GT-R for the weekends and Armada NISMO for the weekdays – at least that’s what the Nissan marketing jargon implies. We’re just happy that Nissan is making enthusiast cars again. BMW and AMG have been milking their hot-rodded SUVs for a decade already, so this first-ever NISMO-powered Armada is long overdue. Equipped with a valiant body kit, more horsepower, and 22-inch RAYS forged-alloy wheels, the Armada now looks more destroyer ship than a 7-seater family appliance.

The NISMO badge does not carry the gravitas and prominence it did during the 90’s JDM heydays, especially when it’s been hastily and carelessly applied to the Juke and Sentra, which diluted its value more than it has enhanced it. The Z NISMO raised our hopes, and Nissan even announced a manual gearbox coming in 2027. But you can see why we came into this Armada review with reservations and uneasiness, especially when badge engineering seems to be an acceptable practice for brands that care more about profit margins than about building on a storied history.

We’re glad to report that there’s unexpected substance beneath the Armada sheetmetal, and it’s not just the plastic badges that command $19,272 over the base SL model. In fact, there are enough badges on the outside alone (we counted eight) to make a BMW M4 look plain and naked by comparison. Inside, we counted seven.

Positivity begins to materialize when you peek under the hood. You won’t find the symmetrical, red manifolds of the VR38DETT GT-R engine, but instead a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 codenamed VR35DETT, the 35 numeral representing its displacement. The Armada doesn’t require an organ transplant from Godzilla to still generate an impressive 460 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque through its 9-speed automatic gearbox. That’s 35 hp more than the standard Armada, thanks to revised software and valve clearances. 

Torque remains identical, but it’s still greater than the 481 lb-ft produced by the R35 GT-R NISMO. It also requires 91-octane premium fuel, so those sweating over rising pump costs may want to factor that in. Also in the NISMO armoury is an adaptive air suspension adjusted for better road compliance, revised power steering for a sharper drive, and a more free-flowing exhaust that reduces back pressure and adds more rousing vocals. 

This large-lunged engine makes short work of defying Newtonian physics, with unbridled speed switching on almost instantly, thanks to a sensitive but alert throttle pedal that responds to the slightest input. Wheelspin is easy in first gear, but commit and dig deeper, and a secure rush of mid-range torque follows, backed up by an exorbitant amount of grip and a broader sense of confidence that the quicker and more riotous Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat doesn’t offer.

At low speeds, the 9-speed gearbox delivers choppy shifts at a glacial pace, particularly when rowed manually via the paddle shifters. With an engine that taps out before 6,000 rpm, there’s not much reason to explore the plateau anyway, but the engine and cabin speakers do provide a suitable backdrop to the NISMO’s heightened focus on spirited driving, with acoustic hints of a GT-R embedded in its high-pitched, mechanical notes. The soundtrack isn’t as unfiltered and raw as the Bronco Raptor’s, but its monosyllabic, shrill tone is more stimulating than the agricultural racket coming out of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX.

Calling it the GT-R of SUVs is clearly overkill, but on winding roads when you push the performance envelope, you can tell that the Nissan engineers tried to distill as much Godzilla DNA as possible into this breed of SUV, especially compared to similarly-sized rigs like the Land Rover Defender and Lexus LX 700h. And typically, their steering racks are purposefully numbed to isolate the driver from the road and allow for easy rotation, but the NISMO’s is light and offers a modicum of feel, allowing you to articulate the front wheels with millimetric precision. The front end becomes sharp and lively as a result, and belies its high center of gravity and beefy curb weight. 

This kind of body control is typically found on SUVs wearing an M or AMG badge, but now NISMO has joined them. The Armada remains impressively flat and controlled in the bends, encouraging you to take more liberties with entry speed and accelerating early on the exit. The way it handles with such minimal body roll is quite extraordinary in this category, as few manage to extract that level of cornering stability from a body-on-frame platform, but the harsher ride is certainly a tradeoff you must be willing to accept. 

In Sport Mode, where the Armada is at its most alert, the ride is busy and stiff but not wooden. The springs cushion the compression nicely, giving you the plush softness of a foam ball pit, but they’re not as effective at soaking up those minor bumps as a Defender. The large 22-inch wheels don’t lend it any favours in comfort, buzzing and constantly oscillating on the pothole-ridden streets of Toronto, and the brakes flanking those forged wheels look oddly diminutive, like a size 5 foot wearing a size 10 shoe. The stopping power isn’t confidence-inspiring either, forcing us to stand on the brake pedal when halting from highway speeds. Larger brakes would be our first aftermarket upgrade.

Mods wouldn’t be needed for the exterior, though, as there’s enough Gundam aero addendum to mimic the FK8 Civic Type R. The red accents outline its sharp jaw and muscular edges, though we’re not sure how much the rear spoiler and diffuser are actually improving the aerodynamics of this Stealth Grey painted warship – a drop in the bucket we estimate, but the added road presence and curb appeal appear to be highly effective. 

White and black are the only other two colours available, and the interior remains a black-on-red-only spec. The suede inserts covering the dashboard and the generous leather appointments, especially on the wheel’s airbag cover, are convincing of its six-figure worth. We’re not fans of the merged 14.3-inch display and center touchscreen, though, not for their crisp graphics or friendly Google interface, but for the menu arrangements. The dials and readouts are all displayed in varying sizes and fonts, making it difficult to zero in on the desired information. But we do appreciate the underreliance on digital real estate, with a center panel bursting with physical buttons and toggles so you’re not lost in the digital refuge of zeros and ones. 

The generously sized cabin seats seven, as the NISMO is configured with second-row captain’s chairs and a pass-through middle row. The third row is spacious, even for my six-foot frame, and the digital rearview mirror ensures that heads never obstruct the driver’s vision. Not only does it give a clearer, more expansive view of what’s behind you, but the higher definition and zoom function let you see significantly more detail, especially at night. You can distinctly see the faces of the tailing drivers, and even license plates from further away. Nissan’s even comes with more settings than the windscreen-less Polestar 4, with adjustments available to move the camera in four directions, rotate and tilt, backlight, language, and screen dimming. 

Despite our initial reservations about this sport-tuned Armada, NISMO has finally delivered an authentic product worthy of its coveted badge. There’s genuine substance beneath those five letters, with a tangible performance upgrade, outstanding ride control, and appropriate vocals to match its imperious proportions. Calling this preposterously large and expensive SUV the finest product out of Nissan’s armada is not something we’d have imagined in 2026, but then again, this year seems to be one full of surprises.

Specifications:

Model: 2026 Nissan Armada NISMO
Paint Type: NISMO Stealth Grey / Super Black
Base Price: $103,498
Price as Tested: $104,448
Wheelbase(mm): 3,076
Length/Width/Height (mm): 5,359 / 2,350 / 1,955
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 (VR35DETT)
Horsepower: 460 hp
Torque: 516 lb-ft
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, 4WD
Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 15.1
Tires: 275/50R22; Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S