Beating the latest generation Nissan Armada will not be a difficult task. The older family hauler has seen better days before being refreshed in 2021 following its 2016 introduction. And since then, the market has only gotten tighter with new models and new versions of the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, Jeep Wagoneer and Ford Expedition either coming to market or revealed in the interim.

Country roads in Williamson County often have no hard banks and wind left and right, sometimes with tight turns around what is clearly an old boundary. They were a test for the tall, wide Armada.

Driving out onto Carters Creek Pike in the Reserve Armada Platinum, it was immediately apparent that the changes to the SUV’s power plant for this generation didn’t hinder it at all. This new model has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. The old Armada had a 5.7 liter V8. The 2026 Armada has 25 more horsepower than the outgoing model and is more fuel-efficient.

Keeping this Armada between the lines was easier than previous generations made possible, thanks to the slightly stiffer suspension (air-sprung available on Platinum Reserve and PRO-4X models) and an overall more connected feel to the vehicle.

The styling of the hood and fenders allow the Armada to have better sight lines than the Infiniti QX80, with which it shares most of its underpinnings.

Managing an Armada is a smooth and steady endeavor. It held firm in the day’s downpours, and the Armada PRO-4X I took off-road was only hindered by the slippery mud that met the off-road Yokohama tires that Nissan equipped the SUV with.

The Armada comes standard with dual 12.3-inch dashboard screens. In the two models I drove, the infotainment screen was upgraded to a 14.3-inch version, which was large enough to make touching the far side of the “Exit” navigation quite a challenge.

This infotainment screen is home to Nissan’s new camera technology, which uses digital images stitched together to allow drivers to drive the vehicle at low speeds with a clear view of their surroundings, even when the windscreen is completely obscured by the cover, as Nissan has done. Armada I was in just to prove to me how good the technology is.

I’ll never be a fan of driving strictly by camera, but Nissan’s system is as advertised and works well. The resolution of the cameras is higher than what some of the competition offers, allowing for a better definition of the terrain, which is a welcome difference. Views include overhead (bird’s eye), sides, front and back.

The Armada’s seats are comfortable and the climate control has good adjustability and temperature retention despite the SUV’s large cabin. The heated seats worked confidently.

The driving route did not allow much testing of the car’s assistance or safety systems.

I decided to use Apple CarPlay via connected USB instead of the model’s native software given that I had to follow a prescribed route that was loaded via Google Maps. It also allowed me to listen to music of my choice via Apple Music, which sounded great on the Klipsch SUV’s premium audio system, which is standard or available on most of the lineup.

Everything about this generation of Armada is improved from the previous generation. It looks better. The new engine is a win. The Armada’s cabin is better equipped than before, with modern technology and stylish features. There’s more legroom for second- and third-row passengers and more cargo space.

The 2025 Nissan Armada starts at $56,520 and tops out around $80,000 plus a $2,010 destination charge. That’s about the same price as the Tahoe and Expedition. The Expedition is a winner with frequent highway commuters with BlueCruise hands-free and steering technology. Other than that, the Tahoe and Armada are pretty close competitors.

If you’re going to tow, the Wagoneer might be the one for you, with its 10,000-pound capacity (compared to the Armada’s 8,500 pounds) and excellent six-cylinder engine. With lower prices than before, the Wagoneer 2025 is the Armada’s biggest rival.