After a noticeably short teaser campaign – the presentation video was just six seconds long – Nissan has decided to get down to business with its “NEXT product revival” strategy. The United States chapter includes no fewer than ten model releases over the coming months. Two of them are already official – the 2021 Armada and 2021 Kicks.
First up will be the facelifted Armada SUV (sold as the legendary Nissan Patrol in other markets), which is scheduled to reach U.S. dealerships next month, while the smaller Kicks will roll out in February 2021. Even though Armada’s showroom introduction is just around the corner, Nissan hasn’t released pricing information just yet.
We do know most of the other juicy details, though. With this being a proper facelift, the 2021 Armada comes with an array of novelties – both from the design and technical standpoints. As far as styling is concerned, the automaker has reworked the “grille, hood, front fenders, front and rear bumpers, LED headlights and taillights,” while also adding one new body paint option (Coulis Red Pearl).
It’s also the brand’s first model packing the new corporate logo, even though the latter was released at the same time with the 2021 Kicks. There are three grades available - SV, SL and Platinum - along with 2WD and Auto 4WD drive setups. The SL trim can be enhanced with a newly-added Midnight Edition Package.
Under the hood, the 5.6-liter Endurance V8 soldiers on with 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm) of torque along with a seven-speed automatic transmission, enabling a maximum towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds (3,856 kg).
To make things a little easier, the company adds a standard Trailer Brake Controller on all grades, while the higher SL and Platinum trims also come with Trailer Sway Control. In addition, the Nissan Safety Shield 360 bundle is standard on all versions, packing numerous safety and driver assistance features.
Moving inside, Nissan has thoroughly revamped the interior of its big SUV by introducing a 12.3-inch high-resolution (WXGA 1920 x 720) central display for the infotainment system. Smartphone connectivity is covered by the on-board Wi-Fi, alongside wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, among others.
The driver’s instrument cluster packs another upgrade in the form of a seven-inch Advanced Driver Assist Display, while the Armada Platinum boasts a higher-resolution, standard, Intelligent Rear View Mirror4 (I-RVM) as well as an enhanced Family Entertainment System with eight-inch dual monitors.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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