The first-ever 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo is Japan's Godzilla of SUVs

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Here's our first look at the incredible Nismo-powered 2026 Nissan Patrol / Armada Nismo. More power, aero, seats, suspension, and more make this the godzilla of SUVs from Japan.
 
Nissan Armada Nismo Forum said:
Here's our first look at the incredible Nismo-powered 2026 Nissan Patrol / Armada Nismo. More power, aero, seats, suspension, and more make this the godzilla of SUVs from Japan.
Click to expand...
Some key takeaways from this video. The presenter confirms the engine has unique tuning for the NISMO, giving it 460hp. He says the power is sustained all the way to redline, which is different from the other trims. The 22-inch forged wheels are apparently 5kg lighter each. The video claims this improves braking even though the core braking system is the same. He mentions the air suspension and adaptive dampers are specifically tuned by NISMO to reduce nose-dive and improve stability. We get a good look at the 360-degree camera's "invisible hood" feature. It stitches together an image of the ground underneath the front of the vehicle. There's lots of shots of the red stitching, carbon fiber-style trim, and the NISMO logos on all the headrests front and rear. It's a very positive, almost "hype" video, but it's a great look at the actual details.
 
Thanks for sharing. Just watched it. A few things stand out to me, and not in a good way. First, "enhanced engine sound" played through the speakers? That's just fake noise. My V8 makes a real sound because it's a real V8. I don't need my speakers to pretend for me. Second, he makes a big deal about the "Takumi craftsmanship". What does that even mean on a mass-produced SUV? It feels like marketing fluff to justify the price tag. I'll give them credit for the lighter wheels, that's real engineering. But the rest just feels like a styling package with an ECU tune.
 
Nissan Armada Nismo Forum said:
Here's our first look at the incredible Nismo-powered 2026 Nissan Patrol / Armada Nismo. More power, aero, seats, suspension, and more make this the godzilla of SUVs from Japan.
Click to expand...
Good find! I have a technical question for the group after watching this. The video says the NISMO has "changed valve clearances" to get the extra horsepower. As someone who does his own maintenance, that makes me a little nervous. Does that mean this engine will require more frequent or specialized valve adjustments down the road compared to the standard version? Is that a common thing on other high-performance twin-turbo V6s?

That's the kind of long-term ownership cost that doesn't show up in a review. It looks great now, but I'm curious about what it will be like to own at 100,000 miles.
 
Nissan Armada Nismo Forum said:
Here's our first look at the incredible Nismo-powered 2026 Nissan Patrol / Armada Nismo. More power, aero, seats, suspension, and more make this the godzilla of SUVs from Japan.
Click to expand...
Interesting video. It's well-produced, but as V8_Loyalist pointed out, it's a marketing piece, not a critical review.

The "invisible hood" technology is a good example. It's a useful feature, certainly. Land Rover has had their "ClearSight Ground View" for years, and it functions identically. The presentation in the video makes it seem like a revolutionary Nissan innovation, when in reality, they are implementing a feature that has become common in the premium off-road space.

The same goes for the lighter wheels improving braking performance. This is basic automotive physics—reducing unsprung mass always improves handling dynamics and allows the suspension and brakes to work more effectively. It is a genuine engineering benefit, but it is not new or unique to NISMO. It's good to see Nissan adopting these principles, but one should not mistake it for groundbreaking engineering.
 
I think some of you are being way too cynical. Who cares if the tech isn't brand new to the entire automotive industry? It's new to the Armada, and it's being offered in a comprehensive performance package that the competition (ahem, Toyota) doesn't have.

@V8_Loyalist, the enhanced engine sound is a common feature in almost every modern performance car with a V6. My buddy's new Audi S5 does it. It's a way to give the driver an engaging experience while keeping the exterior noise at a reasonable level. I'd rather have that than a loud, droning exhaust on the highway.

@DIY_Dad, that's a fair question about the valve clearances. But this is a NISMO product, not a standard commuter car. It's built for higher performance, and with that comes a different maintenance expectation. People who buy a Porsche 911 GT3 understand it requires a different level of care than a base 911. The same principle applies here. It's part of the trade-off for getting a factory-warrantied, 460-horsepower V6 that can sustain power to redline. I, for one, am perfectly fine with that.
 
Nissan Armada Nismo Forum said:
Here's our first look at the incredible Nismo-powered 2026 Nissan Patrol / Armada Nismo. More power, aero, seats, suspension, and more make this the godzilla of SUVs from Japan.
Click to expand...
The video highlights the exact distinction I've been trying to make. The Armada NISMO is a collection of sporty features. Red stitching, carbon-look trim, red seatbelts... these are aesthetic choices designed to create a "sporty" feeling.

A true luxury vehicle, like the QX80, focuses on the inherent quality of the materials themselves. It's not about adding red accents; it's about the grade of the semi-aniline leather, the texture of the open-pore wood trim, and the solid, tactile feel of the metal switchgear.

The NISMO is an excellent package for the price, I have no doubt. But the video makes it clear that its "premium" features are primarily stylistic. The luxury of the QX80, in contrast, is fundamentally embedded in the materials and the engineering.
 
QX_Luxury said:
The video highlights the exact distinction I've been trying to make. The Armada NISMO is a collection of sporty features. Red stitching, carbon-look trim, red seatbelts... these are aesthetic choices designed to create a "sporty" feeling.

A true luxury vehicle, like the QX80, focuses on the inherent quality of the materials themselves. It's not about adding red accents; it's about the grade of the semi-aniline leather, the texture of the open-pore wood trim, and the solid, tactile feel of the metal switchgear.

The NISMO is an excellent package for the price, I have no doubt. But the video makes it clear that its "premium" features are primarily stylistic. The luxury of the QX80, in contrast, is fundamentally embedded in the materials and the engineering.
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I created this topic just for you:
ArmadaBound

Thread 'What if Infiniti made a QX80 "Red Sport" or "IPL"?'

Okay, this is something I've been thinking about, especially after the last few conversations.

@QX_Luxury, you made the point that the Armada NISMO is a collection of "sporty features" rather than a true luxury-performance vehicle. That got me wondering: what would a true, no-compromises performance version of the QX80 look like to you? Infiniti has played with performance brands before, like "IPL" and the current "Red Sport." So what would a hypothetical QX80 Red Sport need to have to earn your respect as a legitimate contender, not just a features package?

I'm talking...
 
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