Great video and super cam work. Learned a lot but I don’t intend going mountain climbing with mine but it was great to see what turning off the traction control will do for you if I’m ever in that situation. This video was 2 years ago and now coming in 25 Nissan Armada has an off road version with all the toys you want. Looking forward to seeing your off road review of that one.
Should be able to get us to the mall on a snowy day, and handle the local gravel roads. Sounds like on the open highway it would be a dream. My worry is about Nissan in general, I’ve thought of them as the gas station tuna sandwich of the Japanese big three. Learning about the Armada and Patrol has opened us up to consider an Armada
The Nissan vehicles that are still made in Japan (like the Patrol/Armada) are so much better in terms of build quality from those made elsewhere that it seems like two different companies.
Matt, you mentioned the Patrol in this video; it astounds me that Nissan has the off road capability at their disposal. They just won’t bring it to North America. I feel like Nissan is losing customers to those who would instead buy a Z71 Tahoe or TRD Sequoia.
I agree with you 100%. The off-road market appears to be growing every year, and Nissan is missing out by not having a more off-road capable Armada and not having the Xterra.
@@EngineAdventures while the patrol has a diff lock this actually has better bumper for offroad lol i lived in uae where the patrol is famous the bumper was way to tall
Interesting, thanks for the input! Do you have contacts in the UAE? Haha I'm still a couple of years out, but I may want to import a Y61 Patrol at some point.
Here in Australia the Patrol is gaining a reputation as a Landcruiser alternative, it is a bit silly that they stripped back those features like a diff lock and the hydraulic body control motion suspension. I figure Toyota will lead though with their new turbo diesel engines and more importantly hybrid technologies considering petrol here is well over $2 Per litre … I would rather a Rivian but that’s not available to us
@@marcusj4467 The Infiniti version (QX80) has HBMC, but still no locker. Ridiculous that they make this thing as mall crawler as possible with the off road market booming
So sorry, late to the party. I just bought a 2023 Armada SL 4x4 version....just loaded with options. For the last few months, I was looking at 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes LS 4x4 models, but most of the contacted dealers ignored my calls and messages. One dealer, in Depew, NY, did return my call, but after finding out that I reside in SW Florida, he refused to sell the Tahoe to me. I'm 70+ years old, and it truly ticked me off that the sales jockey was insulting my integrity over the phone. Fast forward to November 4th, and I found that Nissan was offering nearly ten thousand off the price on new Armadas! The following Monday, the Silver beauty came home with me, and the local dealer is only a few miles away. After 52 years of my life buying GM new vehicles, including Suburbans, and lastly, an expensive Savana custom van, I dropped GM. You would think the GM dealers would try extra hard to retain their LONG TERM CUSTOMERS......obviously, they are determined to go into bankruptcy! ~DDZZ~
You definitely made the right choice. That endurance V8 engine and 7 speed transmission will last forever. I just love my 2021 Nissan Armada SL and with towing my boat, it has been trouble-free for the 33000 miles. For the quality (built in Japan), the price and that reliable V8 engine, it was a no-brainer choice. Good luck with it.
This is a great video. Just a heads up, Campsite204 is now bringing the Dash Off-road Patrol Y62 bumpers and accessories for the 2017+ Armada! So awesome to now have options to make the Armada more like a Patrol minus the larger diffs and rear locker.
The top trim with the worst (ie biggest) wheels I wish he had gotten an SV *base) , likely shod with highway tires.. but thank you for doing this interesting vehicle! You always pick the most interesting vehicles that dont get enough coverage elsewhere.
I hope who ever lent you this car doesn’t watch this video,lol. I can’t believe you actually got the front tires off the ground! Craziest Non-rapter vehicle review I’ve ever seen!
@@jklpino so far they haven't minded with other vehicles I've taken over the same course. It actually didn't feel that rough at all on the vehicle. Hitting a deep pot hole feels worse than that little wheel lift. Haha
@@EngineAdventures it would be interesting to see side by side shots of other vehicles on the same spot as this Nissan when the front tires came off the ground to see how differently they handle. It’s hard to say if the Nissan did good or bad without having some other vehicles to compare it to. I think that would be an interesting video to watch and to have you commentate on. How it looked vs how it felt. Which vehicles you think could handle this kind of hard off roading on a regular basis and which ones probably wouldn’t.
That is Mt. Nebo (this one is in Utah, not the one Moses stood on in Jordan). It peaks at 11,900ish feet. It's not too bad of a hike, just under 10 miles round trip and well marked. Nice views from the top!
Take a look at the Sequoia as well. I love the Armada, but the Sequoia TRD Pro is smoother on rough roads and the brake based traction control works a little better.
