{"id":5013,"date":"2025-05-01T14:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T14:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/?p=5013"},"modified":"2025-05-06T12:33:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T12:33:32","slug":"we-put-the-nissan-armada-pro-4x-to-the-ultimate-off-road-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/05\/01\/we-put-the-nissan-armada-pro-4x-to-the-ultimate-off-road-test\/","title":{"rendered":"We Put The Nissan Armada Pro-4X To The Ultimate Off-Road Test"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PROS \u203a\u203a <\/span> Spacious cabin, great off-road, lots of tech <\/span>CONS \u203a\u203a <\/span> Fuel thirsty, wallowy on road, tight third-row headroom <\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The 2025 Armada is an SUV we\u2019ve already tested<\/a> in the snowy north. Our conclusion was crystal clear: this is a luxurious body-on-frame battleship that demonstrates a leap forward for Nissan. Nevertheless, there\u2019s one detail that may or may not matter all that much: the model we drove was the range-topping Platinum Reserve trim.<\/p>\n

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Thus, we couldn\u2019t help but wonder how will a lesser trim like the Pro-4X, the one that\u2019s meant to get dirty and in which owners are told by Nissan to \u201cgo forth and conquer\u201d, fare. How will that manage a bunch of mud, silt, sand, rock, and water crossings? That\u2019s what we decided to find out when Nissan loaned us one.<\/p>\n

Quick Facts<\/h5>\n
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\u203a Model:<\/td>\n2025 Nissan Armada Pro-4X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u203a Price:<\/td>\n$75,750 including destination and delivery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u203a Dimensions:<\/td>\nOverall Length: 208.9 in (5,307 mm)<\/p>\n

Overall Width: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)<\/p>\n

Overall Height: 75.8 in (1,925 mm)<\/p>\n

Wheelbase: 121.1 in (3,076 mm)<\/p>\n

Ground Clearance: 9.2 in (234 mm)<\/p>\n

Approach Angle: 20.4\u00b0
Departure Angle: 21.8\u00b0
Breakover Angle: 20.9\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u203a Powertrain:<\/td>\nTwin-Turbo 3.5-liter V6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u203a Output:<\/td>\n425 hp (316 kW) and 516 lb-ft (698 Nm) of torque<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u203a Transmission:<\/td>\nNine-speed automatic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u203a On Sale:<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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SWIPE<\/span><\/p>\n

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Read: Honda Could Get Full-Size SUV As Part Of Merger With Nissan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

No doubt, we knew already that the Armada was going to be comfortable and powerful. But we didn\u2019t know if, as Nissan<\/a> claims, is truly \u201cfully equipped for adventure\u201d. To find out, we went into the Ouachita forest of central Arkansas, the largest and oldest National Forest in the south that encompasses some 1.8 million acres.<\/p>\n

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We only covered about 20 miles of that forest, but we found a lot during the trip. While there are countless crossovers and SUVs out there pretending to offer more than they do, the Armada Pro-4X keeps its maker\u2019s promises. While it might not be the absolute best<\/em> way to go about an adventure like this, it proved truly capable into and out of the wild.<\/p>\n

How Does It Behave On Tarmac?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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If there\u2019s anything to complain about regarding the Armada<\/a>, it\u2019s got to be the on-road experience. Just like its sibling, the Infiniti QX80, it feels somewhat boatish and heavy on tarmac. Negotiating a turn is an intentional act that requires consideration about tire location and if there\u2019s anything close enough to accidentally hit. The all-terrain tires on this trim level definitely don\u2019t help.<\/p>\n

Granted, the 425 hp (317 kW) V6 under the hood is more than adequate. It sounds louder in this than it does in the Infiniti and has no trouble playing at the speed of everyday traffic. Nissan\u2019s choice to add a nine-speed automatic pays off no matter the surface, as it\u2019s smooth and seems to always pick the right cog for every occasion. Moreover, passengers praised it for its comfortable highway ride. That all out of the way, the point is to see how well it handles the dirty stuff.<\/p>\n

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Can You Really \u201cGo Forth And Conquer\u201d Off-Road?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As you can see from the map above, this trail covers a lot of ground and a lot of elevation given its location. The first few miles consist of wide gravel roads and one creek crossing. Over that, the Armada felt great, if a bit too big at times. Keep in mind that these trails are mostly forest roads, so they\u2019re not exactly made to accommodate very large vehicles.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, we were the only ones on that trail, and while it had been raining, the creek was low. This is one of the same creeks that was so deep when we tested the Jeep Gladiator<\/a> that it stopped our progress. With less water, the Pathfinder made light work of it and we trundled on toward slower-speed challenges.<\/p>\n

First on that list was a soft, silt-filled section of trail where the Nissan made deep tracks on the ground. Progress continued, though, in part thanks to the locking rear differential. Next, we found a large hillside climb starting off in silt and then almost immediately transitioning to chunky rocks.<\/p>\n

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Initially, the Armada struggled to gain purchase, and it slid laterally to one side of the trail. Then, with a little more throttle and some light steering, it grabbed onto the rocks and slowly made its way up.<\/p>\n

The onboard cameras were invaluable here, as the trail was even narrower than before. Natural erosion had also cut away its edges, making visual inspection that much more difficult. Still, the Armada had no issues making it up the hill.<\/p>\n

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For some brief moments it was searching for traction, but the tires would ultimately grip and go almost instantly. All that was needed was consistent but judicious throttle inputs. We eventually made it to the top and basked in one of the best views the local area has to offer, at least by car.<\/p>\n

On the way back down, we popped the Armada into hill descent mode. Think of this as a low-speed cruise control that\u2019s designed to help you take you down a slope with ease. The benefit is that the driver doesn\u2019t have to worry about balancing throttle and brake inputs and can focus entirely on steering while the SUV maintains a low, safe speed. Navigating down the hill was a breeze, and the silt at the bottom didn\u2019t cause us any trouble either.<\/p>\n

Moving on, we had to deal with mud, sand, and more water. The Armada made it all seem like child\u2019s play. It tackled steep switchbacks, tight sections where fallen trees blocked most of the way, and several deep ruts where mud lay in wait. Interestingly, it was clear at the end of the day that the rear tires did a lot more spinning to gather grip than the fronts. They were caked in mud, whereas the front ones looked almost clean.<\/p>\n

Comfort And Convenience On The Trail<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps the best part about this excursion is just how nice it was to be in the Armada for it. Having taken several other vehicles out to this same space, only the Land Rover Defender was more impressive<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the Armada offers more interior space for everyone to stretch out and enjoy the ride. Additionally, the cabin is quiet and serene, so focusing on the vistas becomes a larger part of the experience.<\/p>\n

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From a driver\u2019s perspective, there\u2019s not much to complain about. Sure, I\u2019d love a few more off-road gadgets like a locking front differential, maybe a disconnectable sway bar, and more. But the reality is that most people don\u2019t need those things, and our Nissan had no issue without them anyway. The camera system was outstanding, the off-road modes were easy to use, and the integrated navigation system provided useful information even in the middle of nowhere.<\/p>\n

Comparisons And Conclusions<\/strong><\/p>\n

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No two weekends out on these trails seem to be the same lately. The weather switches between torrential rain, snow, ice, and droughts \u2013 thus, comparing how one SUV did to the next really comes down to the experience. That means thinking both about how fun it was for passengers and how stressful it was for the driver. After testing it, the Armada would be one of my top choices for similar trails.<\/p>\n

Having driven the Toyota 4Runner<\/a>, Land Cruiser, and Tacoma off-road (albeit at a different site), those are often (depending on trim) more capable. In places where getting stuck is absolutely not a choice, they would likely prove to be a more prudent pick. Despite that, the Armada will be far more comfortable on the trail as the suspension and interior space make it a great place to spend time on the trails.<\/p>\n

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Why would I personally pick the Defender over the Armada for a day out like this? Because it\u2019s simply better to drive on the road and doesn\u2019t give up the fancy off-road tech the competition offers. It combines what each of these SUVs does well into one form. That said, the Armada is far more impressive off-road than I expected it to be.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it, there is no shortage of crossovers and SUVs out there right now cosplaying as things they\u2019re not; that is, off-road capable machines. Automakers would have you believe that an extra inch of ground clearance and some fancy body cladding will let you tame the Rubicon trail. Nissan isn\u2019t one of them. The Armada Pro-4X is firmly in the camp of truly capable off-roaders. Like almost any vehicle, it can be improved and get even better, but even in its current form, it\u2019s definitely worth considering.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gallery Of The Trip<\/strong><\/p>\n

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PROS \u203a\u203a Spacious cabin, great off-road, lots of tech CONS \u203a\u203a Fuel thirsty, wallowy on road, tight third-row headroom The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5013"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5013"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5016,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5013\/revisions\/5016"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autofusiontech.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}