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2023 Nissan Armada
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The Nissan Armada was resigned in 2021, no major changes for the 2023 model.
- Ultra-Comfortable Leather Seats: The seats are incredibly plush and soft — easily some of the most comfortable in the segment. For long road trips, daily school drop-offs, or carpool duty, that comfort factor really stands out.
- Strong V8 Power & 8,500 lb Towing Capacity: The Armada comes with a V8 engine that delivers confident acceleration and serious towing capability (up to 8,500 lbs). If you’re towing a boat, camper, or trailer, this is a major strength.
The Exterior
The Nissan Armada received a facelift in 2021. The redesigned grille and headlights give the Armada a much more current, polished look. From the side, it still carries the same bold, truck-based profile — which makes sense because it’s built like one.
If you’re thinking it looks a lot like the Infiniti QX80, you’re right. Nissan owns Infiniti, and these two vehicles are extremely similar under the skin. Think of the Armada as the more practical sibling — same bones, lower price tag.
In the back, you’ll find refreshed wraparound taillights, updated badging, and some tasteful chrome accents. Overall? I genuinely like how it looks now. It feels competitive again in the full-size SUV space.
First Row
The biggest glow-up happened inside.
My number one complaint about the outgoing Armada? No Apple CarPlay in a $60,000 SUV. That’s wild. Thankfully, 2021 fixes that.
We now get:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Redesigned dashboard
- Updated center stack
- Wireless charging pad
- USB-A, USB-C, and 12V outlets
The layout looks sleek and modern. Gloss black accents, clean climate controls, and updated tech make a huge difference. Nissan’s infotainment graphics still lean a little dated (goodbye, orange tones), but with Apple CarPlay, I’d barely use the native system anyway.
Seat Comfort
These may be some of the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat in. The leather is incredibly soft and plush — almost luxury-level soft. That said… it’s so smooth that it shows everything. Dust, crumbs, little scratches — it’s noticeable.
From the driver’s seat, visibility is solid for such a large SUV. You sit high, and the V8 gives you plenty of confidence merging or accelerating.
Driving Experience & Capability
Under the hood, you’ve got a V8 engine. That means:
- Strong acceleration
- Up to 8,500 lbs towing capacity
- 15 MPG combined (13 city / 18 highway)
It absolutely drives like a truck — but if you’re shopping full-size SUVs, that likely won’t surprise you. The power is impressive. Gas mileage? Not so much.
Second Row
Second Row & Car Seat Setup
For my tour, I tested the bench seat configuration (captain’s chairs are available).
Here’s what families need to know:
- Two sets of lower anchors (outboard seats)
- Three tether anchors
- Removable headrests (important!)
- Ceiling vents (great for rear-facing kiddos)
- USB-A, USB-C, and 12V outlets
The headrests are thicker than average. When installing my Graco Extend2Fit forward-facing seat, I had to remove the headrest to get a proper install — but thankfully they are removable.
Space-wise, there’s good legroom (I’m about six feet tall), but the doors don’t open quite as wide as I’d hoped. It’s manageable just not class-leading.
Third Row
Third Row: Tight for Adults
Let’s talk honestly about the third row.
- No sliding second row for added space
- No car-seat-friendly tilt
- Three-seat bench back there (tight!)
- One tether anchor
- No USB ports
- Good cup holders & ceiling vents
As a six-foot adult, I was not comfortable back there. Knees pressed forward. Headrest pushing into my back. And because the second row doesn’t slide, you’re stuck with the space you get.
This feels like a better setup for older kids rather than families juggling multiple car seats daily.
Trunk
Cargo Space
With the third row up, I tested an UPPAbaby Vista stroller — and it fit! That’s a win.
With the third row folded, you get excellent cargo space. However, you do have to manually pull straps and adjust headrests to fold it down. It’s not the most convenient system, but it works.
Safety
The 2023 Nissan Armada holds a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a 5-star side crash rating but only 3 stars for frontal crash and rollover resistance. It comes standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.
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