The New 2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: All the Changes Side-By-Side

Nissan’s SUV lineup gets a big dose of freshness with the introduction of a new Armada for 2025. The brand’s largest three-row SUV shows promising advancement from before, gaining a smaller yet more powerful engine, a boldly restyled exterior, and abundant tech features. The Armada’s focus remains on providing space and capability for up to eight passengers, but it also needs to be a more worthy rival to this year’s crop of full-size family haulers. But is it? See how the new 2025 Armada differs from its predecessor to get an idea.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Size

Despite the many changes found on the new 2025 Nissan Armada, it’s basically the same size as before. The 2025 model rides on a 121.1-inch wheelbase, identical to the outgoing model’s. Overall length measures 209.6 inches, compared to 208.9 inches previously. Width on the 2025 Armada is 83.3 inches, up from 79.9 inches on the old version. Height also increases, ranging from 78.0 to 78.6 inches depending on specification, taller than the previous model’s 75.8 inches.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Engine and MPG

The 2025 Nissan Armada has an engine that’s smaller but stronger than before. In the old Armada, a 5.6-liter V-8 made 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, which was sent through a seven-speed automatic transmission to standard rear-wheel drive or available four-wheel drive. In Motortrend testing, it propelled the Armada from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

Now, the Armada is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 producing 425 hp and 516 lb-ft. It also gains a nine-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD available once again. Despite the extra power, don’t expect an improvement on the 0–60 time. In Motortrend testing of the 2025 Infiniti QX80, which is closely related to the 2025 Armada and uses the same engine, it proved 0.5 second slower than the old QX80 (6.8 seconds versus 6.3).

If the QX80 is again any indication for the new Armada, fuel economy could improve, but only marginally. The 2025 QX80 gets an estimated 16/20 mpg city/highway with RWD and 15/19 mpg with 4WD. That compares to 14/20 mpg with RWD and 13/19 mpg with 4WD from the outgoing V-8-powered QX80.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Off-Road

Aside from concept cars and custom projects, the old Nissan Armada never really leaned into its off-road potential. Sure, it was built using body-on-frame construction and could be had with 4WD and a transfer case, but that’s about it.

The 2025 Armada changes that with the new Pro 4X trim level, which makes the SUV ready to hit the trail. It has hardware like Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires wrapped around 20-inch wheels, along with a locking rear differential. Skidplates and black plastic wheel-arch cladding provide the body with added armor. The Armada Pro 4X wears unique styling details, such as orange accents, a tough-looking grille, and a unique front bumper that increases its approach angle. With height-adjustable air suspension, ground clearance goes as high as 9.6 inches—up from 9.2 inches in the old model—but that’s the same as other Armada trim levels. Regardless, the Pro 4X spec will make the Armada as off-road-ready as it’s ever been.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Seats and Passenger Space

As before, the new Armada has seating for seven or eight occupants, depending on if the standard captain’s chairs or available three-across bench is equipped in the second row. Regardless, the third row has three seats.

Front legroom in the 2025 Nissan Armada measures 43.8 inches, an increase from 41.9 inches. Second-row legroom is slightly reduced, to 39.2 inches from 41.0 inches. However, third-row legroom sees a massive gain, now measuring 34.5 inches compared to 28.4 inches in the old Armada.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Cargo Capacity

Although the new Infiniti QX80 isn’t much larger outside than its predecessor, it provides a bit more space inside. With all three rows of seats positioned upright, the 2025 QX80 has 22.0 cubic feet of cargo space, compared with 16.6 cubic feet before. Folding the third-row seat takes cargo space to 59.0 cubic feet, up from 49.6 cubic feet. Maximum cargo capacity with the second and third row seats folded measures 101.0 cubic feet in the 2025 QX80, an increase from 95.1 cubic feet.

Despite its exterior being similar in size to its predecessor, the 2025 Armada’s interior has slightly more cargo space. When all three rows of seats are upright, the new Armada has 20.4 cubic feet of space, compared to 16.5 cubic feet previously. Behind the second-row seats there are 56.3 cubic feet, up from 49.9 cubic feet. Maximum cargo capacity with the second and third row seats down is now 97.1 cubic feet, a slight increase from 95.4 cubic feet before.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Technology Features

Nissan applied incremental tech updates to the old Armada over its production run, eventually culminating in a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A small information display was positioned between analog gauges. Four USB ports and a wireless charging pad were standard. Above the standard six-speaker audio system was a 13-speaker Bose premium setup. A digital rearview mirror and 360-degree camera were also available.

As would be expected, the 2025 Armada has far more impressive tech features. Its standard infotainment screen still measures 12.3 inches, but it’s now complemented by a 12.3-inch all-digital gauge display. Higher-end models upgrade to dual 14.3-inch displays, but all have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Popular apps from Google are also available. The 2025 Armada has a Klipsch 12-speaker audio system on most trims. All three rows now have USB ports, but a wireless charging pad isn’t standard on the base trim. Most trim levels gain an upgraded camera array to provide a 360-degree view, as well as an ultra-wide-angle front view and simulated transparent hood view to ease parking or trail driving. There’s even an available built-in dashcam and interior monitoring camera. High-end versions get a head-up display.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Safety and Driver Assist Features

Basic included driver assists and active safety features are quite similar between the old and new Armada. Both have front automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beams.

The big driver assist upgrade on the 2025 Nissan Armada is the availability of ProPilot Assist 2.1, which allows hands-free driving on pre-mapped roadways. A sensor behind the steering wheel monitors the driver’s eyes to ensure they’re paying attention.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Luxury Features

Previously, the Armada Platinum was the highest-end version in the lineup. It came equipped with nice touches like quilted leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and 22-inch wheels.

Nissan still offers the Platinum trim on the 2025 Armada, but the new SUV gains new equipment such as heated second-row seats, interior ambient lighting, infrared-reducing side glass, a built-in dashcam and interior camera, and motion-activated hands-free power liftgate.

However, Platinum is no longer the range-topping trim for the 2025 Armada—that would be the new Platinum Reserve trim, which gains niceties such as upgraded quilted leather upholstery, massaging front seats, and a head-up display. It’s visually distinguished by 22-inch wheels and a full-width LED taillight bar. Additionally, like the Pro 4X trim, the Armada Platinum Reserve rides on height-adjustable adaptive air suspension, a first for Nissan.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: The Drive

Although we haven’t driven the new Armada, we hope it’ll have some of the same dynamic improvements we experienced in the 2025 QX80. That Infiniti is a clear step up from before, providing ample low-end torque from its twin-turbo V-6 along with smooth shifts from its nine-speed automatic transmission. The stable steering feel and settled, compliant ride from its available air suspension make the QX80 a nice highway cruiser and reasonably easy to manage in around-town driving. The Nissan Armada’s tuning might not be quite so refined, but we’re confident it’ll be nicer to drive than its predecessor.

2025 Nissan Armada vs. Old Armada: Price

Nissan has not announced pricing for the new 2025 Armada, but it’ll likely be more expensive than before. If the 2025 Armada retains the roughly $17,000 starting price delta it did versus the QX80 in 2024, Nissan’s three-row SUV could begin at approximately $66,000 and top out at nearly $100,000—expensive for a Nissan, sure, but the Japanese automaker worked hard to make the new Armada more worth its starting price, whatever that may be.