Upcoming Armada NISMO

Alright everyone, who else saw the official announcement for the new Armada NISMO? I am SOLD. I’ve been waiting for Nissan to do something like this for years. The regular Armada was already on my radar after the redesign, but a NISMO version? Take my money now!

They’re saying it’s going to have a tweaked version of the new twin-turbo V6, pushing out 460 horsepower. Plus, it gets a sport-tuned suspension, bigger brakes, and that aggressive body kit with the red accents looks mean in the best way possible. The interior shots with the NISMO seats look incredible too.

I’ve had a Pathfinder for years and have been ready to move up to something bigger for the family, but I didn’t want to give up the fun-to-drive factor. This seems like the perfect solution. A three-row SUV that can still put a smile on my face on a back road. The dealership said they’re expecting them to start arriving this fall. The wait is going to be tough!

ArmadaBound said:

Alright everyone, who else saw the official announcement for the new Armada NISMO? I am SOLD. I’ve been waiting for Nissan to do something like this for years. The regular Armada was already on my radar after the redesign, but a NISMO version? Take my money now!

They’re saying it’s going to have a tweaked version of the new twin-turbo V6, pushing out 460 horsepower. Plus, it gets a sport-tuned suspension, bigger brakes, and that aggressive body kit with the red accents looks mean in the best way possible. The interior shots with the NISMO seats look incredible too.

I’ve had a Pathfinder for years and have been ready to move up to something bigger for the family, but I didn’t want to give up the fun-to-drive factor. This seems like the perfect solution. A three-row SUV that can still put a smile on my face on a back road. The dealership said they’re expecting them to start arriving this fall. The wait is going to be tough!

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Not going to lie, the Armada NISMO has definitely caught my attention. That’s a serious power bump, and the styling is on point. I’m in the market for a new large SUV, and I was pretty much set on the Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro. Now, I’m not so sure.

The Sequoia’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain is a huge draw for me. You get 437 horsepower but a massive 583 lb-ft of torque, which is incredible for towing. The TRD Pro comes standard with all the off-road goodies too – FOX shocks, skid plates, locking rear diff. It’s a proven beast off-road.

But, the Armada NISMO is making me think. Do I value the on-road performance and sportier handling of the NISMO over the Sequoia’s outright off-road prowess and hybrid efficiency? The Armada will likely handle better on pavement with its independent rear suspension, which is where it will be 95% of the time. The Sequoia still uses a solid rear axle, which is great for articulation but can be a bit rougher on the daily commute.

The estimated price for the NISMO seems to be in the low-to-mid $70k range, while the Sequoia TRD Pro is already knocking on the door of $80k+. That price difference could pay for a lot of gas, even with the Sequoia’s better MPG. Decisions, decisions.

This is an interesting development from Nissan. I’ve been on the list for a new 2025 Infiniti QX80, specifically the Autograph trim. The new QX80 is a work of art inside and out, and the tech is just phenomenal. But seeing the specs on the Armada NISMO gives me pause.

The QX80’s twin-turbo V6 makes 450 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, so the NISMO actually edges it out slightly on horsepower. What’s really making me think are the NISMO-specific enhancements. You’re getting performance-tuned suspension, brakes, and a more aggressive look for what I assume will be significantly less than the $110,000+ price tag of the QX80 Autograph.

Obviously, the QX80’s interior is on another level in terms of materials and luxury features like the Klipsch sound system and ProPILOT Assist 2.1. But, the NISMO’s interior with the sport seats and red stitching doesn’t look like a huge step down from the lower QX80 trims.

I need to see them in person. Is the extra layer of premium materials and the Infiniti badge worth the substantial price premium over a top-of-the-line, performance-oriented Armada that shares the same basic platform and a more powerful engine? For the first time, I’m actually considering a Nissan over an Infiniti. It feels like you’re getting 90% of the performance and a unique, sporty character for a lot less cash. I’m very torn.

TrailHybrid said:

The estimated price for the NISMO seems to be in the low-to-mid $70k range, while the Sequoia TRD Pro is already knocking on the door of $80k+. That price difference could pay for a lot of gas, even with the Sequoia’s better MPG. Decisions, decisions.

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That’s a great point. The reliability of Toyota’s hybrid systems is well-known, but for that price difference, the NISMO seems like a bargain for the performance you’re getting. Plus, I’ve read the third row in the new Sequoia is a bit compromised because of the battery placement. For a family hauler, that’s a big deal.

QX_Luxury said:

Is the extra layer of premium materials and the Infiniti badge worth the substantial price premium over a top-of-the-line, performance-oriented Armada that shares the same basic platform and a more powerful engine?

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This is exactly why I’m so excited about the NISMO. It feels like a smart buy. You get the best performance parts from Nissan’s go-fast division without the full luxury price tag. I appreciate nice materials, but the thrill of that extra horsepower and tighter handling is where the real value is for me. I can’t wait to test drive one.

ArmadaBound said:

That’s a great point. The reliability of Toyota’s hybrid systems is well-known, but for that price difference, the NISMO seems like a bargain for the performance you’re getting. Plus, I’ve read the third row in the new Sequoia is a bit compromised because of the battery placement. For a family hauler, that’s a big deal.

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You're spot on about the third row in the Sequoia. It's definitely tighter than the competition because the floor is higher to accommodate the hybrid battery pack. That's a definite minus for me, as we use the third row regularly for kids' carpools.