I have both vehicles, and they are drastically different. Armada is roomier with more luxury with good towing but only nominal offroad capabilities. 4Runner is less luxurious, but very capable offroad and reduced towing capacity relative to the Armada. I like the 4Runner better, but the Armada is nice for long family road trips.
The problem is they go to really big tires but the vehicle overall sits pretty low still. I wish they had an off-roading version of the armada that rides a bit higher!
@@EngineAdventures yeah, Xterra with much smaller tires had a good ground clearance. Since Xterra is no more available could have made the Armada little towards active life style.
@@EngineAdventures they need to bring that Patrol to North American market. It’s going to give the other off-roading options a serious run for their money.
It’s surprising to see how Armada struggles to climb a tiny slope. Also the suspension travel is so limited. Our Australian Patrol version walks over any terrain with so much of grip. Watch the Australian y62 Patrol off-road videos. You will be surprised how capable this vehicle is. A tough competition to the LC300. Patrol is let down by its interiors here but US market has a very neat and modern one.
It's hard to show on camera how steep something really is. I honestly thought it would have made that easily though. They should offer a Nismo version that has the Patrol locker and drive modes!
I'm not sure why someone would want to think about attempting this in an Armada... but with a much higher ground clearance then a wagoneer it makes for all the more blissful. Only reason someone might should choose 4wd with the Armada is for more safety on the ROAD... though I don't really feel it's needed if u spin out or run off the road then most likely a call in would be needed for a tow truck to arrive...
Depends on where you live. The Nissan Patrol on which the Armada is based on used extensively off-road in Australia and the Arab countries. Where I live it would make a great vehicle for weekend camping trips down dirt roads, and toying camp trailers, boats, ATVs etc.
Fantastic offroad test, thanks! I'm seriously considering selling our Subaru Ascent for something bigger. We do a lot of offroad/overlanding with ours. We have it lifted, rock sliders, skid plates, full size tire on a swing-out hitch, plus lockers in the rear diff. But I think we push it a bit too hard. Already seeing issues with the CVT after only 30k miles and we just broke a rear axle pulling out of a parking lot despite the previous hundreds/thousands of miles of offroad. I started wondering if we should just get something bigger that's designed to handle more offroad instead of trying to make a smaller SUV more capable. The CVT has me the most concerned, because I'm not getting warranty replacements on this stuff due to the modifications. We have a family of 6 so options are limited. I really enjoyed trying out the Toyota Sequoia, but it's pricy. The 4runner would be my top pick, but the 3rd row just isn't anywhere close to comfortable and nowhere near as good as the Ascent's 3rd row. I haven't driven the Armada yet. We had a 2016 Pathfinder for a short time, but it had the CVT that was super problematic at the time. Would you say the Armada is a good idea for going multi-day trips offroad/overlanding in remote areas? We've driven all over the Cascade mountains, went to Moab, various places in Utah, and back, all around Mt Rainer, and many other places with our Subaru Ascent. We've done deep snow up to 2ft (and got stuck a couple of times..needed to get pulled out), etc. Wonder if the Armada could do all that without breaking. :)
Thanks for watching and for the support! The Armada (and Infiniti QX80) is based on the international Nissan Patrol. The Patrol has some upgrades to make it better for long term off pavement use, but the Armada is still quite robust for that application. They are also probably the best value in the used market for full size SUVs. Aftermarket support is minimal, but with some smaller wheels (most Armada factory wheels are 20"+) and a decent set of tires you'd probably be just as capable as the Ascent. The Armada is much larger and heavier, making it less nimble, especially on tight trails. I see no issues with it doing everything you mentioned.
@@EngineAdventures Thanks! Yeah we went with 18" wheels, but 1 inch larger diameter tires (Falken Wildpeak A/T3W) which have been great. There wasn't much after market support for our Ascent either. We had a winch welded behind the front grill and welded 2 recovery points through the front bumper as well. Skid plate was bought at Primitive Racing. Figure that has to be at least a little better support for the Armada, but I'll start looking around. We are actually in the process of having the rear locker removed (basically replacing the rear diff) and 2 new axles put on. I think the rear locker put too much strain on the drivetrain/axles over too short of time (about 30k miles). Going to try going without it for a while. As for the Armada, I could even trade our Ascent for a 2021 Armada with about the same mileage thanks to them being really affordable used. It's tempting.... If I could get some cash back on the trade it would better so I could add a few modifications to the Armada, mainly skid plates, recovery points and a lift to start (and wheels/tires). The 33" OEM tire diameter would be REALLY nice too! I do wish more people did GOOD offroad testing of vehicles like your video above! EDIT: I may still try to get into a Toyota Sequoia Limited (it did have electronic locking diffs) though, depends on what the dealer is willing to do on trade and price. I found a 2020 with about 36k miles on it. Test drove really well. Less fit and finish on the inside, but had a good set of safety features (parking sensors, etc). Plus the 3rd row was really comfy and large (important for my family of 6 plus big dog!)
