The 2018 Nissan Armada is basically an Infiniti QX80 with $20,000 lopped off its sticker price. The two trucks are exactly the same size, use the same chassis, suspension, engine, transmission and they look pretty much the same. If you want an Infiniti on a Nissan budget you’ll like the new Armada.
If you’re looking for the smoothest ride in the class, you may not like the 2018 Nissan Armada. Its suspension doesn’t soak up the urban landscape quite as well as the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia. While large enough for adults, the Armada’s 3rd-row legroom also lags behind the Expedition, Sequoia and the Chevy Suburban.
For 2018, the new Nissan Armada gets considerable infotainment upgrades, and it becomes the first truck in its class to offer a high-tech rearview mirror. The system uses a camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle and an LCD monitor built into the glass of the standard rearview mirror. Nissan calls it Intelligent Rear View Mirror, and it’s standard on the top Platinum trim level.
Nissan’s largest and most expensive SUV, the luxurious 2018 Nissan Armada is perfect for families looking for a full-size, 3-row SUV that seats eight passengers and has the power to tow up to 8,500 pounds. All-new just last year, the Armada is attractive, comfortable and with a starting price of around $47,000 it’s less expensive than a Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia. It also costs $22,000 less than the similar Infiniti QX80. Under the hood is a burly 390-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 that gives the Armada more power than the trucks from GM, Ford or Toyota. Three trim levels are available, SV, SL and Platinum. Every Armada gets a 7-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but Nissan offers 4-wheel drive with a low-range for an additional $2,900.
Used 2018 Nissan Armada pricing starts at $17,388 for the Armada SV Sport Utility 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $47,860 when new. The range-topping 2018 Armada Platinum Reserve Sport Utility 4D starts at $33,075 today, originally priced from $66,485.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$47,860 | $17,388 | |||
$52,620 | $19,180 | |||
$63,860 | $24,027 | |||
$66,485 | $33,075 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2018 Nissan Armada models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
With its spacious interior and big V8-horsepower, the 2018 Nissan Armada is a fantastic road-trip vehicle. On highways, this 3-row SUV is smooth and quiet and the driver’s seat is well shaped and firm enough to keep you well supported on long drives. Our test vehicle, a Nissan Armada Platinum, also featured a heated steering wheel and heated and cooled front seats and its navigation system was easy to program. Around town the Armada’s significant size makes it a handful to park, and some may find its steering heavy and its ride overly firm. Acceleration is strong and the rumble from the big V8’s exhaust is entertaining, but not loud enough to be intrusive or obnoxious. The 7-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive, and 4-wheel-drive models feature a low range for improved off-road performance. With its ample 9.1 inches of ground clearance the Armada isn’t exactly a Baja racer, but it’s surprisingly capable in the dirt.
With its abundance of wood trim and modern amenities the interior of the 2018 Nissan Armada is luxurious and comfortable. It’s built with precision. Fit/finish is excellent and all controls feel sturdy and substantial. The Nissan Armada SUV has three rows and seating for eight. Top-line Platinum models offer a pair of captain’s chairs and a center console in the second row, reducing seating capacity to seven. Room is generous in the first and second rows but tight in the third. The front seats are large and the Armada boasts a commanding view out front, but rearward visibility is limited. The center console features an 8-inch touch screen.
Rugged yet sophisticated, the Armada’s new design evokes the luxury-meets-utilitarian style of its Infiniti QX80 sibling and even some Range Rovers. There’s nothing small or dainty about this SUV, which can tip the scale at nearly three tons when equipped with all the trimmings. Base models roll on 18-inch wheels, while SL and Platinum Armada models go big with 20-inchers. This is Nissan’s largest SUV ever, but the Armada’s cohesive design hides that size well, with windows that appear to stretch nearly the length of the vehicle and strong bulging fenders. A smattering of chrome dresses its flanks without getting overly ornate, and sizable fender vents add a sporting flair.
