How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2018 Nissan Armada?

CARS.COM — Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in October 2016 about the 2017 Nissan Armada. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. To see what’s new for 2018, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.

Nissan’s full-size Armada SUV skipped model-year 2016 and is back for 2017 with features that should make this rugged truck appeal more to families, like a more inviting interior and additional safety features. However, the Armada is not without a few quirks. Although there’s plenty of legroom for car seats on the second-row bench, we had a little trouble with the top tether anchors, essential to use when installing  forward-facing convertible seats.

How many car seats fit in the second row? Two, but three might fit depending on the type of seat.

How many car seats fit in the third row? Two

Related: More Car Seat Checks

Solid

• Second-row bench seat, infant seat, grade A: The infant seat installed easily and fit well. We did not have to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate it.  
• Second-row captain’s chairs, infant, grade A: This rear-facing infant seat installed easily and fit well.
• Second-row bench seat, rear-facing convertible, grade A: The rear-facing convertible installed easily and fit well. We did not have to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate it.
• Second-row captain’s chairs, rear-facing convertible, grade A: The rear-facing convertible was easy to install.
• Second-row bench seat, booster, grade A: In the second row, the booster fit well after we removed the head restraint. Stable buckles should make it easier for kids to buckle up independently. Second-row captain’s chairs, Latch, grade B: The lower Latch anchors were easy to connect to, but the tether anchors are difficult to find because they’re at the base of the seatback.

So-So

• Second-row bench seat, Latch, grade B: The second row’s two sets of outboard lower Latch anchors sit within slits in the leather and were easy to use. We downgraded the Latch system to a B, however, because of top tether anchor issues. The second row’s three-position bench seat only has three top tether anchors but the middle one is hidden under a flap and all three are set far down the seatback. Although the other two are well-marked, there’s not a lot of clearance around them and connection is tough. In the third row, there are no lower Latch anchors, and the sole top tether anchor sits in the lip of the cargo area, blocking cargo space when it’s in use.
• Second-row bench seat, forward-facing convertible. grade B: After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible fit well. Connecting to the top tether anchor took some maneuvering, however.
• Second-row captain’s chairs, forward-facing convertible, grade B: The lower Latch anchors allowed for an easy installation of the car seat, but our installer struggled to connect the tether strap to the tether anchor — it took several attempts.
• Second-row captain’s chairs, booster, grade B: The booster seat fit well on the Armada’s wide captain’s chairs. The seat belt buckles sit low in the seat and are on floppy bases, but if a child can grasp them, they can pull the buckle toward them.
• Second-row captain’s chairs, third-row access, grade C: The captain’s chairs have a one-touch fold-and-tumble function, but there’s a large second step to get into the third row. The captain’s chairs also don’t slide. 
• Third-row access, grade C: Although the second-row seats tumble forward with ease for third-row access, the step-in is high and will be challenging for smaller kids. The second row also doesn’t slide.
• Third-row booster, grade B: In the third row, the booster fit well after we removed the head restraint, but the buckles are on floppy bases, which could make them more difficult for kids to grasp.
• Third-row forward-facing convertible, grade B: After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible fit well. Connecting to the top tether anchor took some maneuvering, however.

Skip It

• None

Grading Scale

Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.  

B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access third row when available.

D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.

F: Does not fit or is unsafe.

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.

We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.

Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on April 13, 2018, to include car-seat installation information for a 2018 Nissan Armada with second-row captain’s chairs instead of a three-seat bench.

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