@@slandsharkI've got videos of the 2nd Gen and 3rd gen Sequoias on my channel as well. The 2nd Gen Sequoia has my favorite center differential and the locker button on it is for the center diff only. If you don't lock the center diff you can drive around on pavement in 4wd as much as you want without driveline binding. The 3rd Gen doesn't have a center diff (if you're in 4wd it's essentially like a locked diff) but does have a selectable rear diff locker. Both have a low range transfer case for more torque to the wheels for tough situations.
Thanks for the support! Stock size is 33 inch in diameter, I think you can go to a 35, as long as it's the same width, without issue. Not sure though, I'd check the forums.
A 285/75r18 (35x11.5x18) will fit stock with only occasional rubbing on the fender liner but that’s really pushing it. I’m running that with +20mm offset Titan7 wheels and a 1.5” lift with no rubbing on or off-road.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I would put the Sequoia TRD Pro ahead of the Armada for technical off-road capability, but not by too much. High speed the Sequoia winds hands down.
Great review and shots! The on road review was very good as well! Is the outgoing Sequoia equipped with IRS too? I think the new Sequoia has got live axle. Is this the new industry trend for the BoF SUVs?
As always thanks for the support and comments! Going to 4 wheel independent is the new trend. The GM SUVs are now that way, the new grand wagoneer, basically every SUV in the US is now 4 wheel independent. I was very happy to hear the new Sequoia has a solid axle and locking rear diff. The independent rear suspension makes for more interior space supposedly, but I prefer a solid rear axle, for articulation, strength, and ease of modification.
I don't think you can even get the Armada with HMBC, at least that I'm not aware of. When the QX80 first came out it was available on more trims, but now I think it's only the top 1 or 2 trims that get it.
seriously whats the main differance between the armada and the patrol? just the drive modes and the diff-locker? i heard the armada has more torque for some reason
I'm not 100% sure on the front diff size, but in the Armada the case is aluminum and it has a 180mm ring gear. It's iron in the Patrol and I believe 200mm. The Armada rear is 230mm and the Patrol is 248mm or 250mm. The Patrol is just a bit bigger and stronger for many of it's components.
@@ViniciusNunes-m8q haven't even tested a suburban besides the 1988 I drove when I first got my license. However my guess is a 2011 would have better articulation, and if you have a G80 in the rear it would be a pretty capable rig from the factory!
@@EngineAdventures Yes, mine is a Suburban LTZ 2WD with the G80 in the rear. But when you hit a speed bump, you get that sensation and noise coming from the front suspension as if you hit the end of its travel articulation. Is there something i could do to solve that problem? Like having the front shocks changed?
Yeah, I'm sure that would help, but there probably isn't much travel in the front suspension. Maybe you can adjust the torsion bars to lift the front a little to give you a little more up travel.
@@EngineAdventures My wife has a 2020 Armada Platinum and it is a very nice vehicle. I have a tundra I take off road but would not consider taking her Armada off road unless it was necessary. They are pretty capable vehicle.
Every time I think of picking one of these up to replace my xterra I wander back to this video and cancel the idea. I would love a big roomy v8 that doesn't ride like a covered wagon but I would have been walking home several times this year with this thing. looks like you live about an hour south of me, you know that things can get real scary in a hurry and I won't be counting on this thing to get me to the pavement, or a hospital. If only it could be a Patrol, sigh.
It's still pretty capable, but certainly not on the level of an Xterra. I'd be comfortable in any weather on pavement with an Armada. Even most of the outdoor activities I do with my family off pavement would be fine in the Armada.
@@EngineAdventures thanks. I’m backtracking a little bit on what I said. The 2 times I’m really thinking of flex wasn’t a factor and power would have helped. And both were the result of some really impulsive stupidity. Thanks for the video.
@@EngineAdventures and the pavement driving can’t be forgotten either, my xterra is kinda bad on 15 in any kind of snow. Below 45 it’s a beast, start trying to cross the lane berm when they’re not plowing during the commute and suddenly life sucks pretty bad.
@@jcarry5214 Yeah no worries. I actually started this channel to show how much more capable a lot of vehicles are than what most people think. The Armada has the bones to be great, but just misses the mark. My XJ is similar in the snow, it does really well, but not at freeway speeds. That's where Subarus really shine.
@@EngineAdventures Really? the subarus I had were even worse, they wanted to pinwheel. But they were older, 03, 04. The traction control wasn't as smart, all the wheels wanted to come loose at the same time. I could drive right around full size trucks in deep snow, but above 50 they were scary, I felt safer with 1 wheel drive volvos. But that's what I was used to. Thanks for your work, I'll be looking at some other videos.
