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- Nissan Armada steps up. The 2026 Armada Pro-4X fills the gap left by the Toyota Land Cruiser with impressive off-road capabilities.
- Performance and design. Features a twin-turbo V6, modernized interior, and off-road design elements.
- Family-friendly but compact in its segment. Offers better third-row access but less space compared to larger competitors.
- Competitive pricing. At $81,675, it costs less than the outgoing Land Cruiser.
Bottom line: The 2026 Nissan Armada Pro-4X offers a compelling off-road option for enthusiasts, filling the void left by the real Land Cruiser with style and capability.
AI assisted, editor reviewed
Nissan has delivered a vehicle that replaces the Toyota Land Cruiser. Did you have that on your bingo card? I’ll admit it: not me.
The 2026 Nissan Armada Pro-4X is a full-size, three-row, body-on-frame SUV with a twin-turbo V-6 powertrain and an off-road kit that delivers most of the off-road capability you’ll ever need. It’s underrated and, frankly, being slept on.
After a week with the Pro-4X, I was shocked that Nissan’s delivered where Toyota stumbled. Wipe that away, and the winners here are off-road enthusiasts. Families might possibly be better off elsewhere, though.
Joel Feder
The Basics
The 2026 Armada returns to the market, and there’s even a new performance-oriented Nismo model. It’s supposed to be, I am told, inspired by the GT-R. The Armada entered its third generation for 2025, which saw the model drop its naturally aspirated V8 engine for a twin-turbo V6 while getting a modernized interior. Aside from the Nismo model, it arrived for 2026 without much fanfare for year two.
The exterior of the Armada is cut from a different cloth than every competitor’s. It’s notably shorter than a Chevy Tahoe or Ford Expedition. The square profile is upright with tall glass, short overhangs, and a design that actually looks like it was intended to go off-pavement. Even the fog lights are mounted up higher, away from things that might damage them. The front end isn’t overly tall or intimidating, and it doesn’t feel like this is compensating for anything. It just looks like an SUV. I love the throwback triple-slot design nod to the OG hardbody-based Pathfinder. The orange flourishes, such as the tow hooks, stripe on the D-pillar, and badging, give it the mildest of flair without screaming “look at me, I’m the off-road model!”
Inside, the low-set dashboard provides great forward visibility, with the tall glass around the cabin extending that feeling all around. There are two 14.3-inch displays: one serves as the digital gauge cluster, while the other serves as the touchscreen infotainment system, under a single pane of glass. These are augmented by real honest-to-goodness buttons, knobs, and toggles. I love a good toggle, and the climate control system has three of them. The pushbutton gear selector didn’t bother me here, as each chiclet operates the same, unlike the last GMC Yukon with its push-and-pull situation.
Joel Feder
All three rows of seats are covered in leather, while the first two feature quilted orange stitching and orange stripes. All four doors feature soft-touch materials and stitching. The padding on the front center console is thin along the edges, and my elbow sank through and hit hard plastic in certain spots along the leading edge. The second-row captain’s chairs feature the same tilt-and-slide function as the Pathfinder, making it so car seats installed with LATCH don’t have to be removed to access the third row. A clutch feature the Tahoe lacks, by the way. However, the third row of the Armada is notably smaller than that of the larger Tahoe, Expedition, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer. There’s also less cargo space in the very back, regardless of the third row’s position. Worse, the packaging of the independent rear suspension system means the fold-flat third row isn’t actually flat. When down, the floor actually slopes towards the rear of the Armada, which is really fun when soccer balls roll out of the back end.
I did love the small cubby of underfloor storage in the cargo area, which is the perfect size for towing gear.
Joel Feder
Driving the 2026 Nissan Armada Pro-4X
Every Armada is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 rated at 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, except in the Nismo, which bumps output up to 460 hp. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels, but four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case is standard on the Pro-4X. As is locking rear differential, air suspension system, triple skid plate setup to cover the fuel tank, oil pan, and engine. The behemoth rides on 20-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain tires.
Both around town and on the highway, the Armada has plenty of power, and the turbo-six doesn’t moan like the turbocharged V6 found in the Lexus LX. There’s a proper grit to this V6-based powertrain that makes it feel like it belongs in a truck, but no one is going to mistake it for the deep growl of a V8. Those days are over.
The nine-speed automatic transmission behaves well and leaves little to complain about, but I prefer the quicker, crisper shifts of Toyota’s 10-speed automatic in the Sequoia.
The suspension is soft and absorbs broken Midwest pavement with ease. There’s noticeable roll when taking corners on the all-terrain rubber and air suspension.
Joel Feder
The two-speed transfer case engages quickly and delivers a delightfully old-school Nissan 4Lo icon in the digital gauge cluster. A total throwback I’m here for. The rear electronic locking differential icon provides the same joy.
The black running boards that are standard on the off-road Pro-4X model seem hilariously out of place. Hard to imagine they wouldn’t get crushed during an adventure, but they are family-friendly.
Around town, the Armada’s smaller-than-Tahoe, Expedition, and Grand Wagoneer size shines. Especially at the grocery store parking lot. It’s easier to manage, easier to park, and requires far fewer three-point turns.
It’s worth mentioning that EPA fuel economy ratings for the turbocharged V6 powertrain clock in at 15 mpg city, 18 highway, and 16 combined. Over the course of 375 miles of mixed suburban driving, the Armada averaged 15.9 mpg. Those EPA ratings are on point, not stellar, but far better than the outgoing V8. It’s also about on par with what you’ll get in the competition, whether it’s with a turbocharged V6 or a V8.
Quick Verdict
At $61,030, including an obnoxious $2,190 destination fee, the 2026 Nissan Armada stands out from its longer and more spacious competitors while retaining all the technology and amenities consumers want. It even features more family-friendly access to the third row than its rivals. But more importantly for consumers, the off-road Pro-4X model offers real capability that the competition lacks when the pavement stops.
At $81,675 as tested, it isn’t cheap, but that’s slightly less than the outgoing Land Cruiser 200 Series, and America doesn’t get the 300 Series except in Lexus form.
Nissan’s given us what feels like, or is as close to, a true Toyota Land Cruiser—not some Prado by a different name—and enthusiasts might just be sleeping on a great off-road rig.
Nissan provided The Drive with a seven-day loan of this vehicle for the purpose of writing this review.
2026 Nissan Armada Pro-4X Specs
Base Price (Pro-4X)$61,030 ($81,675)Powertrain3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 | nine-speed automatic | four-wheel driveHorsepower425 @ 5,600 rpmTorque516 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpmSeating Capacity7 or 8Curb Weight6,093 poundsTowing Capacity8,500 poundsCargo Volume20.4 cubic feet behind third row | 56.3 cubic feet behind second row | 97.1 cubic feet behind first rowGround Clearance9.6 to 11.6 inchesOff-Road Angles30-33° approach | 21.5-24.5° breakover | 22-22.5° departureEPA Fuel Economy15 mpg city | 18 highway | 16 combinedScore8.5/10
Quick Take
The 2026 Nissan Armada Pro-4X isn’t the full-size, three-row SUV for everyone, but if you’re an off-road enthusiast, it fills the void that Toyota left behind.
As Director of Content and Product, Joel draws on over 15 years of newsroom experience and inability to actually stop working to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media. He’s also a World Car Award juror.
