Heritage, like experience, cannot be bought. So automakers with models worthy of the heritage label never keep it a secret, except in cases where Chevrolet Suburbanwhich few people realize is the oldest continuously running nameplate in the United States, having debuted in 1935. Few people in the United States also realize that Nissan Fleet based on a powerful off-road vehicle called the Nissan Patrol in other markets, has been sold continuously since 1951. Few people even know that Nissan sold the second generation Patrol through Datsun agency in the United States from 1962 to 1969, hiring Roy Rogers as the brand’s first celebrity spokesperson there. The automaker is reestablishing the connection as we get closer to its 2025 launch date. Fleet. The trailer above shows a portion of the upcoming grille with a 1967 Patrol in the background. That Patrol, by the way, was a barn find in Iowa that now resides at the Nissan Heritage Collection in Tennessee.
The only thing we can be sure of from the Armada’s new grille is that it will come in either a Rock Creek or Pro-4X version. Rogue and Pathfinder offers Rock Creek versions, which are marked by a thick black grille adorned with three narrow vents along the upper edge. Nissan Frontier Pro-4X 2025 Pickups adopt the same ethos. We think the Armada would make more sense to go all-Pro-4X, not only because of its Patrol ties and being built on a ladder frame chassis that’s capable of real off-roading, but also because it’s a styling that challenges vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon AT4 and Toyota Sequoia TRD professional.
Otherwise, we mostly expect a more mild change to the new version. Infiniti Q80. Old 5.6 liter engine Endurance The V8 is a departure, sure to be replaced by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that makes around 450 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Look for electric power steering and more driving tech. We wouldn’t be surprised to find a 14.3-inch dual gauge and infotainment display, along with a 9-inch screen ahead of the center armrest for climate controls. We also wouldn’t be surprised if Nissan ditched that last screen to offer Infinity more breathing room when it comes to the luxury offerings of the group. None of the Armada’s competitors in the United States can match that luxury, and internationally, the Patrol’s main rival is the 300-Series. Land Cruiser not as luxurious as Infiniti.
A price increase is certain, though we can’t guess by how much, as Nissan may have been pushing us into a new MSRP structure over the past year. Nissan is eliminating the previous base version of the Armada for the 2024 model year, resulting in a $4,750 effective price increase. When the new Armada debuts, its price will be comparable to the current Armada SV price, which has also increased since its debut last year. When the automaker announces pricing in November 2023, The 2024 Armada SV starts at $55,450.. Now, at the time of writing, that same SUV costs $58,530 destination. For example, if the upcoming Armada starts at just over $60,000, that might not seem like a big deal compared to its most recent MSRP, but it would be about $10,000 more than a base 2023 Armada.
Back to the Patrol, we’ve also included a teaser image of the Aussie version, because who knows. Nissan’s product planning director, Ivan Espinoza, told the Australian news outlet Sell car that the Patrol will be “significantly better” than the Land Cruiser. “The overall performance, the driving dynamics, you’ll see big, big improvements. The dynamic performance is really good on the road when you’re driving at speed, the response, the chassis, the dynamics, the steering have all been greatly improved as well.” We don’t know how much of that capability will come to us, but each additional perk helps the Armada reassert itself. Remember, the Land Cruiser overseas is the real big deal, not the simpler deal Lexus GX restart here we come.
Nissan will launch the Armada/Patrol to a global audience on September 3. Stay tuned and for any Patrol fans, Nissan Middle East is launch a series on YouTube about what happened and what is going to happen.
