So Nissan just teased the Armada

[Brown98LC]

My green 300 is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I have a green 200, too.

Both excellent trucks!

im happy to hear.
It's funner to drive than the 200 for sure, more capable off road, but I maintain what I said about the build quality vs LC 200. I am not just talking materials, there 300 has more soft touch, it just how solid it feels.
I have driven the LC 300 for a total of 100,000+kms and owned 2 different ones and owned several 200s and currently own a 2014 LX.

Your LX 600 might offset that less solid feel with its better insulation.

 

[Brown98LC]

I am completely ignorant of anything Nissan. The Armada is a sharp unit, but is it even on the same planet as Toyota/Lexus in terms of reliability and longevity?

My son has a 2016 4Runner, and had a friend in college with a 2016 X-Terra. He said the X-Terra was a piece of junk in comparison. Plasticky, rattled like crazy, certain things didn't work any more.

The Armada I won't comment on because it seems like a dumbed down/decontened Patrol but if we talk actual Patrol vs LC, then the Patrol in some years was actually more heavy duty than the Land Cruiser but this was mainly if we compare Y60/Y61 years.

I'll say this though, the ride comfort of the Y62 patrol off road is incredible.

Toyota's always generally had the edge over Nissan reliability/fit and finish ( maybe not initially but as they age). I don't think that will change anytime soon...unless this new Y63 engine proves to have a better start.

Peak Toyota era, the build quality was insanely good and the materials aged really well. Nissans while mechanically solid in some years, definitely didn't age as well body/interior wise.

 

[TexasHusker]

im happy to hear.
It's funner to drive than the 200 for sure, more capable off road, but I maintain what I said about the build quality vs LC 200. I am not just talking materials, there 300 has more soft touch, it just how solid it feels.
I have driven the LC 300 for a total of 100,000+kms and owned 2 different ones and owned several 200s and currently own a 2014 LX.

Your LX 600 might offset that less solid feel with its better insulation.

The only thing I don’t like is the hood isn’t thick enough. It moves at speed. At first, I stopped to ensure it was fastened.

 

[OwnerCS]

The Patrol like the LC is a cut above other Nissan products.

Two engines
VR35DDTT
And

VQ38DD​

Starting price is around higher end GCC spec Prado but it's almost priced same as LC300 .
LC300 will start cheaper in some markets but the Patrol taps out for cheaper on the higher end for most markets

While not supposed to be the same. I remember seeing their new 3.5 V6 has the same bore and stroke as the 3.5 GTR engine. Since it is actually called VR it could be more similar than I thought. The VQ38DD (normally aspirated) is the same as the Frontier. I would need to see that one run for a few years.

Looking back to fond memories of the Z32TT and all of the other turbos Nissan developed during the glory days, I would be at ease with them.

I've been living with some VQ30 engines for decades. Just keep a good timing chain tensioner in place and life will be good for a long time.

 

[TaishoCruiser]

The Armada I won't comment on because it seems like a dumbed down/decontened Patrol but if we talk actual Patrol vs LC, then the Patrol in some years was actually more heavy duty than the Land Cruiser but this was mainly if we compare Y60/Y61 years.

I'll say this though, the ride comfort of the Y62 patrol off road is incredible.

Toyota's always generally had the edge over Nissan reliability/fit and finish ( maybe not initially but as they age). I don't think that will change anytime soon...unless this new Y63 engine proves to have a better start.

Peak Toyota era, the build quality was insanely good and the materials aged really well. Nissans while mechanically solid in some years, definitely didn't age as well body/interior wise.

While not supposed to be the same. I remember seeing their new 3.5 V6 has the same bore and stroke as the 3.5 GTR engine. Since it is actually called VR it could be more similar than I thought. The VQ38DD (normally aspirated) is the same as the Frontier. I would need to see that one run for a few years.

Looking back to fond memories of the Z32TT and all of the other turbos Nissan developed during the glory days, I would be at ease with them.

I've been living with some VQ30 engines for decades. Just keep a good timing chain tensioner in place and life will be good for a long time.