@@EngineAdventures I hear you bro and that's really sad ; when Sandy hit alot of people have changed their minds when it came to car versus trucks and ride height. I love a truck; if theirs a traffic jam I'm curb hopping all day or I'll just drive on shoulder where dirt then woods
Agree, it makes no sense that Nissan North America do not leverage the great Patrol nameplate and its genuinely impressive off road credentials. What must they be thinking? Its an off the shelf upgrade, rear diff lock and full rock, sand modes etc..... Nissan have made some very strange strategic decisions over the years, poor poor management. There are some amazing overlander modifications in Australia for the Y62 Nissan Patrol (even dual cab pick up conversions!). Just astounding that you guys stateside do not benefit. shame on you Nissan!
Likewise, I've actually been looking at figuring out how to import a Y61 patrol as well. We will see what happens, but I think that would be a fun one for this channel.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain is very important! However, that's not what's being tested here. The hill has places where two diagonally opposed tires are essentially in the air. The vehicle has to be able to transfer enough torque to the tires with traction to make the climb.
In the early part of this video - It could drive through that hard but if you do that the car suspension will get destroyed... later. Even engine mount could crack later on, it is design to go over those obstacle but not dashing through like that. I have destroyed axel/enginemount/suspension for numerous SUVs. DO NOT drive like that without modification, You need long travel suspension!!! AND why NISSAN insists design its rear bumper like that!!!! it looks like a lady downstairs with lip injection. PLEASE!!!
I usually mention I drive like this for testing, but driving this fast is hard on the vehicle and can be risky on blind corners with oncoming traffic. I get made fun of for how slow I drive my truck in dirt roads. With my Jeep it's a different story. I've seen photos of a US spec Armada vs the world wide Nissan Patrol and the Patrol has a much more trim rear bumper. Just another thing that makes the patrol better than the Armada.
Or the Nissan Patrol. Nissan has the knowledge and capability, they just don't think the US market needs it, and they are probably right for the most part.
@EngineAdventures naw average speeds from 70 to 30 your bouncing around all day long u h8t a ditch your bouncing back and forth which shouldn't happen it's dangerous so when your going around on a windy road your leaning like crazy and all my shocks are new it's crazy
I have seen tons of videos on Nissan Armada OFF-ROAD and this by far was the most helpful. Great work !
Thanks for watching and commenting! I'm glad it was helpful!
Better than the Owners Manual
Thanks!
Great video and super cam work. Learned a lot but I don’t intend going mountain climbing with mine but it was great to see what turning off the traction control will do for you if I’m ever in that situation. This video was 2 years ago and now coming in 25 Nissan Armada has an off road version with all the toys you want. Looking forward to seeing your off road review of that one.
Thanks for the support! I'd love to test the new one, hopefully I'll have the chance.
Should be able to get us to the mall on a snowy day, and handle the local gravel roads. Sounds like on the open highway it would be a dream. My worry is about Nissan in general, I’ve thought of them as the gas station tuna sandwich of the Japanese big three. Learning about the Armada and Patrol has opened us up to consider an Armada
Nissan does make some excellent vehicles. The Armada being one of them. The chassis is getting old now, but it's still a stout vehicle.
The Nissan vehicles that are still made in Japan (like the Patrol/Armada) are so much better in terms of build quality from those made elsewhere that it seems like two different companies.
I saw a chasis flex test, and Fords Chevbrolets Landcruisers all did well. The Armada was the only one with slightly flexing chasis.
Monster SUV, built to last go 400k miles with routine, maintenance.
Definitely under rated!
Matt, you mentioned the Patrol in this video; it astounds me that Nissan has the off road capability at their disposal. They just won’t bring it to North America. I feel like Nissan is losing customers to those who would instead buy a Z71 Tahoe or TRD Sequoia.
I agree with you 100%. The off-road market appears to be growing every year, and Nissan is missing out by not having a more off-road capable Armada and not having the Xterra.
@@EngineAdventures while the patrol has a diff lock this actually has better bumper for offroad lol i lived in uae where the patrol is famous the bumper was way to tall
Interesting, thanks for the input! Do you have contacts in the UAE? Haha I'm still a couple of years out, but I may want to import a Y61 Patrol at some point.
Here in Australia the Patrol is gaining a reputation as a Landcruiser alternative, it is a bit silly that they stripped back those features like a diff lock and the hydraulic body control motion suspension. I figure Toyota will lead though with their new turbo diesel engines and more importantly hybrid technologies considering petrol here is well over $2 Per litre … I would rather a Rivian but that’s not available to us
@@marcusj4467 The Infiniti version (QX80) has HBMC, but still no locker. Ridiculous that they make this thing as mall crawler as possible with the off road market booming
So sorry, late to the party.
