The fleet has just gotten more powerful. Nissan’s high-performance arm has applied its expertise to the Armada SUV for the first time, creating the new Nissan Armada Nismo.
This gives the U.S.-market SUV one of the best versions that the Japanese automaker had been saving for the rest of the world.
Nissan US Finally Brings What the World Has Had for Years
Nissan first launched the Patrol Nismo in 2019. NISsan MOtorsports gave the Patrol a special hand-assembled V8 and a host of other cosmetic and suspension upgrades. But the U.S.-made Armada didn’t get Nismo treatment, probably because the U.S. and rest-of-world models were too far apart underneath.
But now the Armada at your U.S. Nissan dealer is nearly the same as the Patrol sold everywhere else. That means Nismo can do what it does best and make a more interesting version of the three-row SUV.
More Power From Highly Tuned V6
Forget about Pro-4X and its off-road capabilities; this one is about looking good and being faster on pavement. It starts with the twin-turbo 3.5L V6. It’s not hand-built like the old knife-sharp Nismo V8, but it does get a free-flowing exhaust for some extra noise. It also has a new engine tune and what Nissan calls “careful fine-tuning of valve clearances.”
The 460 horsepower of the Nissan Armada Nismo is 35 more than the rest of the line makes. It will need premium unleaded to make that power, though.
On the other hand, if you’re OK with the 16 mpg city and 19 highway figure, you probably don’t care. Torque, at 516 pound-feet, is unchanged.
Nismo Engineers Tuned Suspension for Handling
Nismo engineers have tuned the suspension and steering to better fit the more sporting character of the model. The changes include reworked power steering assist and alterations to the adaptive air suspension system for a more responsive feeling. The 22-inch wheels are all about looks, but they wear high-performance all-season tires for better on-pavement grip.
Then there is the bodywork. Nissan swaps the front and rear bumpers, the grille, side steps, and the rear spoiler with Nismo-designed parts. The narrow and tall grille helps make the Nissan Armada Nismo look more aggressive, while the new front lip and the side sills make this massive SUV look slammed even if the suspension isn’t any lower.
Loads of Red Inside
The cabin gets black seats with Nismo-design red quilted centers. There is more red, Nismo’s signature color, on almost every surface, including the center console and the dash. Those new seats have adjustable side bolsters to help keep the driver and front passenger in place when you’re taking it down a windy road.
Nissan Armada Nismo Arrives This Fall
Nissan made the Armada Nismo more powerful, and it made it look like an aftermarket tuner SUV, but it didn’t cut into the Armada’s capabilities. Every Armada, including the Nissan Armada Nismo, can tow up to 8,500 pounds. It can also hold up to 97.1 cubic feet of cargo, weighing up to 1,700 pounds.
The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo will hit dealers in the U.S. this fall. Nissan didn’t announce pricing, but expect it to fall between the $73,740 Pro-4X and the $76,990 Platinum Reserve.