I haven't torn down an LC200 or Y62 to the extent that I've wrenched on other platforms to do a detailed comparison. While the Y62 may not be as overbuilt as parts of the LC200, it isn't a slouch (again, the US Spec Armada has some weight and $ saving changes that make it more like a Prado, in comparison, than the LC).

As for the VR30 and VR38, I'm rusty on my Nissan blocks but I don't think they are closely related. The VR38 is a closed deck related to the VQ while the VR30 is a different, open block. Now that said the VR30 twin turbos have been out since 2016. They had some issues in 2016-2017 (porous blocks, some other issues) but from 2018 up they've been pretty solid. I'd say that bodes well for the Y63 and the VR35, at least in terms of the engine.

 

[W4632018]

Does anyone have direct experience with the current outgoing model V8 Armada (2017-2024)? How's the build quality and long-term reliability? (I know it's probably not on the LC200 level, but is it somewhat close enough?)

I’ve read that the patrol/armada is in different league compared to the rest of the Nissan line up, and they do seem to hold up very well and have good build quality. But it’s a new gen, I wouldn’t buy anything new. They could mess it up like Toyota is messing up with a lot of their new products.

 

[newbielx470]

I’ve read that the patrol/armada is in different league compared to the rest of the Nissan line up, and they do seem to hold up very well and have good build quality. But it’s a new gen, I wouldn’t buy anything new. They could mess it up like Toyota is messing up with a lot of their new products.

Yeah, that'd be my concern too. If Toyota can mess up the new V6 that badly, there is an even higher chance Nissan (or any other brand) could mess up their new V6

 

[OwnerCS]

It's a funny story, but I wouldn't be driving Toyotas today without some great Nissan experiences. A horrible Nissan dealer experience sent me over to the Toyota side. I took to Toyota engines like a duck to water. I already had all of the JIS spec tools and some strange work techniques well-developed before my first 5VZ and later 2UZ. My first Nissan project was a VH45 that paved the way to my love for the 2UZ.

Ahhh the glory days of Japanese engineering from the late 80s into the early 90s. This was before "Le Cost Cutter" took over.

VQ30DE

 

[TexasHusker]

Based on the lastest Consumer Reports reliability rankings, we probably don't need to be comparing a Nissan product to a Toyota/Lexus product. Two different deals.

 

[Azimuth1]

No full-time 4WD on the new Patrol/Armada it seems.

 

[URJ150L]

Based on the lastest Consumer Reports reliability rankings, we probably don't need to be comparing a Nissan product to a Toyota/Lexus product. Two different deals.

View attachment 3727677

Worse than Buick and bmw… not good.

 

[OwnerCS]

Based on the lastest Consumer Reports reliability rankings, we probably don't need to be comparing a Nissan product to a Toyota/Lexus product. Two different deals.

View attachment 3727677

Good to see that we are still on top.

 

[Mrtwooooo]

Do we know if the rear locker that comes on this new Armada is even an actual locker? I know Ford Expeditions have a "rear locker" but its really just the rear diff engaging both of the clutch packs on either side of the diff with nothing actually locking together.

 

[185]

Based on the lastest Consumer Reports reliability rankings, we probably don't need to be comparing a Nissan product to a Toyota/Lexus product. Two different deals.

View attachment 3727677

Does that reflect armada reliability or overall brand reliability?

Anyone else notice that some dealers are seeing LX700h model codes in the allocation and ordering systems?

 

[OwnerCS]

Does that reflect armada reliability or overall reliability?

Anyone else notice that some dealers are seeing LX700h model codes in the allocation and ordering systems?

Sadly, I think my experience with dealers would have factored into a poor rating.
Having grown up around car dealers, I've seen a great dealer keep customers happy with a less than perfect car and coming back for generations.
Unfortunately, a BAD BAD BAD Toyota dealer kept me away for years. They eventually lost the franchise. Now days, I rarely have contact with local dealers.

