive that primarily powers the rear wheels, and brings the front ones onboard as needed. It also has high- and low-range gearing, both of which should only be used on loose surfaces; and for rougher stuff, the locking rear differential can be activated. The air suspension can be raised to 53 mm (2.1 in) above its standard ride height, or it automatically adjusts when off-road drive modes are selected.

Fuel Economy 8 / 10

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Armada Pro-4X at 15.7 L/100 km in the city, 12.9 on the highway, and 14.4 in combined driving; in contrast, other trims rate at 13.7 L/100 km combined. In my week with it, which involved mostly highway driving, I averaged 13.1 L/100 km. Premium-grade fuel is recommended although not required.

Among six-cylinder competitors, the Jeep Wagoneer rates at 12.5 L/100 km combined, and the Ford Expedition 13.3; while the Chevrolet Tahoe with its 5.3L V8 rates at 14.4 L/100 km. Even lower are the Toyota Sequoia at 11.7, but it’s exclusively a hybrid; and if you opt for the Tahoe’s diesel engine, it’s 10.7 L/100 km.

Value 7 / 10

While nothing in this segment is inexpensive, the Armada is at the upper edge. Its starting price of $87,093 before tax is at the higher end among body-on-frame rivals, where the Chevrolet Tahoe (with four-wheel drive) starts at $82,599, and only the Jeep Wagoneer tops it around $87,895. Comparing off-road-oriented trims, the Armada Pro-4X at $97,093 outguns the Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro at $88,815 and the Tahoe Z71 at $91,599, and only the Ford Expedition Tremor is more at $107,065 (all prices including delivery).

The Verdict

The aging Armada and its upscale Infiniti QX80 sibling were in need of a makeover and this one did it well, from its V8-to-V6 engine swap to its ride and handling and impressive interior. Is there really a need for an off-road version of it? That’s debatable, but for those who want their big-box SUV to have the ability, the 2025 Nissan Armada Pro-4X should be on the shopping list.