Shocker: The Cheapest 2026 3-Row SUV Just Got A Price Bump And Added Fees

For years, the Nissan Armada has been the go-to choice for buyers who wanted a big, three-row SUV without shelling out luxury-level money. It was even the only full-size SUV you could snag for under $60,000. Well, not anymore. Thanks to tariffs, import costs, and a sneaky destination fee hike, the 2026 Armada has officially crossed the $60K barrier.

That’s not great news for budget-conscious families—or anyone eyeing a spacious SUV that won’t completely wreck their finances. But the picture isn’t all bad. Nissan has shuffled its trim lineup, introduced a street-tuned Armada NISMO, and still manages to undercut rivals like the Toyota Sequoia, Jeep Wagoneer, and .

So, yes, prices are up. But the Armada is still the value play in a segment where “cheap” is relative, and nearly meaningless in 2025.

Import Costs Push The Armada Over $60K

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Nissan’s Armada is built in Japan. Between Trump’s petty tariffs and shipping expenses in 2025 and beyond, keeping it under the $60,000 threshold is a joke. Before the tariffs started, economists, CEOs, and auto-market experts all gave a unified warning that broad, aggressive tariffs would raise not only the price of new cars, but parts and maintenance as well. There was no question about it. It is a proven historical fact. Yet, the Trump faithful remained steadfast in the unfounded set of beliefs that led them to support the tariffs anyway.

Aside from model-wide price increases, one of the bigger changes comes from the destination charge, which climbs from $295 to $2,190. That may not sound like much, but it’s the single largest driver behind the Armada’s year-over-year increase on most trims.

Here’s How That Looks In Real Dollars:

• The base Armada SV RWD now starts at $61,030, up $1,615.
• The SV 4WD climbs even more, rising $2,615 to $64,030.

From there, the SL, Platinum, and Platinum Reserve trims only rise about $855 each, destination included. That’s a relatively mild hike considering the economic uncertainties we currently see.

The New 2026 Armada NISMO

Price hikes aside, Nissan had a surprise up its sleeve: the all-new Armada NISMO. Yep, the same in-house tuning division that hypes up Zs and GT-Rs has now turned its attention to the family hauler.

The NISMO starts at $81,720 and brings 460 horsepower (35 more than standard), handling upgrades, and aggressive styling. It’s not cheap, but compared to performance SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade-V or Mercedes-AMG GLS63—both of which soar past six figures—it’s actually kind of a bargain.

How the Armada Stacks Up Against Rivals

Even with the price bump, Nissan’s full-sizer still plays the value card, as silly as that feels in 2025 money. Its closest competitor, the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, starts at $66,120—more than $5,000 above the Armada SV. Trim-for-trim, Toyota is pricier across the board, from the TRD Pro to the Capstone.

The Jeep Wagoneer is closer in price, with its entry model just $1,010 more than the Armada SV. But even at the top end, the Armada Platinum Reserve is $490 cheaper than Jeep’s fully loaded equivalent. And let’s not forget, Nissan still undercuts GM’s big dogs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

2026 Nissan Armada Full Lineup Pricing

TopSpeed’s Take

The bad news: Nissan can no longer claim to have the only sub-$60K three-row SUV. The good news (sad news): the 2026 Armada still delivers strong value compared to its rivals, while adding a new spicy trim with the NISMO and continuing to undercut Toyota, Jeep, and GM.

If you’re shopping for a full-size SUV, the Armada’s mix of price, power, and new trims makes it hard to ignore—even if it isn’t the bargain it used to be.