Nissan Made An Armada NISMO For Some Reason
We feel save guessing that when most of you hear the word “NISMO” you’re likely envisioning Nissan’s legendary race program and the slick variants of its sports cars like the Z and GT-R. Well, now you’ll also have to picture a even tougher version of Nissan’s massive flagship SUV. The 2026 Nissan Armada is getting its own NISMO variant and while we might be confused, we’re definitely not complaining.
Armada NISMO Does What Z NISMO Don’t
While some of you may scoff at the idea of a NISMO three-row SUV, you might be shocked to know that the 2026 Nissan Armada NISMO surpassed the Z NISMO in one key area. Many were disappointed with the Z NISMO only getting a 20 horsepower bump over a base model, but the Armada NISMO gets a 35 horsepower bump bringing the total power of its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 to 460 hp. So, not only does the Armada get the bigger bump it’s even the more powerful NISMO model on paper. Not too shabby for a family transport, right?
However, if we’re being honest it does make us wonder why Nissan didn’t turn up the wick more on the Z NIMSO, but that’s another story. To let the extra horsepower really sing, the Armada NISMO also comes equipped with a “retuned” exhaust system. However, Nissan still chooses to pump in augmented engine sounds through the Armada’s speaker system; so it might be hard to tell how much of a difference the exhaust really makes to the engine note from inside the cabin.
To make the Armada feel nimbler, NISMO re-tuned the electronic power steering system and the active air suspension to make steering inputs feel more responsive. An admirable improvement, but don’t expect it to hang with MX-5’s and Porsche 911s in the canyons.
Got The NISMO Look
You can say what you want about the virtues of a high-performance three-row SUV, but it can’t be denied that the Nissan Armada NISMO looks the part. The Armada NISMO reworked front and rear fascias which both providing some aerodynamic benefit. Fender flares widen the stance and make the Armada NISMO look a bit more imposing.
Just like the Z NIMSO and GT-R NISMO the Armada can be had in “Stealth Grey” or “Everest White Pearl Tricoat” with red accents. A super black roof is optional for both paint schemes. The Armada NISMO’s interior is adorned in quilted charcoal black leather with red accents and stitching to tie in with the red exterior accents.
Pricing and Availability
Nissan hasn’t provided pricing for the 2026 Armada NISMO yet, however MotorTrend guesses that it will start around $78,000 putting it above the PRO-4X trim but below the Platinum Reserve trim. If they’re right the Armada NISMO will have the advantage of being the most powerful trim in the line up, but not the most expensive which could make it a very attractive prospect for some SUV buyers.
The 2026 Nissan Armada NISMO is set to hit dealers in the fall of 2025. We should get official pricing well before that so stay tuned. In the meantime, let us know if a NISMO variant Armada is something you’d want in your driveway.