I just bought a 2023 Armada SL 4x4 version....just loaded with options.
For the last few months, I was looking at 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes LS 4x4 models, but most of the contacted dealers ignored my calls and messages.
One dealer, in Depew, NY, did return my call, but after finding out that I reside in SW Florida, he refused to sell the Tahoe to me.
I'm 70+ years old, and it truly ticked me off that the sales jockey was insulting my integrity over the phone.
Fast forward to November 4th, and I found that Nissan was offering nearly ten thousand off the price on new Armadas!
The following Monday, the Silver beauty came home with me, and the local dealer is only a few miles away.
After 52 years of my life buying GM new vehicles, including Suburbans, and lastly, an expensive Savana custom van, I dropped GM.
You would think the GM dealers would try extra hard to retain their LONG TERM CUSTOMERS......obviously, they are determined to go into bankruptcy!
~DDZZ~
Thanks for sharing your experience!
You definitely made the right choice. That endurance V8 engine and 7 speed transmission will last forever. I just love my 2021 Nissan Armada SL and with towing my boat, it has been trouble-free for the 33000 miles. For the quality (built in Japan), the price and that reliable V8 engine, it was a no-brainer choice. Good luck with it.
Excellent pointers, thank you.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
This is a great video. Just a heads up, Campsite204 is now bringing the Dash Off-road Patrol Y62 bumpers and accessories for the 2017+ Armada! So awesome to now have options to make the Armada more like a Patrol minus the larger diffs and rear locker.
Thanks for sharing!
The top trim with the worst (ie biggest) wheels I wish he had gotten an SV *base) , likely shod with highway tires.. but thank you for doing this interesting vehicle! You always pick the most interesting vehicles that dont get enough coverage elsewhere.
Thanks for watching!
I hope who ever lent you this car doesn’t watch this video,lol.
I can’t believe you actually got the front tires off the ground!
Craziest Non-rapter vehicle review I’ve ever seen!
Haha thanks for watching! This is a media vehicle from Nissan, and they are great to work with!
@@EngineAdventures was Nissan ok with you driving the vehicle that hard?
@@jklpino so far they haven't minded with other vehicles I've taken over the same course. It actually didn't feel that rough at all on the vehicle. Hitting a deep pot hole feels worse than that little wheel lift. Haha
@@EngineAdventures it would be interesting to see side by side shots of other vehicles on the same spot as this Nissan when the front tires came off the ground to see how differently they handle. It’s hard to say if the Nissan did good or bad without having some other vehicles to compare it to. I think that would be an interesting video to watch and to have you commentate on. How it looked vs how it felt. Which vehicles you think could handle this kind of hard off roading on a regular basis and which ones probably wouldn’t.
@@jklpino thanks I'll keep that in mind!
How could I survived so far without being suscribed to this channel?
Thanks! Somehow I need to spread the word so more people can get the information they need!
At 4:12, what and where is the beautiful big mountain we see?
That is Mt. Nebo (this one is in Utah, not the one Moses stood on in Jordan). It peaks at 11,900ish feet. It's not too bad of a hike, just under 10 miles round trip and well marked. Nice views from the top!
so torn between this or a 4runner.. im going with this though. i love camping in vehicle and i love my space.
Take a look at the Sequoia as well. I love the Armada, but the Sequoia TRD Pro is smoother on rough roads and the brake based traction control works a little better.
I have both vehicles, and they are drastically different. Armada is roomier with more luxury with good towing but only nominal offroad capabilities. 4Runner is less luxurious, but very capable offroad and reduced towing capacity relative to the Armada. I like the 4Runner better, but the Armada is nice for long family road trips.
Please do a video with Grand Cherokee with quadra drive 2 system, very similar suspension setup. Thanks
I would love too! I almost had one, but they had to pull it at the last second.
In other contrys it come with rock ,sand and snow mode with rear difflock its more agrasseve traction control
Yup, wish we had more of the patrol features here in the US!
Wow, that is indeed a 33in big tire. That is taller than the modified tire 285/70R17 on my 4Runner. Very impressive on the tire size.
The problem is they go to really big tires but the vehicle overall sits pretty low still. I wish they had an off-roading version of the armada that rides a bit higher!
@@EngineAdventures yeah, Xterra with much smaller tires had a good ground clearance. Since Xterra is no more available could have made the Armada little towards active life style.
@@LionRunner absolutely, the Patrol is basically an off-roading Armada, they should bring the Patrol stateside.
@@EngineAdventures they need to bring that Patrol to North American market. It’s going to give the other off-roading options a serious run for their money.
