2026 Nissan Armada Nismo Review

A track-themed full-size SUV might be the answer to a question no one asked, but here we are.

The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo gets more power, some other performance-related upgrades, and a unique look that advertises its new mojo in no uncertain terms. It also remains at its core a big, tough truck-based sport utility that will tow literal tonnes, carry lots of stuff, and transport as many as seven people in comfort.

Styling 9.5 / 10

The Armada Nismo could be fairly characterized as cartoonishly outrageous, and you can count this author among those who wholeheartedly embrace it. It’s bluff, it’s massive, and this grey tester in particular looks like an angry hippo in a red striped track suit. Or an evil locomotive lifted from some sort of dystopian future. And where do 22-inch rims look small? On the Armada Nismo when its air suspension sinks to a slammed stance at a standstill.

This boxy SUV is unquestionably massive, and it’s hard to keep a straight face when looking at its boy-racer front splitter, stripes, red brake calipers, spoilers, rear diffuser, and Nismo call-outs. It’s also a wonderful and brave distraction from the automotive norm. And yes, it gets lots of looks.

Safety 8.5 / 10

The massively high hoodline can hide short pedestrians when manoeuvring through the city. The Armada comes with a full suite of safety systems and driver aids, including the all-important surround-view cameras that are all but essential for a vehicle of this size. There’s also a so-called invisible hood view for seeing what’s happening around the front wheels, trailer coverage for the blind-spot monitoring system, and adaptive cruise control.

Practicality 9.5 / 10

When it comes to moving people and stuff or towing, the Armada falls in line with the usual suspects — think the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Ford Expedition. The Armada’s third row will accommodate two adults with little complaint, and even three in a pinch. There’s a capacious 578 L of space behind the rearmost set of seats, while stowing it — which is power operated, by the way — opens up 1,594 L.

With the second-row captain’s chairs folded, there’s a flat load floor suitable for a game of shuffleboard across 2,750 L. Meanwhile, storage up front includes large door pockets with bottle holders, a generous covered bin between the seats, and space under the centre console.

With its integrated trailer brake controller, the Armada Nismo is rated to pull 3,856 kg (8,500 lb). That’s more than enough for a dedicated track car inside an enclosed trailer.

User-Friendliness 8 / 10

Standard running boards integrated into the gnarly side skirts help with ingress and egress, and once seated, occupants up front get a useful array of physical controls for HVAC and audio functions. The eight dedicated Nismo-tuned drive modes are selected via a large rotary controller on the dash. Gear selection is handled by a row of buttons. It’s a straightforward system and quickly becomes second nature, although it’s not as intuitive as a conventional lever or even rotary controller. There are also buttons for the transfer case that can be used to select the four-wheel-drive system’s high- and low-range gearing, or its automatic setting.

The button for the cameras is high on the dash, and it calls up clear views including a 360-degree look around the Armada’s gargantuan proportions. Entry to the spacious third row is easy — simply pull a lever on top of either second-row seat and it effortlessly flips up and slides forward.

Features 8 / 10

The fact that there are no options available (other than paint colour) indicates how fully kitted the Armada Nismo comes. Dual 14.3-inch displays sweep across the dash, with a Google back end plus integrated maps and assistant. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless, and the 12-speaker stereo is quite good. Standard is a panoramic sunroof, but the red-trimmed seats sacrifice ventilation in exchange for their sporty look.

Power 8.5 / 10

The regular Armada’s twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 gets a 35-hp boost for a total of 460, while torque remains at 516 lb-ft. It’s hooked up to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This V6 isn’t as sonorous as a V8, but there is some ear candy pumped in through the sound system, giving this pressurized V6 a warm rumble under normal operating conditions and a meaningful growl when your foot meets the floor. The engine does a fine job of giving this behemoth some serious pace.

Comfort 8.5 / 10

Despite looking like a plus-sized tuner car, the Armada Nismo is comfortable in any mode. Standard air suspension and adaptive damping deliver a smooth, quiet, and controlled ride, while the sportiest setting is arguably the best for eliminating some float and head toss. The 12-way adjustable front sport seats are terrific, providing a perfect blend of snug support and comfort. The red suede inserts will keep you from sliding around while also not freezing your backside when hopping in on a frigid winter morning. But what you’re giving up with these racy seats are ventilation and massage — a hard pill to swallow in an SUV that costs upwards of $100,000. The second-row heated captain’s chairs are similarly well contoured.

Driving Feel 8.5 / 10

With its extra power and Nismo-tuned steering and suspension, this Armada acquits itself quite well for such a big beast. Held in place by the snug seats, it feels quite sporty from behind the wheel. The steering is accurate, quick, and has a natural heft, and body control is surprisingly good when buttoned down in its “race” drive mode.

Cleverly, though, Nissan hasn’t turned the Armada Nismo into a kidney-busting ride. It remains quiet and compliant. You won’t be playing with the paddle shifters as the response is tardy. The nine-speed auto is busy at times, too, hunting between gears even in normal mode. Just brushing the throttle at highway speeds has the transmission dropping down a gear — pretty much the opposite of most modern transmissions that are loath to downshift in the quest for fuel economy.

After a significant snowfall, the Armada Nismo — riding here on 22-inch winter tires — had no problem negotiating slippery streets. As an added bonus in such conditions, that big front splitter might even double as a pseudo-snow plow with the suspension dropped. (Relax, Nissan — I didn’t try it.)

Fuel Economy 6.5 / 10

On the required premium-grade gas, the Armada Nismo is rated at 14.7 L/100 km in the city, 12.4 on the highway, and 13.7 combined. My wintry week of mostly gentle use concluded at 14.0.

Value 7 / 10

With 2026 Armada models ranging in price from the $85,498 SL to the $106,598 Platinum Reserve and its optional captain’s chairs, the Nismo sits closer to the top of the pack at $103,498. It’s also subject to the federal luxury tax, while freight adds $2,095 to each trim.

Are there any direct competitors to this 460-hp tuner-wannabe? Not really. The Cadillac Escalade V with its supercharged V8 pumping out 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque is an altogether more serious piece of kit for roughly double the price of Armada Nismo.

The Verdict

The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo spun more heads during this test than any vehicle in recent memory. And how can you not love a slammed toolshed with red stripes and ground effects? (Actually, ask my wife and she’ll give you a torrent of reasons.)

Yes, the Armada Nismo is mighty polarizing, yet it’s lovable because it’s just so nutty to look at and surprisingly pleasant to drive. One could argue all Armada trims could benefit from the chassis and steering tuning applied here. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely you’ll be seeing many on the road, but kudos to Nissan for fashioning this wacky niche behemoth.