​​Cars.com calls the 2025 Nissan Armada the ’spiritual successor’ to the Toyota Land Cruiser​

Toyota redesigned its iconic Land Cruiser this year, offering up a more efficient (but less upscale) SUV that relies on a downsized hybrid engine and pickup-based chassis to deliver a competent but perhaps less resonant experience than the SUV it replaces.  

Progress is good, but if these moves seem a little too extreme for you, or you just miss the more simplistic charm of the older, gasoline-only Land Cruiser, the new 2025 Nissan Armada should be on your radar—and Cars.com agrees, calling it a “replacement Land Cruiser” that “picked up what Toyota put down” for 2025.  

Thanks to the new 2025 Pro-4X package, the Armada is prepared to go toe-to-toe with any other large off-road SUV, be it a Land Cruiser (old or new) or anything else. This package includes an electronic locking rear differential, Adaptive Electronic Air Suspension, 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and an underbody skid plate. And thanks to that fancy air suspension, it can be raised 2.1 inches above standard height, which gives it some decent off-road credentials, including: 

• 9.6 inches of ground clearance 
• An approach angle of 33.0 degrees 
• A 25.5 degree breakover angle 
• A 24.5 degree departure angle 

The Pro-4X also offers eight different drive modes (including Snow, Sand, Rock, and Mud/Rut) to fine-tune the throttle and transmission responses to the outside world. If you do manage to find yourself in a sticky situation, the Pro-4X’s new camera modes, including one that allows you to virtually see through the hood, can help you find your way out—and on to the next stop on your adventure.  

While it’s not old-fashioned per se, the 2025 Armada’s 425-horsepower V6 makes do with a tried-and-true turbocharger rather than a complex hybrid powertrain. Even without a battery, it still manages to produce 516 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds — more than you can get from most new SUVs.  

The 2025 Armada isn’t just for wayward fans of the old Toyota Land Cruiser. Even without a V8, it offers the same capability as previous Armadas without sacrificing its premium position — or the qualities that made it appealing to customers who need a do-anything SUV. As Cars.com notes, the Armada remains aggressively priced, so you can get all of that premium content and versatility for less than the cost of most of its competitors.  

Still skeptical? Come see for yourself. The new Armada is on display alongside the rest of the 2025 Nissan lineup at Dick Smith Nissan of Lexington. Schedule a visit with one of our experts today!