I think that and the Xterra would be great in today's market.
The beast I got my dream car last dec
How do you like it? The Armada is certainly a beast!
It’s surprising to see how Armada struggles to climb a tiny slope. Also the suspension travel is so limited. Our Australian Patrol version walks over any terrain with so much of grip. Watch the Australian y62 Patrol off-road videos. You will be surprised how capable this vehicle is. A tough competition to the LC300. Patrol is let down by its interiors here but US market has a very neat and modern one.
It's hard to show on camera how steep something really is. I honestly thought it would have made that easily though. They should offer a Nismo version that has the Patrol locker and drive modes!
Where is this video made? That mountain range in front of you in the distance is amazing
Utah, it's a beautiful place most of the year!
I'm not sure why someone would want to think about attempting this in an Armada... but with a much higher ground clearance then a wagoneer it makes for all the more blissful. Only reason someone might should choose 4wd with the Armada is for more safety on the ROAD... though I don't really feel it's needed if u spin out or run off the road then most likely a call in would be needed for a tow truck to arrive...
Depends on where you live. The Nissan Patrol on which the Armada is based on used extensively off-road in Australia and the Arab countries. Where I live it would make a great vehicle for weekend camping trips down dirt roads, and toying camp trailers, boats, ATVs etc.
Your off-road and my off-road are totally different. The trail you were on as an off-road test is my normal daily drive.
For some people that's true. The steep hill climb is worse than most people think, but not extreme.
Fantastic offroad test, thanks! I'm seriously considering selling our Subaru Ascent for something bigger. We do a lot of offroad/overlanding with ours. We have it lifted, rock sliders, skid plates, full size tire on a swing-out hitch, plus lockers in the rear diff. But I think we push it a bit too hard. Already seeing issues with the CVT after only 30k miles and we just broke a rear axle pulling out of a parking lot despite the previous hundreds/thousands of miles of offroad. I started wondering if we should just get something bigger that's designed to handle more offroad instead of trying to make a smaller SUV more capable. The CVT has me the most concerned, because I'm not getting warranty replacements on this stuff due to the modifications.
We have a family of 6 so options are limited. I really enjoyed trying out the Toyota Sequoia, but it's pricy. The 4runner would be my top pick, but the 3rd row just isn't anywhere close to comfortable and nowhere near as good as the Ascent's 3rd row. I haven't driven the Armada yet. We had a 2016 Pathfinder for a short time, but it had the CVT that was super problematic at the time.
Would you say the Armada is a good idea for going multi-day trips offroad/overlanding in remote areas? We've driven all over the Cascade mountains, went to Moab, various places in Utah, and back, all around Mt Rainer, and many other places with our Subaru Ascent. We've done deep snow up to 2ft (and got stuck a couple of times..needed to get pulled out), etc. Wonder if the Armada could do all that without breaking. :)
Thanks for watching and for the support!
The Armada (and Infiniti QX80) is based on the international Nissan Patrol. The Patrol has some upgrades to make it better for long term off pavement use, but the Armada is still quite robust for that application. They are also probably the best value in the used market for full size SUVs. Aftermarket support is minimal, but with some smaller wheels (most Armada factory wheels are 20"+) and a decent set of tires you'd probably be just as capable as the Ascent. The Armada is much larger and heavier, making it less nimble, especially on tight trails. I see no issues with it doing everything you mentioned.
@@EngineAdventures Thanks! Yeah we went with 18" wheels, but 1 inch larger diameter tires (Falken Wildpeak A/T3W) which have been great. There wasn't much after market support for our Ascent either. We had a winch welded behind the front grill and welded 2 recovery points through the front bumper as well. Skid plate was bought at Primitive Racing. Figure that has to be at least a little better support for the Armada, but I'll start looking around.
We are actually in the process of having the rear locker removed (basically replacing the rear diff) and 2 new axles put on. I think the rear locker put too much strain on the drivetrain/axles over too short of time (about 30k miles). Going to try going without it for a while.
As for the Armada, I could even trade our Ascent for a 2021 Armada with about the same mileage thanks to them being really affordable used. It's tempting.... If I could get some cash back on the trade it would better so I could add a few modifications to the Armada, mainly skid plates, recovery points and a lift to start (and wheels/tires). The 33" OEM tire diameter would be REALLY nice too!
I do wish more people did GOOD offroad testing of vehicles like your video above!
EDIT: I may still try to get into a Toyota Sequoia Limited (it did have electronic locking diffs) though, depends on what the dealer is willing to do on trade and price. I found a 2020 with about 36k miles on it. Test drove really well. Less fit and finish on the inside, but had a good set of safety features (parking sensors, etc). Plus the 3rd row was really comfy and large (important for my family of 6 plus big dog!)
