The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo is a big, bold SUV that is tuned by the same people who built the legendary GT-Rs that can rip your face off. So is this family focused SUV the same?
Performance
Engine – The Armada Nismo does receive more power than the regular versions of this SUV. The 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 now produces 460 hp (343 kW) but torque remains the same at 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). This 3-row SUV is heavy at around 2.7 tonnes but it gets up to speed very quickly. Much more so than an SUV of this heft ought to. Power comes on smooth, torque arrives early, and by the time you realize what’s happening, you’re already breaking several traffic laws. Nismo’s engineers gave it a tuned exhaust system but the sounds that you hear inside the cabin are synthesized by the stereo system. Exhaust noise from outside of the car is muted.
Fuel Economy – So, not only may you break some speed laws but you may also break the bank because this is a thirsty SUV. Officially it’s rated for 14.7 L/100km (16 MPG) in a city and 12.4 L/100km (19 MPG) on a highway. But even with quite a bit of highway driving, I’ve only managed 15 L/100km (15.6 MPG).
Transmission – This V6 is paired with a 9-speed automatic that provides smooth shifts… most of the time. I say most of the time because this has the same odd characteristic as the other Armada I’ve driven before and the QX80. At speeds of around 30 km/h or so, the transmission doesn’t know what it wants to do. Stick with one gear or upshift or downshift. This makes for some jerky motions. But at higher speeds, all is well.
Braking – With the slight bump in power, you’d expect the Armada Nismo to receive bigger or more capable brakes. But no. It uses the same brakes (only with red calipers) as the regular versions of the Armada which are not exactly big to begin with. These look even smaller behind the 22-inch Nismo wheels. Under repeated heavy braking, you’ll be smelling those pads like your grandma’s cooking… just not as sweet of a smell.
Handling – Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. This new generation of Armada feels competent around turns. Obviously it’s not something you’d want to drive quickly around the Nurburgring or a tight, twisty mountain road. But it feels stable through turns with just a bit of body roll through corners. This Nismo version doesn’t see very many upgrades over the regular Armada trims. It gets slightly retuned steering and that’s about it. Should you need to tow something, the Nissan Armada Nismo can handle up to 8,500 lbs.
Like other versions of the Armada, this Nismo retains the air suspension. It has a few different ride height modes but the driver doesn’t have as much control over them as in other SUVs with air suspension. For example, the ride can be raised to a maximum height with a push of a button. But the ride cannot be lowered unless the SUV is in “Park” with the engine running and the doors closed. If either parameter is changed, the ride height remains at whatever position it is at. So, you cannot lower the QX80 while entering a low ceiling parking garage for example.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Despite the, somewhat, performance upgrades, the 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo is still a very comfortable family SUV. The air suspension effectively absorbs them without making the SUV feel like a boat. Road undulations do very little to upset the ride of the Nismo.
On top of that, the seats are like La-Z-Boys but with bigger bolsters. You sink into the seats and they provide ample support for your back, legs, and bum. Additionally, they do provide a massage function but realistically, it’s just the power lumbar that adjusts. It’s not as advanced as the massaging seats in the Acura MDX Type-S.
Interior Space – The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo is not quite as big as some of its American competitors such as the GMC Yukon. Even so, it provides more than enough space for taller individuals in the first two rows of seats. For my height of 6’4”, I found plenty of space in the front seats and in the 2nd row captain’s chairs behind my tall driving position. The 3rd row does allow for 3 adults but I presume they have to be under 6’ tall to comfortably sit back there. Legroom is a little tight for me as is headroom unless I fully recline the 3rd row seat.
Behind the 3rd row, the Armada has 578 L (20.4 cu-ft) of cargo space. There is a little cubby underneath the trunk floor for small items and there are controls to drop or raise the power operated 3rd row seats, fold the 2nd row seats, and raise or lower the rear height of the SUV. With the 3rd row folded, there are 1,594 L (56.3 cu-ft) of cargo space and with the 2nd row folded, cargo capacity increases to 2,750 L (97.1 cu-ft). There is a spare wheel underneath the Armada Nismo.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the 2026 Armada Nismo is quiet and serene, for the most part. In city traffic or highway drives, the engine is quiet and smooth, there’s almost no wind noise, and tire noise is minimal. It’s only when accelerating more aggressively or when driving up a steep hill do you hear the engine noise.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The cost? It’s quite a bit. The Nismo Armada is almost $104,000 CAD ($79,530 USD) but that’s without fees & taxes or dealership markups. I know, that is a lot of money but it is in the same ballpark as a GMC Yukon Denali or Ford Expedition King Ranch, and those don’t have the same cool factor as this.
Gadgets – The Armada Nismo comes equipped with just the right amount of gadgets. There’s heated front seats along with a heated steering wheel, a massaging function for the front seats (but it’s really just the lumbar moving), power folding 3rd row, suede upholstery, 3-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, 12-speaker Klipsch audio system, wireless phone charging pad, and wireless CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity.
Speaking of connectivity, the infotainment system is fairly intuitive to use. The main screen allows for a small degree of customization with different widgets being available to choose from. The submenus are reminiscent of older Nissan infotainment systems but they work just fine. You do have the option of not using the touchscreen and instead relying on a few buttons and scroll wheel on the right side of the steering wheel. But this is very frustrating to use.
Interior Design – The Nismo version has an identical design to other trims of the Armada apart from the unique Nismo upholstered seats. But the cabin has physical controls for the most commonly used functions that don’t look too tacky. There are quite a number of Nismo badges throughout the interior but I don’t think that it’s overdone. The materials are soft to the touch with leather covering most parts of the cabin apart from the lower portions which are just hard plastic.
Exterior Design – At first glance, it’s unmistakably an Armada with its muscular proportions and massive size, but this Nismo model gets the motorsport treatment. There’s a black roof and pillars, red accents on every side of the SUV, a unique aero package, more Nismo badges than you have fingers, and a new grille that looks like the side of a sheer cliff. And then there’s the stance. It comes with air suspension, just like other Armada trims, but with the aero package, it looks slammed to the ground when it’s in the lowest setting. If Need For Speed Underground 2 was the hot new game right now, this would be on the cover of it.
Safety – The 2026 Nissan Armada comes equipped with every safety & driver aids available on this large SUV except for ProPilot 2.1, surround view cameras, and the built-in dashcams. Everything else, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keep, blind spot sensors, and so on, are standard across all trims.
Warranty – The 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle basic warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty,click here. For USA warranty,click here.
Conclusion – Big SUVs are everywhere now, but few have character. The Nissan Armada Nismo has it by the bucket load. It looks like no other big SUV on the roads but at the same time, it’s one of the most polarizing SUVs out there. It’s such an outlandish look that the average Nissan buyer may not understand it. I personally think it tarnishes the Nismo name a little bit. The Nismo versions of the GT-R and the Z both have significant performance upgrades to go with their sportier looks. But this just has the looks. It’s great if you want to live out your Fast & Furious fantasies but I want a bit more substance underneath to go with that 6-figure price tag.
Thank you to Nissan Canada for providing the Armada Nismo. www.Nissan.ca
2026 Nissan Armada Nismo Gallery
