The Nissan Armada Nismo Is The Most Ridiculous Truck on Sale — and I Love It

The Nissan Armada is a hulking SUV primarily designed to haul up to eight passengers and 8,500-pound trailers. It is built on a sturdy truck frame and matches up against the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia at a starting price of $60,085.It has a powerful twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and can be equipped with a true 4×4 system. Most Armadas are outfitted for the street, but a Pro-4X model is offered with all-terrain tires and other upgrades that make it suitable for serious off-roading. That is expected in this segment, where rugged trucks are more popular than they have ever been.The Armada Nismo’s styling is inspired by racing cars. NissanWhat’s unexpected are full-size SUVs that look like they escaped from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but that is exactly what the Armada Nismo is. Nismo is a portmanteau of “Nissan” and “motorsports” and denotes the automaker’s performance and racing division. It fields cars in series around the world and is responsible for developing the brand’s sportiest production models, like the two-seat Z Nismo.The hulking Armada Nismo gets a makeover that looks almost cartoonish. Its massive black grille is emblazoned with the Nismo name and stretches down to a jutting “chin spoiler” poised to chop the tops off curbs. The side steps are shrouded with skirts and vertical “fences” to direct the air, while the valance panel below the rear bumper is a slightly subdued version of the diffusers used on competition cars.You’ll either be intrigued or aghast by the style. I was a little bit of both when I first laid eyes on it. The design is accented by bright red trim that makes it pop even more, but Nissan insists that it is all functional, improving downforce and reducing drag at high speeds.The Armada Nismo’s bodywork is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag while increasing downforce for improved handling. NissanThe V6 is tuned to 460 horsepower for the Armada Nismo, which rides on lightweight 22-inch wheels from Rays, the same company that supplies Nissan’s competition cars. Upgraded brakes with red calipers peek through the spokes and are tasked with the burden of stopping the three-ton truck.The Armada Nismo has adjustable air springs that can lower it to hug the ground in Sport mode or raise it a few inches to increase its ground clearance in Rock mode, which is included for some reason. I suppose if you get tired of cosplaying as an endurance racing driver, you can rip off the bumpers, swap on knobby tires and head off into the wilderness, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that in its factory form.The Armada Nismo does work very well on pavement. It can accelerate to 60 mph in about six seconds and handles curves far better than it probably should. It has a fully independent suspension system with shocks that firm up to fight physics and keep the body under control, but instantly soften to soak up bumps.The exhaust isn’t nearly as loud as the truck’s visual assault, but there is an exhilarating whoosh in the cabin when you stand on the gas pedal. Power is sent to the wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission and default full-time all-wheel-drive, but part-time four-wheel-drive high and four-wheel-drive low settings are available for very slippery surfaces and heavy towing. The Armada Nismo’s seats are trimmed in non-slip Ultrasuede upholstery. NissanThe interior is dressed for the occasion with deep bucket seats, which are trimmed in grippy red Ultrasuede upholstery and have powered side bolsters that can be cinched tightly to hold your torso in place through turns. They are also heated and ventilated for comfort when you are taking things easier.The Armada Nismo has a seven-passenger layout with a pair of second-row captain’s chairs and a three-across third-row bench. Six-footers will find more than adequate legroom in all three rows along with vents, power outlets, and cupholders.The dashboard features a digital instrument cluster and a widescreen touchscreen for the infotainment system housed within a single frame on top, with auxiliary buttons, knobs, and toggles below it on the center console for the climate and audio system controls. A 360-degree camera system is thoughtfully provided to help while navigating tight spaces that wouldn’t be very tight in most vehicles.One feature that seems out of place is a pushbutton transmission selector, which is just four squares marked PRND on the console that aren’t intuitive to use without looking at them. A shift lever would be more appropriate in what is ostensibly a performance vehicle.Unfortunately, the Nismo transformation doesn’t come cheap. It lists for $81,775, and you’ll need to budget for gasoline, which it guzzles at a rate of 17 mpg when driven normally. It’s much worse when you treat it like a sports car.Despite the cost and the absurdity of it all, I couldn’t help but fall for the Armada Nismo over the course of a week with it. It’s a hoot when you give it the spurs and a great daily driver, as long as you don’t mind getting stared at all day long. I suspect some will buy it for that reason alone.

The Nissan Armada Nismo Is The Most Ridiculous Truck on Sale — and I Love It

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