SavageGeese | 2025 Nissan Armada | Rooting for the Underdog [15:41]

[u/obthaway]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksSlKzyuaVM

it is very iconic that nobody bothered posting this here since the video came out 10 days go. great improvements comparing to the last gen and the main competitor, lc300, isn't even available in the NA. kinda tells you how dire the situation nissan is in right now for the NA market.

also, i wish nissan could just bring the patrol here instead of keep using this localized/neutered version.

[u/kramark814]

Armada and Patrol are barely different now though.

[u/ShimmeringMantis → u/kramark814]

yep and for me Armada is the best one

[u/hi_im_bored13]

I wish nissan could just bring the patrol here instead of keep using this localized/neutered version

It isn't neutered anymore, the original armada was a titan wagon, the next gen Y62 Patrol and Y62 Armada were the same car apart from slight suspension differences, underbody protection, and rear locker on the Patrol. Now that we get a Pro-4X trim with said locking diff & adaptive suspension, there's no difference (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Just keeping the armada name for brand recognition.

Regardless, seems like a very compelling vehicle especially for the price, genuinely prefer this interior over the QX80, apart from the buttons for drive select seems like the ideal. Massive upgrade in looks, refinement, and capability over the previous gen. As they mentioned in the end of the video - nothing in that class is as cohesive of a package.

I'd get the Pro-4X over a Sequoia any day of the week at the minimum, purely off the packaging especially in the rear. (sequoia:

). With that car they had to package the rear live axle and the hybrid system, so no fold-flat seats, hump for the battery, there is noticeably less usable space and a very high load floor with the divider.

But thats the benefit of keeping IFS rear vs. the live axle in the sequoia, nothing in the the geese video pushed the suspension articulation to where you'd see benefit with a live axle setup. Excited to see if someone compares a Y63 patrol vs. LC300 on a properly tough course.

[u/sharpshooter9000 → u/hi_im_bored13]

The Y62 Armada and Patrol (not this new one) are still different however.

The differentials on the armada are weaker and smaller. Gear ratios and t case ratios are different, suspension components such as lower and upper control arms are weaker on the armada and thinner..

[u/tbone747 → u/hi_im_bored13]

Honestly for livability the Armada looks so much better.

The current-gen Sequoia is such a half-assed car with that abysmal third row. Besides the current gen LX which is just the LC300, I think the other SUVs on that platform are all rather disappointing.

[u/Mnm0602 → u/tbone747]

You’d think Toyota is sitting on a stockpile of GT3’s the way they slow roll production to the point that dealers have maybe 1-2 on each lot and they’re at MSRP in the ugliest fucking color combinations imaginable.  “Want a candy apple red Capstone for $90k?  Maybe I can interest you in a $79k SR5 in dull gray that is really quite green?  Sorry that’s all we get for the next 2 months.”

[u/bmillions → u/hi_im_bored13]

This new Armada looks to be great. If it carried over the VK56VD, I'd be trading in my Y62 Armada. I've taken my Armada wheeling on forest roads and mountain trails without worry that the bulletproof V8 would get me home. I can't say I'd have the same confidence with a twin turbo V6.

[u/Johns-schlong → u/bmillions]

I have a 20 armada and as nice as this looks I'll be driving that thing probably until 200k miles. The engine and transmission are dumb ass reliable and it's more than comfortable and capable enough for what I need. My days of any serious off-road shenanigans are over, which is why I traded in my Xterra for something more comfortable to begin with.

Also, despite what might be going on with the rest of Nissan, the y62 is well built. No squeaks or rattles or issues at 75k miles. My biggest gripe is the dated infotainment system, but it has Bluetooth so meh. Maybe someday I'll swap in the 2022-2024 head unit with android auto if it bugs me.

[u/DocPhilMcGraw]

They’ll be great to pick up in a year or two when they’re listed as CPO for $20k less. Right now you can get a 2024 Armada Platinum with less than 10k miles for about $46k. They were listed for $69k brand new.

And if you can wait just a little longer, they’re even better to pick up at the 3 year mark when their residual value is only 52% of the original price. So then you’re basically getting a $70k SUV for $35k.

[u/Educational_Age_1333 → u/DocPhilMcGraw]

I had never looked a the used market for armadas and I read your post thinking it was straight bullshit, like there was one $70k MSRP armada with 20k miles at 50k. 

You're right I see multiple armadas under 20k for under $46-$50k near me. 

That is insane for what that vehicle offers. 

[u/DocPhilMcGraw → u/Educational_Age_1333]

Yeah, if you can believe it, it beats the Grand Wagoneer on being the worse resale value in its class. But the overwhelming majority of the loss in value happens in the first 3 years where it tanks 50%. Then afterwards, you only lose like 1-3% per year. So that’s why I say ideally if you can wait to the 3 year mark you’re pretty golden.

[u/Educational_Age_1333 → u/DocPhilMcGraw]

Amazing thanks for the info doc!

[u/obthaway → u/Educational_Age_1333]

keep quiet and we can all get one around 35k in 3 years ;)

[u/animealt46 → u/obthaway]

They only go that low because it's popular enough to sell 20~30k a year. If everyone kept quiet and it didn't move that volume you wouldn't have such a good used market.

[u/DodgerBlueRobert1 → u/DocPhilMcGraw]

Wow, that’s a great used deal. Talk about a horrible new purchase. The residuals are terrible.

[u/Johns-schlong → u/DocPhilMcGraw]

I bought my 2020 model in 2023 for $28k. It had been sitting on the back of an Audi dealership for like 6 months and they wanted it gone. It isn't the platinum, it's the SL, the only major difference is the non-cooled non quilted seats, just normal heated leather. It has one minor ding I'll probably never get around to fixing because you won't notice it unless you're looking for it.

[u/DodgerBlueRobert1]

One useless but interesting tidbit I learned about the Armada is that with every generation the wheelbase has gotten a little shorter, but the overall length of the truck has grown slightly.

[u/CompetitiveLake3358]

You can tell Mark was holding back a bit in this video because Nissan gave him access to their vehicle and a testing area

[u/One-Platypus3455 → u/CompetitiveLake3358]

If that were the case, he’d hold back on every vehicle.

[u/CompetitiveLake3358 → u/One-Platypus3455]

He said on his Livestream that he often has to

[u/One-Platypus3455 → u/CompetitiveLake3358]

That may be the case but my thing is that every manufacturer gives him access to their vehicles, not just Nissan, so he’d hold back on them all!

[u/Sir_Sir_ExcuseMe_Sir]

It's iconic? It's neither iconic nor ironic.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/Sir_Sir_ExcuseMe_Sir]

Ionic.

[u/Wh0ischamp]

wow they actually updated the engine option!! thought they would find a way to stuff a VQ into this

[u/Kavani18]

Armada is a way cooler name than Patrol

[u/idksomuch → u/Kavani18]

Armada, Titan, Frontier, Pathfinder, Godzilla

I'm not the biggest fan of Nissan but they have some cool names.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever top BZ4x as the best cat name ever

[u/BABYEATER1012]

Soon it'll be the HonSan Armada Trailsport.

[u/Turclebo123]

Nissan still doesn’t know how to make a good looking front grill