Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The 2026 Nissan Armada PRO-4X is an off-road and towing champ. With the ability to tow up to 8,500 pounds, it is one of the most capable off-road SUVs in its class.I know that's a bold statement, but I've had plenty of opportunities to prove it.I've driven the Armada PRO-4X through the Rocky Mountains, desert terrain, sand dunes and difficult winter conditions in several states. It has consistently impressed me off-road.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat I hadn't done was tow with it or drive one nearly 1,000 miles across the country.Then my daughter graduated from college.And suddenly, the Armada had a mission.This is the truck and trailer in question. At about 5 a.m. (Image: ND Adlen)From Colorado to CaliforniaI was summoned by the ruling party in my family, otherwise known as my daughter, to move her and a substantial collection of mostly useless college furniture from Boulder, Colorado, back to Los Angeles.The trip was just under 1,000 miles, not including the additional driving I did while in Colorado.It turned out to be an excellent real-world test.The Armada spent plenty of time off-road in Colorado, but it also became a comfortable long-distance cruiser, daily driver and tow vehicle. And yes, it had to haul an embarrassing amount of college furniture.View the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleBuilt for the DirtThe PRO-4X looks appropriately tough without becoming cartoonish.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt gets unique front and rear bumpers for improved approach and departure angles, beefy all-terrain tires, dark-finished wheels and, most importantly, a sophisticated adaptive air suspension.Related: I Drove Toyota's Most Expensive Vehicle. Is the 2026 Sequoia Capstone Worth $90 Grand?Ground clearance ranges from about 9.6 inches to nearly 11.7 inches at its highest setting.Add full-time four-wheel drive, electronic high- and low-range gearing, a center limited-slip differential and a locking rear differential, and you've got a serious off-road package.I've experienced it firsthand.The Armada PRO-4X will take some pretty brutal abuse and keep going.NissanA Surprisingly Good Highway CruiserThe Armada's interior is another story.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt punches well above its weight class, particularly when compared with some of its closest competitors from Toyota and General Motors.The front seats use Nissan's Zero Gravity design philosophy, and they're exceptionally comfortable. They have the soft, almost couch-like feel you want on a long road trip while still providing enough support when you're bouncing around off-road.Related: The Best Toyota SUV Isn't the RAV4, 4Runner or SequoiaThe interior itself is clean and cohesive without looking overly rugged.Nissan also gives you a pair of large displays, with higher trims getting dual 14.3-inch screens that create a massive digital dashboard. Add a head-up display and a very comprehensive electronics package, and the Armada feels considerably more expensive than it is.View the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThere are a couple of things I don't love.The push-button gear selector is one of them. It works, but it is surrounded by piano-black trim that's basically a magnet for coffee spills. More importantly, trying to execute a five-point turn with a push-button shifter isn't nearly as intuitive as using a conventional lever.Give me a proper gear selector.The wireless phone charger is also a little problematic. The charger itself works well, but Nissan placed it where the sun can beat down on your phone for much of the day. That can cause the phone to overheat.Fortunately, you can aim the nearby air-conditioning vents toward it, but that's an awfully complicated solution to a problem that shouldn't exist.AdvertisementAdvertisementOtherwise, the interior is extremely well thought out, with useful storage and straightforward controls.View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article425 Horsepower and 8,500 Pounds of TowingThe Armada PRO-4X gets a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.It's paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.Those numbers aren't necessarily class-leading, but they are more than enough to motivate this big SUV with authority. Fuel economy isn't going to win any awards. Nissan rates it at 15 mpg city, 18 highway and 16 combined, and my real-world average was right around 16 mpg.Then again, this thing weighs well over three tons and has the aerodynamic profile of a small apartment building. During my cross-country trip, I averaged around 15 mpg while carrying a ridiculous amount of furniture.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's acceptable.Towing Was Almost Too EasyThe Armada is rated to tow 8,500 pounds, and my trailer was nowhere near that. At roughly 3,000 pounds, it barely seemed to notice it was back there.The trailer brake controller is conveniently located just above my right knee, although I didn't need much intervention with my relatively light load. The most impressive part was how little the trailer affected the Armada.Over roughly 1,000 miles, fuel economy only dropped by about a mile per gallon compared with my unloaded driving. That's exactly what you want from a big towing SUV.One Driver-Assist ComplaintThere is one technology feature I found genuinely annoying. Nissan's ProPILOT Assist 1.1 system works reasonably well, but the lane-keeping component can become intrusive. At times, it would pull on the steering wheel with enough force to make me feel like the vehicle was trying to steer me out of my lane rather than keep me centered in it.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's not relaxing.The rest of the driver-assistance system works well, but I'd rather have a system that gently nudges me than one that gets into a wrestling match with my hands.NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleThe Value PropositionThis is where the Armada gets interesting. The 2026 Nissan Armada PRO-4X starts at $74,300, while my loaded tester was around $80,000. That's certainly not cheap.But compared with similarly equipped competitors, the Nissan makes a compelling case. A Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro can cost more, while configuring a Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 with comparable power and equipment can push the price substantially higher.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Toyota has advantages, particularly with its hybrid powertrain and fuel economy, while the Tahoe offers a variety of engine choices.But the Armada brings an impressive combination of power, towing capability and off-road hardware without requiring you to climb into an ultra-expensive luxury SUV.NissanView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleFinal ThoughtsPeople often ask me whether I'd actually buy the vehicles I review.The answer isn't always straightforward, but it is in this case. I would still lean towards the Nissan Armada PRO4X despite my minor gripes. It is a total animal off-road; it is remarkably comfortable and has excellent power. There's a ton of tech, and it has good style.AdvertisementAdvertisementConsidering that it's less expensive than the competition (when they match its equipment and capability), what's not to like?Related: America's Last Subcompact Sedan Was Better Than Anyone Gave It Credit ForThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.