Nissan’s big off-road presentation at SEMA 2026 is the twin-turbo Frontier Ronin, but it isn’t the only interesting thing Nissan has brought. A lifted, long-travel Pathfinder with a retro vibe is one, and a roofless Armada safari rig on 37s is the other, and we’re not sure which one is cooler.
The Jungle Patrol Armada might be the one we’d most like to see, though, especially in Southern California.
Open-Air Safari Adventure Machine
Before Safari Style meant a sports car with a lifted suspension and all-terrain tires, it meant a rugged go-anywhere SUV without a roof. They were built for actual safaris, so tourists (and hunters) would have unobstructed views of the savannah. Perfect for getting the shots – camera shots – that they needed. Since it rarely rains, the roof didn’t really matter.
The Nissan Armada Jungle Patrol recreates that vibe while also calling out to the Nissan Patrol that the Armada was born from. Nissan’s team started by hacking off the roof and adding a tubular roll cage to re-add the strength and safety. Then the company added inward-facing rear seats on each side because that’s how safari rigs do it.
A wider track with custom long-travel suspension from CJD helps the 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar tires fit. The shocks are adjustable coilovers with remote reservoirs, but Nissan didn’t say how much it had to lift the Armada to make them fit. It did need to add some big fender flares to clear them, and some high-clearance bumpers to mount more Nismo lights and rock rails for off-road protection. The engine is the stock 425-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.
Retro Looks Great, But Can A Pathfinder Do 35s?
The Pathfinder XE-V6 concept is a callback to the XE-V6 trim of the original 1987 Pathfinder models. Nissan slapped on some retro-looking XE-V6 graphics, along with stripes that are more Patrol than Pathfinder but are still very cool.
Unlike the 1987 Pathfinder, this one gets a four-inch lift kit to help clear 35-inch tires. That’s a big step up from the 30.5s on the Rock Creek version of the Pathfinder, and the prototype Nismo wheels look amazing.
To make it look even more rugged, Nissan added custom high-clearance bumpers front and rear along with rock rails. There’s a swing-out rear tire carrier and Nissan has added a load of Nismo off-road lights including a prototype A-pillar mount.
Last but not least, the SUV gets a Nismo rooftop case, a Nismo icebox, a RotoPax can, and a Warn winch. The look is ultra-cool, though we’re not sure how long a Pathfinder could live on 35s if you tried to build this yourself.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Nissan loves to bring some fun concepts to SEMA, and these are no different. The concepts bring attention to the two SUVs while showing off parts that are either available from its Nismo accessory arm now or could be very soon if the show cars generate enough interest. Given Nissan’s financial state, it’s a smart move to show off Nismo parts with some “concepts” that aren’t too far off of reality. Nobody is ripping the roof off an Armada, but some cool wheels and auxiliary lights are easy upgrades for owners to make.
