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2025 Nissan Armada Test Drive Review: Can It Keep Up With the INFINITI QX80?

The redesigned 2025 Armada trades its V8 for a 425-hp twin-turbo V6 and claims an 8,500-pound maximum tow rating. Here is what the published evidence says—and what it cannot prove about the INFINITI QX80.
Entry731 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The redesigned 2025 Nissan Armada replaces its V8 with a 425-hp twin-turbo V6, adds a nine-speed automatic, and is rated to tow up to 8,500 pounds. That gives it serious numbers for a body-on-frame, three-row SUV—but those figures do not establish that it drives like the luxury-oriented INFINITI QX80. The available published test evidence offers one useful acceleration result; it does not include a firsthand drive for this review or a direct Armada-versus-QX80 ride comparison.

What changed for the 2025 Nissan Armada?

The 2025 model is a redesign centered on a new powertrain. Nissan replaces the previous V8 with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 and pairs it with a nine-speed automatic. Nissan says the new setup improves acceleration and fuel efficiency over the prior vehicle, but the available sources do not provide a controlled old-versus-new fuel-economy test.

The Armada remains a body-on-frame SUV. Nissan offers rear-wheel drive and available intelligent four-wheel drive; equipment and capability features vary by grade. Its lineup includes SV, SL, Platinum, PRO-4X, and Platinum Reserve. The official 2025 Armada information and brochure are the best references for grade-specific equipment.

What engine is in the 2025 Nissan Armada?

Nissan rates the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 at 425 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. A nine-speed automatic is standard. It is a V6-powered replacement for the outgoing V8, not a return to a V8 configuration. These are manufacturer ratings, not independent measurements. Nissan’s 2025 Armada press kit and brochure list the specifications.

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Is the 2025 Armada faster than the old V8 model?

There is a published acceleration result for the new Armada, but not a directly comparable old-versus-new test in the available evidence. In an Edmunds comparison reported by the Associated Press on August 13, 2025, Edmunds measured the test Armada at 6.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. That is an independent test result for that vehicle, not a Nissan claim or a result from this review. The report does not establish a controlled comparison with the previous V8 Armada.

Nissan describes the redesigned powertrain as improving acceleration relative to the prior vehicle. Without matched test conditions and results for both model years, the 6.3-second figure alone cannot quantify the difference. The AP report of the Edmunds Armada-Tahoe comparison also characterizes the engine as powerful and notes comfortable seats; those are Edmunds’ impressions, not firsthand observations here.

How much can the 2025 Nissan Armada tow?

Nissan states a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. It says every grade has a Class IV receiver and 7-pin harness/pre-wiring. The maximum is a model rating, not a guarantee that every trim can tow that much in every configuration. Before towing, check the specific vehicle’s payload and ratings, the trailer’s loaded weight, tongue weight, passengers and cargo, and whether the equipment needed for your setup is present. Confirm brake-controller availability and trailer visibility arrangements for the vehicle you intend to use.

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Nissan’s press kit and brochure list the tow rating and standard receiver and wiring equipment. Those specifications do not amount to an independent test with a particular trailer.

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What are the Armada’s real-world fuel economy and ride like?

The 2025 Armada’s published EPA fuel economy is reported as up to 18 mpg in the AP/Edmunds comparison. That is an EPA estimate, not consumption recorded during Edmunds’ 0-to-60 test and not a promise of what an owner will achieve. Driving conditions, load, and configuration affect actual fuel use; the available material does not provide a firsthand fuel-economy result for this review.

Likewise, the sources do not establish a firsthand ride assessment here. Edmunds’ comparison, as reported by AP, praised seat comfort, but that is not a full ride, handling, or noise evaluation. Treat any broader judgment about comfort on your roads as something to verify on a test drive in the grade and wheel-and-tire configuration you are considering.

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How does the Armada compare with the INFINITI QX80?

The title’s luxury-SUV comparison is best understood as context, not proof that the two vehicles feel alike. Official Nissan and INFINITI materials identify the 2025 models as related products and discuss their new powertrain context, but the available evidence does not provide a comprehensive back-to-back road test establishing differences in ride tuning, cabin noise, handling, or value. It would therefore overstate the evidence to call them the same vehicle dynamically or to say the Armada matches the QX80 on the road.

For a grounded comparison, evaluate the exact specifications and equipment on the two vehicles you are shopping, then drive both. The INFINITI QX80 press material provides official model information; it is not a substitute for a direct comparative drive.

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Where does it sit against the Chevrolet Tahoe?

In the AP-published Edmunds comparison, the Armada’s 8,500-pound maximum tow rating slightly exceeded the Tahoe limit cited for the comparison. Edmunds also found that the Tahoe offered more cargo room and second-row legroom. The report gave the Armada EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 18 mpg and noted that the Tahoe’s available diesel could reach 24 mpg combined. Those EPA figures describe different configurations, not results from the acceleration run.

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These are specific comparison findings, not a universal ranking across every grade or powertrain. If passenger space, cargo capacity, fuel economy, or towing is decisive, compare the exact configurations and ratings you plan to buy. The AP account of the Edmunds comparison contains the cited matchup.

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What did the 2025 Armada cost at launch?

Nissan’s US launch announcement listed a starting price of $57,520. That is a historical launch figure, not a current price or a quote for a specific trim. The later AP/Edmunds comparison cited an SV starting price of $59,530 including destination. Because the figures refer to different price references and dates, neither should be treated as today’s transaction price. Check a current Nissan configurator or local dealer for present pricing and incentives.

Nissan’s launch announcement documents the initial starting price.

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What should shoppers verify before choosing a trim?

Armada equipment varies by grade. Nissan’s brochure shows eight drive and terrain modes for specified grades and identifies grade-specific capability hardware; those features should not be assumed on every version. Shoppers considering off-road use should verify the exact PRO-4X equipment and compare it with the other grades rather than generalizing its hardware across the lineup.

The brochure also lists carpeted floor mats. If adding replacement or all-weather mats, check that a listing explicitly fits the 2025 model year and the chosen trim and cabin configuration; the brochure does not confirm fitment for any particular aftermarket product.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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