Skip to main content
The 2021 Nissan Armada parked near a house

The 2021 Nissan Armada Is Incredibly Thirsty but Has V8 Power

Yes, if you want a luxurious and powerful family SUV, the 2021 Nissan Armada is an excellent option to consider. While rivals are moving away from V8 engines, the Armada is currently sticking with a 5.6-liter V8 option with 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. 

If gas prices remain high, then the 2021 Nissan Armada might struggle. However, the Nissan Armada has many positive features, including a stout V8 engine, so its weak fuel economy might not be a deal-breaker. 

The 2021 Nissan Armada drinks tons of fuel 

The 2021 Nissan Armada parked near a house
2021 Nissan Armada | Nissan

The 2021 Nissan Armada gets an EPA-estimated 14 mpg in the city and up to 19 mpg on the highway. These numbers aren’t great, and they’re behind rivals. For example, the 2021 Ford Expedition gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in the city and up to 23 mpg on the highway. 

According to Cars.com, the fuel economy is almost right on the mark. After driving 1,250 miles, they used 71.4 gallons of gas. They averaged about 17.5 mpg combined, which is better than the EPA-estimated 15 mpg combined. It was slightly lower than the 19 mpg highway rating, though. 

Is the 2021 Nissan Armada worth buying? 

Yes, if you want a luxurious and powerful family SUV, the 2021 Nissan Armada is an excellent option to consider. While rivals are moving away from V8 engines, the Armada is currently sticking with a 5.6-liter V8 option with 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. 

The Nissan Armada can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.7 seconds. It’s about one second faster than the Chevy Tahoe. When properly equipped, the Armada can tow up to 8,500 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,676 lbs. The Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 lbs, and the Expedition can tow up to 9,300 lbs. 

While the Armada has a peppy acceleration and confident brakes, the steering is vague and a little slow. It handles well compared to rivals but may jostle over larger bumps. On a positive note, the cabin is pretty well isolated against wind and road noise. 

The Armada features a 9.8-inch ground clearance, so the side steps are necessary. Also, the fully independent suspension is a nice feature if you plan to go off the pavement. The fully-independent suspension with wishbones in all four corners could be a little stiffer for off-roading, though. 

Does the 2021 Armada provide nice features? 

2021 Nissan Armada interior
2021 Nissan Armada interior | Nissan

Yes, you can get started in a 2021 Nissan Armada for about $49,900, making it competitively priced. Plus, it includes plenty of luxurious value. The interior is filled with high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces with enough space for up to eight passengers. 

The seats in the front and second-row are well-padded and supportive. But the captain’s chairs in the second row can’t be adjusted forward or back, and the third row is pretty tight. It also sits low to the ground. 

You can access up to 16.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row with up to 95.4 cubes total. The interior includes a massive center console, but other than that, storage for personal items is limited. 

The Nissan Armada comes with a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen that feels a little dated. But navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charger come standard. The Platinum trim features a rear-seat infotainment system with dual 8.0-inch screens. 

Standard safety features include automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert. 

If you can get past the lacking fuel economy, the 2021 Nissan Armada is a robust three-row SUV with premium luxury to consider.

Related

Can the 2021 Nissan Armada Compete With Rivals?