@@slandsharkI've got videos of the 2nd Gen and 3rd gen Sequoias on my channel as well. The 2nd Gen Sequoia has my favorite center differential and the locker button on it is for the center diff only. If you don't lock the center diff you can drive around on pavement in 4wd as much as you want without driveline binding. The 3rd Gen doesn't have a center diff (if you're in 4wd it's essentially like a locked diff) but does have a selectable rear diff locker. Both have a low range transfer case for more torque to the wheels for tough situations.
Great review! btw, What's the biggest BFG KO2 tire that can be put on a stock 2023 Armada? Thanks!
Thanks for the support! Stock size is 33 inch in diameter, I think you can go to a 35, as long as it's the same width, without issue. Not sure though, I'd check the forums.
Wonderful. Thank you! I will contact a dealership. 33" is a nice all-around size tire with on-road driving being the majority of our use.
A 285/75r18 (35x11.5x18) will fit stock with only occasional rubbing on the fender liner but that’s really pushing it. I’m running that with +20mm offset Titan7 wheels and a 1.5” lift with no rubbing on or off-road.
Thanks for the knowledge!
How would you compare the off road capability vs the Sequoia you tested?
Thanks for watching and commenting. I would put the Sequoia TRD Pro ahead of the Armada for technical off-road capability, but not by too much. High speed the Sequoia winds hands down.
Please try the nissan patrol
I wish, not available here in the US. They share the same platform, but the patrol has stronger components and more features for off roading
Ok thank you for the information hope you have a great day.
Great review and shots! The on road review was very good as well! Is the outgoing Sequoia equipped with IRS too? I think the new Sequoia has got live axle. Is this the new industry trend for the BoF SUVs?
As always thanks for the support and comments! Going to 4 wheel independent is the new trend. The GM SUVs are now that way, the new grand wagoneer, basically every SUV in the US is now 4 wheel independent. I was very happy to hear the new Sequoia has a solid axle and locking rear diff. The independent rear suspension makes for more interior space supposedly, but I prefer a solid rear axle, for articulation, strength, and ease of modification.
I thought all patrols came with a diff lock
@@Moon222 not in the United States. Although the updated 2025 patrol now offers that.
@@EngineAdventures
I see. Thanks your video is very detailed without too much yapping
@@Moon222 thanks for the support! It's also called the Armada or QX80 in the US.
did you test the mpg?
In my previous video I talked a little about it. For some reason I averaged a little over 18 with this one, which is the best I've had in an Armada.
Not every Nissan Patrol or Armada has HBMC system. Platinum trim will more likely to have HBMC.
I don't think you can even get the Armada with HMBC, at least that I'm not aware of. When the QX80 first came out it was available on more trims, but now I think it's only the top 1 or 2 trims that get it.
Is there a diff lock in this car?
The center diff is locked when in 4high or 4low, but no front or rear lockers on it in the US
@@EngineAdventures its just weird.
seriously whats the main differance between the armada and the patrol? just the drive modes and the diff-locker? i heard the armada has more torque for some reason
I'm not 100% sure on the front diff size, but in the Armada the case is aluminum and it has a 180mm ring gear. It's iron in the Patrol and I believe 200mm. The Armada rear is 230mm and the Patrol is 248mm or 250mm. The Patrol is just a bit bigger and stronger for many of it's components.
do you think this vehicle has more wheel travel then a Suburban?
Compared to the new suburban with independent suspension all around, about the same.
@@EngineAdventures what about the 2011 gen suburban with autoride?
@@ViniciusNunes-m8q haven't even tested a suburban besides the 1988 I drove when I first got my license. However my guess is a 2011 would have better articulation, and if you have a G80 in the rear it would be a pretty capable rig from the factory!
@@EngineAdventures Yes, mine is a Suburban LTZ 2WD with the G80 in the rear. But when you hit a speed bump, you get that sensation and noise coming from the front suspension as if you hit the end of its travel articulation. Is there something i could do to solve that problem? Like having the front shocks changed?
Yeah, I'm sure that would help, but there probably isn't much travel in the front suspension. Maybe you can adjust the torsion bars to lift the front a little to give you a little more up travel.
This must be a rental!
Haha! Close, it's a media vehicle. However, this is something I would do, and have done, with my personal vehicles.
@@EngineAdventures My wife has a 2020 Armada Platinum and it is a very nice vehicle. I have a tundra I take off road but would not consider taking her Armada off road unless it was necessary. They are pretty capable vehicle.