My biggest hesitation with the NISMO is the brand-new engine. It's an unproven platform. Nissan is deriving it from the GT-R's V6, which is legendary, but this is a different application in a heavy SUV. Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX has been in the Tundra for a couple of years now, so they've had some time to work out the initial kinks. Long-term reliability is a huge factor for me when dropping this kind of money. Still, that on-road performance of the NISMO is so tempting.

I did a little more digging. The Armada NISMO will get the same 12-speaker Klipsch sound system as the standard Armada Platinum, but the QX80 Sensory and Autograph trims get a 24-speaker Klipsch Reference Premier system. The QX80 also has features like Biometric Cooling that automatically adjusts the climate based on the sun's position and passenger body temperature, which you won't find on the Armada.

Are those features worth a $30,000+ price difference? Probably not to most people. But the more I think about it, the more the Armada NISMO feels like a "performance halo" for the Armada line, while the QX80 is a "luxury halo." The NISMO is for the person who wants the absolute best performance Nissan can offer in an SUV. The QX80 is for the person who wants the most luxurious experience.

I'm starting to lean back towards the QX80. While the performance of the NISMO is appealing, the everyday quietness, upgraded materials, and advanced tech features of the Infiniti are what I think I'd appreciate more in the long run.

Am I the only one who's going to miss the V8?

I've got a 2022 Armada Platinum and that 5.6L V8 is a masterpiece. It's smooth, sounds incredible, and has been absolutely bulletproof. Now everyone is so excited about these complicated twin-turbo V6s. Call me old-school, but there's no replacement for displacement.

I'm seeing 460 horsepower, which is great, but at what cost? More complexity, more potential failure points, and you lose that classic V8 rumble. I bet that new V6 sounds like a vacuum cleaner compared to the current engine. I understand emissions and fuel economy are important, but these are 6,000-pound trucks, they're never going to be Priuses.

I'll be keeping my V8 Armada for the foreseeable future. I'm not convinced this new generation, especially with a performance badge like NISMO, will have the same soul as the V8 models. Prove me wrong.

V8_Loyalist said:

Am I the only one who's going to miss the V8?

Call me old-school, but there's no replacement for displacement.

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I totally get where you're coming from. The 5.6L is a legendary engine, no doubt about it. But I think you're selling the new twin-turbo short. The torque figures are massive (516 lb-ft!), and it's available much lower in the rev range than the V8. That's going to make the new Armada feel much quicker off the line and when passing on the highway.

It's the way the whole industry is going. Ford has had huge success with their EcoBoost V6s in the F-150 and Expedition for years. It's not just about emissions; it's about usable, everyday power. Plus, the NISMO version is going to have a sport-tuned exhaust, so I'm optimistic it'll still sound pretty good, even if it's a different kind of sound. I'll take modern performance and technology over old-school nostalgia any day. This isn't just a new engine; it's a step into the future for Nissan's big SUVs.

ArmadaBound said:

I'll take modern performance and technology over old-school nostalgia any day. This isn't just a new engine; it's a step into the future for Nissan's big SUVs.

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I hear you, but that "future" often comes with unforeseen headaches. And let's talk about real-world MPG. My V8 gets predictable mileage. With these twin-turbos, your fuel economy plummets the second you get into the boost, which, in a performance version like the NISMO, will be often. I have a feeling the real-world difference between the new V6 and my V8 will be negligible, but my engine will be far less stressed.

Also, what’s the tow rating on this thing? My '22 is rated for 8,500 lbs and it pulls my boat without breaking a sweat. All that new tech doesn't mean much if the fundamental capability goes down.

V8_Loyalist said:

Also, what’s the tow rating on this thing?

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That's the million-dollar question for me. The Sequoia TRD Pro can tow up to 9,520 lbs and comes with a fantastic integrated brake controller and tow-tech package. It's a known quantity. We don't have official numbers for the NISMO yet, but the standard '25 Armada is expected to be in the same 8,500 lb ballpark. For me, that's a 1,000 lb advantage for the Toyota.

And this brings up resale value. I know for a fact I could buy a Sequoia TRD Pro today and likely sell it in three years for 80-85% of what I paid. It's insane. Nissans historically don't hold their value as well. Even a special edition like a NISMO is a gamble. Will it be a future classic or just another used Nissan? That financial risk is a major factor in the Sequoia's favor.

TrailHybrid brings up a sore subject that I've been thinking about: the dealership experience. I've already spoken with my Infiniti dealer about the QX80. The process is professional, transparent, and while there's no discount, there's also no talk of a ridiculous markup.

I'm genuinely afraid to walk into a Nissan dealership to ask about a limited-run performance model. The stories you hear about $10k, $15k, or even $20k "market adjustments" on things like the Z NISMO are terrifying. If the Armada NISMO has an MSRP in the mid-$70k range but is selling for $90k, its entire value proposition collapses. At that point, the authentically premium QX80 becomes the much smarter buy. The brand's reputation for a better customer experience is part of what you pay for.

The markup argument is real, I'll give you that, QX_Luxury. It's going to take some work to find a dealer that honors MSRP, but they're out there.

On the resale front, TrailHybrid, I think the NISMO could be different. It’s not a standard Armada. This is a top-tier performance model with a direct lineage to the GT-R's engine tech. I think it will be a halo vehicle that holds its value far better than a standard Platinum trim, appealing to a different kind of enthusiast.

And V8_Loyalist, I'm confident the capability will be there. The new chassis is said to be 50% stiffer. That, combined with the NISMO-tuned suspension and massive low-end torque from the turbos, should make it an incredibly stable and confident towing platform, even if the max number is the same. It’s the quality of the towing experience that matters, not just the number.