 

[Azimuth1]

Do we know if the rear locker that comes on this new Armada is even an actual locker? I know Ford Expeditions have a "rear locker" but its really just the rear diff engaging both of the clutch packs on either side of the diff with nothing actually locking together.

If it's anything like the Y62 Patrol that was sold abroad (and I have no reason to suspect otherwise), then yes, it is a real locker.

 

[Azimuth1]

It seems that the VR35DDTT engine used in the Armada and QX80 is direct injection. I couldn't find information that it is pure GDI, or "dual injection" like Toyota. Does it concern anyone if it is only GDI?

 

[GBman]

Just wanted to bump this and post that I bought one of these a few weeks back. 2026 armada pro 4x. So far I love it. I have had a lot of Toyota trucks so it might be valuable for someone else down the line who’s considering one.

Prior Toyota’s - 3 5th gen 4R pros, 2018 LC200, 2019 LX570, 2022 GX460, 2024 GX550, 2023,24,25 sequoia pro.

I had been mainly driving sequoias lately having two small kids and still wanting something Japanese with off road chops. With that said, the sequoia was more like a giant 4R with worse build quality. Switching between 2wd and 4wd is never ideal for my northeast climate. Interior fit and finish was poor. Cargo in the 3rd row was compromised. That wasn’t a deal breaker for me the way it seems to be with every reviewer online though. The motor was solid and was the one high point of the sequoia. Relative to my 200 series trucks it got up and moved in a hurry and I liked that.

I wanted to try the armada based on some YouTube videos I saw about fit and finish and because I put a lot of weight into having a J Vin. Sorry Uncle Sam I love this country but the Japanese build a much better vehicle. Thus far I am not disappointed in the least. This truck reminds me a lot of my prior LX570 and I was able to buy it new for around 77k which in today’s market seemed very fair.

Compared to the sequoia

Better interior - absolutely Lexus grade fit, finish and comfort.

Better panel gaps.

Better paint quality

I prefer the AWD system in this for my needs in the northeast but I could understand someone in the south who was doing hardcore off-roading preferring the sequoia. Based on the videos I’ve seen of these mountain goating sand dunes in UAE I don’t believe I’ll ever get it stuck.

Much quieter cabin

Seats are some of the most comfortable I’ve had in a full size SUV. My opinion is that bmw multi contour seats are king but these get the job done far better than my GX550 or sequoias.

Nissan may screw up a lot of stuff but they know how to make a TT 6 cylinder. I have zero complaints so far with the motor.

Things that are questionable on it

I will likely take a beating if I sell it. Resale is a red flag as someone who mostly buys Lexus and Toyota. Could Nissan go bankrupt?! Maybe.

The air suspension isn’t as good as the hydraulic unit that was in my LX570. It adjusts based on the drive mode selected, takes longer to adjust and lowers the rear end when parked to make trunk access easier. I find that last bit annoying and am trying to find a workaround. Just let me select the height and lower it above a set speed like my defender.

The GX and sequoia are both better looking imho. Ditto LX600 but that’s significantly more money with a much less usable 3rd row.

Anyways if you’re jonesing for a J vin LC200 replacement and your budget is 75-80k I definitely would recommend the armada. If you have LX700 overtrail money and don’t need the third row space then it’s prob not a road to go down.

Blind fold anyone and take them for a ride in one and they would never in a million years guess it was a Nissan. Much like my prior lc200 cruiser I like that part. You spent what for a Nissan? Haha

Cheers

 

[OwnerCS]

When the 3.5 L V6 with the same bore and stroke as the GTR was introduced, I figured a TT version would happen for large trucks. There is a NISMO Armada where the reviewer references the GTR. One thing about Nissan is that it will repurpose engine designs from sports cars into cars and trucks. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, kept the VK56 and others around for ages.

 

[Docyota]

Nice review, thanks. A lot of folks around my neck of the woods have Nissan or infinity products since the dealership is in town and service is easy. I've got to drag my Lexus products 1.5-2 hours away for service.

Gotta say, that armada ain't gonna get laid based on looks.