Here’s What The (Second) Most Expensive Nissan In The Lineup Will Cost You Fully-Loaded

Nissan is generally regarded as a budget-friendly automaker. A Nissan Versa sedan starts at just $17,190, which, in 2025, is almost unheard of for a brand-new vehicle – and still makes it the cheapest new car on sale in the US – and the only one under $20k. The most expensive Nissan, the GT-R, starts at an MSRP of $121,090, not counting the 2024 GT-R NISMO still selling for around a quarter million bucks, but that’s a big outlier in the brand’s lineup of sensible family cars are daily drivers. If we’re excluding premium sports cars, the priciest model of the bunch is the Nissan Armada, with the top trim starting at $76,990.

With all the features added plus the cost of financing the purchase, $70k can easily turn into a hundred grand. At that price, we expect a top-tier luxury SUV experience, something on par with a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz. So, how does the Nissan Armada stack up if money is no object? Let’s build a fully-loaded model and find out.

The 2025 Nissan Armada Trim By Trim

The Nissan Armada trim selection is nice and lean for 2025, with just five to pick from, ranging from the entry-level SV to the top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve.

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Standard Features In The Top-Range Nissan Armada

If we’re going fully-loaded, then obviously we’re starting our build with the Platinum Reserve, because that’s the most expensive one. But what does that get us that we’re not getting in the SV model?

• 14.3-inch digital gauge cluster
• 14.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 12-speaker premium audio system
• Voice-activated navigation system
• Alexa/Google virtual assistant
• Wireless charging
• Traffic-sign recognition with speed limiter
• Cabin camera
• 360-degree surround view camera
• ProPilot assist with navi-link
• Camera-based digital rearview mirror
• Standard trailer-brake controller
• Visual/graphic guidance dynamic trailer hitch/backup assist
• Panoramic moonroof with a power sunshade
• Power-folding mirrors
• Heated mirrors
• Heated, ventilated, and massaging front
• Leather upholstery
• Heated rear seats
• Heated leather steering wheel
• 8-way power front seats with
• Adaptive suspension
• Front and rear dashcam

What Can We Add To Our Nissan Armada?

The standard feature list for the Platinum Reserve Armada is pretty long, but fully-loaded means we’re adding every single option and package that Nissan has for offer. So here’s what that looks like:

• 4×4 drivetrain – $3,000
• Two-tone Everest White TriCoat / Super Black exterior color – $1,345
• Platinum Reserve ProPILOT Assist 2.1 package – $2,900
• Hatch tent – $515
• Black roof-rail crossbars – $560
• Yakima HoldUp 2 hitch-mounted bike rack – $499
• Yakima SkyBox 16 roof cargo box – $719
• Class III hitch ball mount – $98
• Class III hitch ball – $33
• 4-piece splash-guard set – $400
• Matte-chrome rear bumper protector – $300
• Wheel Locks – $76
• Reversible carpeted cargo-area protector, floor mats, captain’s chairs, cargo blocks, and first-aid kit – $550
• Illuminated kick plates – $450
• Panoramic illuminated headliner – $605
• Illuminated cargo scuff plates – $475
• Seatback organizer – $84
• Console net – $50
• Cargo net – $70
• Removable tote cargo organizer – $152
• Soft-sided cargo cooler – $169
• Cargo shelf/barrier – $360
• Tablet holder – $131
• Dual camera drive recorder – $376
• Rear camera dryer – $345
• USB charging cable set – $90
• Dog harness – $60
• Pet carrier – $140

Starting with a base MSRP of $76,990, plus $14,552 for our options, and $2,010 for shipping and handling, we get a total MSRP of $93,552 for our fully-loaded build.

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The Ultimate All-Arounder?

Taking a look at available features, it’s clear that Nissan’s vision of a top-range SUV is something of an all-rounder. You’ve got stylish, show-offy features like illuminated cargo scuff plates, plus practical features like console nets and organizers, overlanding options like tents and bike racks, and towing equipment like hitching gear. There are more luxurious vehicles available for the price, but Nissan wants a fully-loaded Armada to be the only vehicle you’ll ever need. What we’re saying is, these upgrades all make sense for someone, whether they suit your personal idea of the ultimate luxury 4×4.

What Will It Cost To Finance A Fully-Loaded Nissan Armada?

An entry-level Nissan costs as much as a down payment for some cars, but at $93,552 we’re probably not paying for our new Armada with a single cash payment. So what’s it going to look like if we finance this thing? If we assume a down payment of ten grand, five percent interest, and six percent for sales tax, here’s what our numbers might come out to.

With this estimate, we’re looking at $12,323 spent on the interest alone after five years. This comes out 12% of our loan going to the interest, and 88% going to the principal.

Your Mileage May Vary

Note that the calculations here are only provided as an example so that we have something to work with. We can guarantee that your auto loan terms will look very different if you run your own calculations.

Is A Fully-Loaded Nissan Armada A Serious Contender In The Luxury SUV Segment?

The question we’re ultimately trying to answer here is whether a Nissan can ever compete with the luxury SUV segment leaders. It’s certainly priced like a BMW, but does it drive like one? Does it feel like one?

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In our latest drive of the new Armada SUV, we noted that the twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine has a nice, confident push to it with a 0-60 in the low-six-second range, with responsive-but-measured brakes, steering, and transmission. The cabin materials are all high-quality and the ride is smooth; it feels like a luxury SUV. A slightly out-of-date luxury SUV, but a luxury SUV nonetheless. The standard air suspension on the Platinum Reserve makes for a comfortable ride and good body control, but there is still the occasional truck-like bounce over big bumps, though the experience is serene and comfortable enough on average.

What Else Can You Buy For Ninety Grand?

A Platinum Reserve Nissan Armada is easy to recommend at $76,990. Whether you need 4×4 or another twelve grand in accessories is another story. The standard features more than meet the bar for a luxury driving experience. When you bump the price to the $90k range, topping six figures after we take out our auto loan, we have to compare it to the $90,850 2025 BMW X5 M60i, with its TwinPower 4.4-liter V8 cranking out 523 horsepower, and that’s just not a fair contest, though these SUVs have very different missions, and the X5 won’t hold a candle to the 4×4-equipped Armada in rough off-road going.

At $76,990, it’s a fair fight between the Armada and the top-range Lexus TX, the 550h+ Luxury AWD, which delivers 404 hp via its hybrid V6 engine for around the same price. If you’re not interested in a hybrid, it would have to be the Lexus, as the Armada doesn’t offer this powertrain option.

Sources: Nissan, BMW, Lexus, Auto Loan Calculator.