Land yacht
(This review respresents
model years 2005 and 2006)
New for '06: Dual-zone
automatic climate control; standard 60/40-split
fold-flat third-row seat; upgraded side mirrors
on the LE trim; standard tow package for
the SE Off-Road; optional satellite radio;
front seat active head restraints and seat
belt pretensioners.
Not long after Nissan launched their super-sized
SUV Pathfinder Armada in 2004, Nissan smartly
dropped the name Pathfinder in favor of the
single name Armada. The Armada is based on
Nissan's full-size Titan pickup truck.
Both are built in Canton, Miss.
Nissan arrived late to the full-size SUV party,
literally muscling its way into a market dominated
by the likes of Ford Expedition, Chevy Tahoe
and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, Toyota
Sequoia and a few others. The name "Armada" means "a
fleet of warships." Perhaps Nissan
was thinking it needed one to conquer all the
competition in this extremely popular segment.
To begin with, the Armada is one seriously
big brute of a vehicle. If Expedition,
Tahoe and Sequoia are considered XL in size,
then Armada is a XXL. It features a standard
V-8 engine with more horsepower and torque
than its competition. Depending
on the configuration, it comfortably seats
seven or eight with first-class legroom. Both
second and third row seats fold flat, giving
Armada a massive amount of cargo room.
Unlike many SUVs, Armada is built on a full-boxed
steel frame and is not a car-based crossover
vehicle. This same platform Nissan is
used to build the Titan. But where Titan has
a solid rear axle and leaf springs, Armada
utilizes an independent rear suspension, giving
it a surprisingly car-like ride quality.
Armada is offered only as a four-door SUV
in two trim levels: SE and the upscale LE. Both
are equipped with the powerful 5.6-liter 305-horsepower
V-8 mated to a smooth five-speed automatic
transmission. The engine roars excessively
during acceleration but quiets down once cruising
speed is attained. Maximum towing capacity
is an impressive 9100 pounds. Four-wheel or
rear-wheel drive are available on the SE Off-Road
version. The Off-Road is equipped with 17-inch
wheels (other models have 18-inch wheels),
skid plate, beefier suspension, fog lamps,
front side airbags, leather upholstery, Bose
sound system and six-way power seats.
My test vehicle, a four-wheel-drive SE Off-Road,
came nicely equipped at a base price of $41,705,
including destination charges and was a pleasure
to drive. Standard features include head-protecting
side curtain airbags for all three rows, side
airbags, front and rear air conditioning with
rear controls, power adjustable pedals, 14
cup holders, privacy glass, roof rack, heated
mirrors, six-disc CD changer, compass, outside
temperature indicator, running boards, keyless
entry and most other comfort-convenience accessories.
Options include DVD entertainment and DVD-based
navigation system, sunroof, and a power rear
liftgate on the LE model. A RearView Monitor
camera, which allows the driver to view what's
behind the vehicle on the navigation screen,
is also optional.
The ride is exceptionally smooth and the Armada
feels smaller because it's so easy to
handle, drive and park. Armada's high
seating position and large mirrors and windows
give the driver excellent visibility with a
commanding "big-rig" like view
of the world.
In addition to the gargantuan exterior size,
the Armada is best in class roomy on the inside.
I'm exceptionally tall, and this is the
first vehicle I can recall driving where I
didn't need to fully extend the driver's
seat to find a comfortable driving position.
The second row boasts 41.9 inches of leg room
but it understandably shrinks to just over
32 inches in the third row. You will want to
save the third row for the kids. Both
second and third row seating folds flat to
yield a cavernous 97 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
You can even get a full 10-foot ladder inside
when folding the front passenger bucket seat.
The dashboard is simple in design but the
overuse of hard plastic materials is on the
chintzy side, with no chrome or wood trim.
The center stack reminded me of an inexpensive
boom box from the early '90s, with its
large dials and controls.
The steering wheel houses non-illuminated
cruise and audio control functions. Nissan
uses orange lights to illuminate its instrument
panel.
The Armada comes with four-wheel antilock
disc brakes, stability control, rear parking
sensors and side curtain airbags protecting
all three rows of passengers. Seat-mounted
side airbags for front occupants are optional
on the SE and standard on LE.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
awarded the 2006 Armada four stars for frontal
impact, its highest five stars for side impacts
and three stars for rollover injury results.
Armada is a well-designed vehicle that offers
a significant amount of passenger and cargo
room. Its large V-8 engine is powerful and
coupled with a smooth shifting five-speed automatic
transmission. Both make Armada quick, with
plenty of towing capacity.
During my weeklong test I averaged a dismal
13.4 mpg on mostly commuter travel around the
Phoenix area, including a mix of highway and
city driving. Understandably, the Armada
is equipped with a 28-gallon fuel tank
