The bookends of Nissan's utility-vehicle lineup are undergoing significant nips and tucks early next year.
The subcompact Kicks crossover and full-size Armada SUV receive design updates, upgraded interiors and new technology for 2021.
The Armada gets a rugged exterior that underscores the SUV's off-road DNA and a contemporary interior that delivers modern conveniences and safety tech. Pricing was not disclosed.
"We changed everything, from the wheels to the wireless charger on this vehicle," Brent Hagan, Nissan senior manager of product planning, said during a media roundtable last week.
The 2021 Armada, which will arrive in U.S. stores in January, introduces Nissan's new logo that will be adopted across the lineup.
"We wanted to start at the top and filter the logo down," Hagan said. "The Armada is the top of our SUV lineup and is the second most expensive vehicle that we sell in the U.S. under the Nissan brand, other than the GTR."
Through September, U.S. sales of the Armada tallied 17,520, well below rivals from Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. The model competes with $50,000-plus SUVs and offers an alternative to the relatively common General Motors and Ford three-row SUVs.
"With so many buyers looking for utility vehicles, placing a large model at the top of the lineup is not only prestigious for a brand but lucrative to the manufacturer and its dealer network," said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions.