2026 NISMO will have you seeing red
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Razzle dazzle looks great on small sport's cars. Take the Nissan Z -- a powerful rear wheel drive that's been all the rage for more than 50 years. Four years ago, the two-seater took on the NISMO badge making an already quick car more so.
The motorsports division of Nissan added a twin turbo V6 boosting horsepower in its Sport trim by 20 while adding $23,000 to the bottom line. Fair enough.
What works in small packages might work for its largest SUV and so the Armada NISMO hit the street this year with 35 more ponies, a hand-built twin turbo V6 and plenty of pizazz. Red garnish-like treatment drapes front and rear fascia while side lower panels carry through with more of the same.
It's gawdy for sure and many passers-by shook their heads in disfavor of its over-the-top look.
You can make a case for the NISMO Armada compared with the Cadillac Escalade V. Both are high performance SUVs with the Caddy winning out in the opulence category. Although from a value standpoint, the Cadillac exceeds the $150,000 mark while the Armada NISM0 starts life in the $80s. Go figure.
The NISMO is really a souped-up regular Armada and one that hauls families or oodles of cargo while towing up to 8,500 pounds. With its body-on-frame truck chassis, you may want to hitch-up a Nissan Z NISMO for a striking comparison.
Its ride is soft, absorbing road imperfections with little body roll around curved pavement. The NISMO benefits from engine tuning -- requiring premium fuel, air suspension adjustments and specially designed 22-inch lighter forged wheels with all-season paws.
For all its heft, we were pleasantly surprised by its swiftness. With 460 horsepower mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the NISMO recorded 6.1-clicks up to 60 miles per hour at our independent test track. Braking from 60 to zero was recorded at 120 feet -- longer than comparable sized SUVs.
Interior cabin treatment is close to posh with our tester featuring quilted leather-appointed seats in its three rows with lava red stitching and interior accents. Third row access is made easy and nearly accommodates full-size adults.
Headliner mounted cooling and heating vents are well-positioned. Power controls at the liftgate manage seat positions for third and second rows. Driver and passenger seats are heated, surprisingly not ventilated and have 12-way power adjustments and lumbar for that just-right position.
A pair of 14.3-inch digital screens house engine vitals and infotainment apps and there are numerous USB ports throughout the cabin. Seating will accommodate seven or eight passengers depending on configuration.
Our tester included a standard Klipsch premium sound system with 12 speakers for audiophiles looking for full sound quality.
Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Google built-ins apps are standard and there are a number of useful knobs and buttons to replace drilling down found in some rival SUVs screens.
If you think you are seeing red with the NISMO, you are. Seats and seat backs, dashboard trim, door trim and all seat belts share the redness along with front console striping, exterior brake calipers, mirror trim along with strips of it here and there. It will appeal to some.
(Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net)
2026 Nissan Armada NISMO
Engine: 3.5-liter twin turbo-460 horsepower, 516 lb.-ft torque
MSRP/as tested: $79,530/$83,735
EPA-rated mileage: 16 city, 19 highway, 17 combined
Assembled: Final assembly of the Armada is in Los Angeles/Canadian parts content, 5%. Major source of foreign parts, Japan, 95%. Country of origin, engine and transmission -- Japan.
Crash test ratings: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2026 Armada NISMO a Top Safety Pick and earned a 'Good" rating, its highest, in crash worthiness for frontal protection, driver, passenger and side tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not completed its evaluation of the Armada NISMO as of this writing.
Warranty: 3-year/36,000 mile basic; 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain; 3 year/36,000 miles roadside assistance; and complimentary maintenance for the first 24 months/24,000 miles.