2022 Nissan Armada: Changes, Rumors, NISMO

Full-size SUVs are still a matter of prestige, so it’s no wonder that Nissan still produces this model only in Japan, even though North America is its main market. That may be one of the reasons why many people still love this model, despite we are actually talking about a decade-old design. Another reason for the growing popularity in the first quarter of 2021 is the recent refresh, which has brought a completely new look, especially at the front. Changes were made in other aspects as well and that seems enough reason to expect no bigger changes for the next year. Of course, new 2022 Nissan Armada colors and similar tweaks are always possible but most of the things are about to remain the same.

This means that you may count on a genuine BoF SUV, which offers pretty good driving dynamics and overall performance. We also like its high-quality interior, as well as the fact that there is plenty of room for passengers and cargo. On the other side, the main drawbacks are poor fuel economy and stiffer ride compared to competitors.

2022 Nissan Armada Design

Given the last year’s update, we are pretty sure that the next year will be all about carryover. Minor tweaks are possible but we definitely don’t believe in those rumors that suggest things like 2022 Nissan Armada NISMO. The international sibling, Patrol, did receive such a treatment but we don’t expect such an approach in North America.

So, you may count on the design that has been updated last year. For that occasion, we saw massive changes at the front. They included new headlights, grille and bumper, all designed in a far bolder manner than before. As a result, we have an SUV that looks brand-new, even though the current design dates from 2010, when we saw the current-generation Patrol for the first time.

Interior

Once again, we expect to see no bigger changes. The last year’s update was also about interior tweaks and we saw a lot of new things, especially at the center stack. Of course, a large tablet-like touchscreen is the most notable novelty, but other controls have been redesigned as well. So, the 2022 Nissan Armada interior should remain pretty much untouched.

That’s definitely not a bad thing, considering that this SUV features surprisingly high overall quality, which includes a very good fit and finish, as well as materials that are borrowed directly from the premium Infiniti QX80. With more than 121 inches in wheelbase, it’s obvious that there is plenty of room inside this cabin. The first two rows are very generous and comfortable, while the third row can be very useful as well. Finally, you may count on about 16.5 cubic feet of space behind its third-row seats, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet of the total cargo volume. Those are pretty respectable numbers for the class.

Features

Carmakers usually bring a couple of additions to the list of standard equipment with yearly updates and the 2022 Nissan Armada shouldn’t be an exception. Still, we have no doubt that most of the things will remain the same as in the current model. For reference, the current model comes standard with goodies like dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch touch screen, navigation, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, wireless device charging, Bluetooth, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Additionally, you can get things like a moonroof, premium audio system, rear-seat entertainment system etc.

The same thing is with safety features. The current model comes standard with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, driver drowsiness monitoring, adaptive cruise control, vehicle exit warning, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera. We don’t expect bigger changes in this aspect either.

2022 Nissan Armada Engine

This aspect definitely won’t bring changes. We count on a good-old 5.6-liter V8, which has been updated last year and now delivers 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. It comes in pair with a 7-speed automatic transmission, which offers smooth shifts in a timely manner. Driving dynamics are pretty good, while the max towing capacity goes around 8.500 pounds, which is pretty much average for the class.

When it comes to fuel economy, you may count on 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. That’s below-average for the class.

2022 Nissan Armada Release Date and Price

Considering that there are no bigger changes to come for the next year, we expect that the launch date will be scheduled for the end of 2021. Also, the 2022 Nissan Armada price should remain largely the same, which would mean around 49.000 dollars for base versions. Key competitors are models like Toyota Sequoia, Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition etc.