INTELLIGENT AROUND VIEW MONITOR
Standard on the SL and Platinum trim levels, Nissan’s Intelligent Around View Monitor is like a rearview camera on steroids. It not only shows you what’s behind the SUV, but additional cameras on the side and front of the vehicle give you a bird’s-eye 360-degree view of the Armada and its surrounds.
SECOND-ROW CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS
A popular option on full-size SUVs like the 2018 Nissan Armada are 2nd-row captain’s chairs. Although they drop the truck’s seating capacity from eight to seven, the two individual seats are more comfortable than the 3-across bench and they really improve 3rd-row access. This is a very affordable option at just $450. Unfortunately, it’s available only on the top Platinum trim level.
The 2018 Nissan Armada full-size SUV is available in three trims: SV, SL and Platinum. A base SV model comes nicely equipped with dual-zone climate control, 8-inch infotainment system with navigation, 13-speaker Bose AM/FM/CD/USB/Satellite audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, rearview camera, power-adjustable front seats, and front/rear parking sensors. If you want some nicer amenities, especially leather seating, we recommend at least an SL model, which also includes Nissan’s handy Around View rearview-camera system, power liftgate, power-folding 3rd-row seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and remote keyless entry with 2-driver memory system, which is great for spouses who share the vehicle.
Stepping up to the Platinum Armada brings features that are optional on the SL, including moonroof, intelligent cruise control, blind-spot detection, backup-collision intervention, forward emergency braking and the Predictive Forward Collision Warning System. That top model also comes with lane-departure warning/prevention, heated and cooled front seats, heated 2nd-row seats and a rear-seat entertainment system with dual 7-inch displays, wireless headphones and DVD player. That model can also be had in the 7-passenger configuration. Four-wheel drive is offered on all three trims.
The 2018 Armada SUV is powered by Nissan’s big Endurance 5.6-liter V8. The engine puts out 390 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful standard engine in this class. The Armada comes standard in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) form, with 4-wheel drive (4WD) optional. This naturally aspirated (non-turbo) engine is quite thirsty, topping out at just 19 mpg for RWD models and 18 for 4WD variants. A 7-speed automatic transmission is standard. The 2018 Armada’s towing capacity is 8,500 pounds — more than the Sequoia’s 7,400, nearly matching that of the Chevy Tahoe, and less than the 9,200 pounds of the Ford Expedition, which uses a turbocharged V6.
5.6-liter V8
390 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
394 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg (RWD), 13/18 mpg (4WD)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 5576 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Total Interior | 154.5 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 26.0 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 40.9 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.9 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 8 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 9.1 inches | ||
Overall Length | 208.9 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 63.8 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 8500 lbs. | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 95.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 41.3 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 121.1 inches | ||
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 7300 lbs. |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | Available | ||
Privacy Glass | Available | ||
Roof Rails | Available | ||
LED Headlights | Available |
City | 14 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 19 mpg | ||
Combined | 16 mpg |
Drivetrain | 2WD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
7 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available | ||
Limited Slip Differential | Available |
Horsepower | 390 @ 5800 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 394 @ 4000 rpm | ||
Engine | V8, 5.6 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2018 Nissan Armada | Used 2018 Ford Expedition | Used 2018 Nissan Armada | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $18,388 | $21,874 | $18,388 | |
KBB.com Rating | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.1 | |
Consumer Rating | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.3 | |
Fuel Economy | City 14/Hwy 19/Comb 16 MPG | City 17/Hwy 22/Comb 19 MPG | City 14/Hwy 19/Comb 16 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | N/A | N/A | |
Safety Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 390 @ 5800 RPM | 375 @ 5000 RPM | 390 @ 5800 RPM | |
Engine | V8, 5.6 Liter | V6, EcoBoost, TT, 3.5L | V8, 5.6 Liter | |
Drivetrain | 2WD | 4WD | 2WD |
The 2024 Nissan Armada full size SUV looks much more expensive than the 2023 Nissan Armada. But the price change…
Nissan has recalled more than 400,000 vehicles because their steering-wheel-mounted emblems can detach and become projectiles in an accident. The…
Nissan’s largest SUV gets a modest price increase and Amazon Alexa Built-in (for all but the base model) for the…