The 2019 Nissan Armada arrives in style. In the third year of its makeover, Nissan delivers a rock-solid, classy entry into the full-size SUV category. The Armada boasts four trim levels (with two models), with price points based on front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive designations.
Trim and Pricing
The basic level’s four-wheel drive upgrade costs a few extra thousand dollars, and every trim level above offers a similar upgrade price tag. The standard drive is a capable front-wheel drive system, but the four-wheel-drive configuration delivers impressive off-road abilities. The trim levels include the SV, the SL, the Platinum, and the Platinum Reserve.
This Nissan Armada is part of the generation introduced in 2017. The most significant change in the 2019 model is the forward collision mitigation feature and adaptive cruise control, both of which come standard in every Armada. From the base vehicle on up, this is a packed SUV. At the SV level, there are 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, LED low-beam headlights with integrated signatures, and automated emergency braking to get started.
Interior
The Armada offers an interior design that will grab and keep anyone’s attention. To understand what power really feels like, all someone has to do is touch the gas pedal. The Armada’s V8 engine puts a lot of gumption in the drive, too. Most people would never guess they were behind the wheel of an SUV.
Unique Engine
The powerful engine gives the 2019 Nissan Armada its unique advantage in the full-size SUV category. The 5.6-liter, DOHC, 32-valve V8 engine is incredibly strong, which makes towing capacity a real selling feature on this model. The towing capacity of 8,500 pounds pushes this Nissan up into the top of this category in terms of capability. It will tow everything needed to make summers fun and chore-filled autumns easy.
Even without a load to haul, the V8’s performance is impressive. Drivers will get 390 hp at 5800 rpm and 394 ft-lb of torque, so it’s quick off the mark and handles highway speeds with ease.
Compelling Interior
The Armada seats up to 8 passengers in comfort. There are over 95 cubic feet of space in cargo mode with the seats folded down. At the base SV level, Nissan has installed an eight-inch touchscreen with Nissan Connect and SiriusXM services available, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, push-button start, remote start, dual-zone climate control, power locks and doors, illuminated steering-wheel controls, sensing windshield wipers, power outlets, footwell lights, map lights in the front row, and reading lights in the second row.
The front row consists of a ten-way power driver’s seat with two-way lumbar support and an eight-way power passenger’s seat with two-way lumbar support. The first two-seat rows come in heated systems, and the front seats also offer climate control. Cloth seats come standard with a leather-appointed upgrade available, and a premium two-pointed leather-appointed cross-stitched option rounds off the best offering.
There’s also the option to get the second-row fold-down captain’s chairs that tip forward to allow easy to access the third-row seats. This package also includes the second-row padded center console with wood-tone trim. This would be an impressive addition for those traveling with passengers. With this level of interior styling, it’s no wonder the Armada’s price can push up into the $60,000 range. The base SV package starts at $47,100.
SV vs. SL
When pricing the Nissan Armada for 2019, potential buyers should consider how insignificant the price difference is between the SV and the SL. With the SL, there’s 20-inch wheels, a power liftgate, and an intelligent around-view camera view with the camera button on the touchscreen housing. The SL price starts at $51,900.
Platinum
It’s over an $8,000 jump to the Platinum level, but there’s a noticeable difference with the tri-zone entertainment system that puts two eight-inch touchscreens behind the headrests facing the second row; this way, kids will be entertained while drivers can adjust their own touchscreens. This makes the Platinum Armada the best family-friendly vehicle around. This level also includes intelligent lane intervention and more to make this trim level even more attractive.
Platinum Reserve
At the very top of the trim level, the Platinum Reserve level goes for the gold with incredible interior updates that push the Armada into true luxury territory. The best part? The Platinum reserve offers dark, chrome-clad aluminum alloy wheels, dark chrome grille and door handles, and two-tone leather-appointed seats with contrast stitching. The open-pore wood-tone and black quartz trim literally look hand-made, and the elegant Armada badging is a nice touch. For $63,000, interested individuals can get a beautiful SUV. It may be the best SUV on the market at this level. With the four-wheel drive upgrade, the price is just over $66,000.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of what anyone’s looking for in a full-size SUV in 2019, the Nissan Armada has earned a look. With its luxurious interior, powerful engine, significant safety and infotainment features, it out-performs many in its class.