Every time I think of picking one of these up to replace my xterra I wander back to this video and cancel the idea. I would love a big roomy v8 that doesn't ride like a covered wagon but I would have been walking home several times this year with this thing. looks like you live about an hour south of me, you know that things can get real scary in a hurry and I won't be counting on this thing to get me to the pavement, or a hospital. If only it could be a Patrol, sigh.
It's still pretty capable, but certainly not on the level of an Xterra. I'd be comfortable in any weather on pavement with an Armada. Even most of the outdoor activities I do with my family off pavement would be fine in the Armada.
@@EngineAdventures thanks. I’m backtracking a little bit on what I said. The 2 times I’m really thinking of flex wasn’t a factor and power would have helped. And both were the result of some really impulsive stupidity. Thanks for the video.
@@EngineAdventures and the pavement driving can’t be forgotten either, my xterra is kinda bad on 15 in any kind of snow. Below 45 it’s a beast, start trying to cross the lane berm when they’re not plowing during the commute and suddenly life sucks pretty bad.
@@jcarry5214 Yeah no worries. I actually started this channel to show how much more capable a lot of vehicles are than what most people think. The Armada has the bones to be great, but just misses the mark.
My XJ is similar in the snow, it does really well, but not at freeway speeds. That's where Subarus really shine.
@@EngineAdventures Really? the subarus I had were even worse, they wanted to pinwheel. But they were older, 03, 04. The traction control wasn't as smart, all the wheels wanted to come loose at the same time. I could drive right around full size trucks in deep snow, but above 50 they were scary, I felt safer with 1 wheel drive volvos. But that's what I was used to. Thanks for your work, I'll be looking at some other videos.
Nissan patrol
Patrol Royale
Bro you need a lift kit on that beast stop playing games
Absolutely, but it's not my vehicle, just a media loan that I had for a week. There aren't a ton of options here in the US to lift an Armada anyway.
@@EngineAdventures I hear you bro and that's really sad ; when Sandy hit alot of people have changed their minds when it came to car versus trucks and ride height. I love a truck; if theirs a traffic jam I'm curb hopping all day or I'll just drive on shoulder where dirt then woods
I’d much rather have a Lexus GX if i were looking to go off road in a “ luxury “ suv.
GX or LX are both great. However this one is bigger than those, and less capable stock. Just depends on what is wanted and needed.
Agree, it makes no sense that Nissan North America do not leverage the great Patrol nameplate and its genuinely impressive off road credentials. What must they be thinking? Its an off the shelf upgrade, rear diff lock and full rock, sand modes etc..... Nissan have made some very strange strategic decisions over the years, poor poor management. There are some amazing overlander modifications in Australia for the Y62 Nissan Patrol (even dual cab pick up conversions!). Just astounding that you guys stateside do not benefit. shame on you Nissan!
Hopefully they will realize Americans do want off-road capable vehicles, whether they actually get used or not.
Yeah, me thinks I would rather have a Y62 Patrol.
Likewise, I've actually been looking at figuring out how to import a Y61 patrol as well. We will see what happens, but I think that would be a fun one for this channel.
@@EngineAdventures Absolutely
Street tires aren't fir off road!!!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Having the right tires for the terrain is very important! However, that's not what's being tested here. The hill has places where two diagonally opposed tires are essentially in the air. The vehicle has to be able to transfer enough torque to the tires with traction to make the climb.
@EngineAdventures I still wouldn't off road with those tire!!!!!
In the early part of this video - It could drive through that hard but if you do that the car suspension will get destroyed... later.
Even engine mount could crack later on, it is design to go over those obstacle but not dashing through like that.
I have destroyed axel/enginemount/suspension for numerous SUVs. DO NOT drive like that without modification, You need long travel suspension!!!
AND why NISSAN insists design its rear bumper like that!!!! it looks like a lady downstairs with lip injection. PLEASE!!!
I usually mention I drive like this for testing, but driving this fast is hard on the vehicle and can be risky on blind corners with oncoming traffic. I get made fun of for how slow I drive my truck in dirt roads. With my Jeep it's a different story.
I've seen photos of a US spec Armada vs the world wide Nissan Patrol and the Patrol has a much more trim rear bumper. Just another thing that makes the patrol better than the Armada.
Nissan Armada needs to learn quite a bit from it's cousin the Mitsubishi Montero regarding off road capabilities.
Or the Nissan Patrol. Nissan has the knowledge and capability, they just don't think the US market needs it, and they are probably right for the most part.
Luv my truck but that thing is dangerous its suspension is fucken ridiculous garbage i almost tip over
I would say the suspension isn't ideal for high speed maneuvers, is that where your issue was?
@EngineAdventures naw average speeds from 70 to 30 your bouncing around all day long u h8t a ditch your bouncing back and forth which shouldn't happen it's dangerous so when your going around on a windy road your leaning like crazy and all my shocks are new it's crazy