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Nissan Armada Test Drive!
Nissan steps into the large SUV market with high technology and real-world performance.
story by Rob Reaser
photography by Rob Reaser and Nissan
Nissan steps into the full-size SUV market with the Armada. Based on the Titan full-size pickup platform, the Armada has all the “plush” we’ve
come to expect in most large sport utility models, but the vehicle’s real-world hardware makes it a genuine adventure machine.
From a casual consumer point of view, it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell one SUV from another. Part of the problem is that there are so many of them. Another factor is that everyone seems to be tapping into the same design trends-specifically, angular, geometrical body lines and panels.
When we first heard that Nissan was coming out with a new-from-the-ground-up full-size SUV, hope sprang forth that working from a fresh sheet of paper would deliver a truly new and much-needed design to the marketplace. Perhaps something as refreshing as the Nissan Frontier pickups or Xterra. But alas, it was not to be. However, the beauty of this vehicle is not skin deep.
The Armada is a true full-size SUV. Really. Outside it gives the impression of being more in the mid-size category, but looks here can be deceiving. The vehicle is built on the also-new Titan pickup platform, which allows for the Armada’s 123.2-inch wheelbase and 206.9-inch overall length. Serving as a foundation is a fully boxed ladder-type frame made of corrosion-resistant, high-strength steel. As such it is a body-on-frame design that, while not exhibiting the kind of velvet-smooth ride quality you might expect from a unitized chassis, does provide the strength and structural rigidity true SUV aficionados can appreciate. Part of the passive safety features include Zone Body construction, which introduces front and rear crumple zones for better impact absorption, as well as body side reinforcements.
The Armada is built on a rock-solid fully boxed ladder frame with a front and rear double A-arm, coil spring suspension. Towing capacity is a welcome 9,100 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,693 pounds.
Armada’s handling hardware attempts to find an acceptable balance between good highway manners and off-road capability. Up front is a double-wishbone setup with coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar, which is repeated with the independent double-wishbone rear suspension. Dana front and rear axles take care of torque distribution to the wheels.
For brakes, the Armada comes well equipped with 12.6-inch discs, front and rear, including standard Bosch four-wheel ABS (with off-road tuning for optimal performance on slippery surfaces), brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.
As you might expect from a vehicle that is built on such a capable foundation, there’s room for folks with an adventurous mindset to take advantage of a few choice options. For starters there is a tow package, which comes with a 3.357:1 axle ratio (versus the standard 2.937:1 gearing), transmission temperature gauge, receiver hitch, heavy-duty radiator, 7-pin wiring harness, trailer brake pre-wiring, heavy-duty battery and rear suspension air leveling. The air leveling suspension automatically adjusts rear ride height via changes in air pressure in the suspension bladders to maintain even ground clearance when the vehicle’s cargo area is heavily loaded, or a trailer is in tow.
Ample second-row seating isn’t a recipe for discomfort in the Armada. The seating is quite comfortable, and there’s adequate leg room for anyone this side of Kareem Abdul Jabar. The seats craftily fold forward to increase rear cargo space.
If towing isn’t your big thing, but backcountry adventure is, the Armada also has an Off-Road Grade package on its option list. Checking off this box gives you the aforementioned 3.357:1 gear ratio, Rancho performance shock absorbers, fog lamps, radiator, transfer case and fuel tank skid plates, larger P285/70R17 BFGoodrich A/T tires mounted on special aluminum-alloy rims.
So what’s it all mean by the numbers? The approach angle is 31.1 degrees without the chin spoiler (something we recommend getting rid of as soon as you get home, along with the standard side steps), while the departure angle is 27.7 degrees. Ground clearance is a respectable 10.69 inches, and that’s without the Off-Road Grade package. Towing and payload capacity registers 9,100 and 1,693 pounds, respectively.
Actually, the Armada proved to be pleasantly surprising on and off-highway. At speed the SUV handles as good or perhaps slightly better than you might think a full-size model would act. The ride is comfortable, and thanks to the long wheelbase the Armada feels remarkably stable. At 41 feet, the curb-to-curb turning circle is about what you would expect, but any mediocre performance here is negated by the speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, which gives the Armada just the right feel whether you’re crawling along the trail or making a quick lane change. On the dirt you can tell that the Armada’s Off-Road Grade package and ladder frame are doing their job. It’s on the stiff side, but that’s a good thing.
Kiddy-minder or party central? Use it how you wish, but the optional DVD Family Entertainment System scores high marks in our book.
Hey, if you’re not up to the rumble, buy a minivan!
And speaking of the trail, the 4x4-equipped Armada delivers the goods. The four wheel-drive system is of the automatic full-time variety, and incorporates the same all-wheel drive technology found in Nissan’s Skyline GT-R sports coupe. The system is engineered such that it can deliver torque to all four corners (up to 50 percent to the front wheels) whenever driving conditions demand it. Also standard on all models is Vehicle Dynamic Control with brake-activated limited-slip traction control. This system senses slip conditions and uses brake modulation to apply torque where it’s needed.
That is not to say that the Armada’s 4WD system is built exclusively for wimpy wine-and-cheese types. On the contrary, in spite of its on-demand capabilities, there is a driver-selectable two-speed electronic transfer case at play here. In addition to the auto 4WD setting, drivers can choose between full-time 4WD and 4-Lo to better match the trail and road conditions. That’s the beer-and-BBQ component we like to see. All of this is controlled by a single dial switch located within easy reach on the dash panel.
Of course, all these fancy doo-dads don’t mean diddly without some muscle further upstream. Again, the Armada is all surprises.
A Hemi challenger? Perhaps. The only available engine in the Armada is Nissan’s all-new 5.7L Endurance DOHC V8. At 305 horsepower, the Endurance is 30 horsepower shy of the Hemi, yet torque output is 15 lb-ft more than the mighty Dodge V8.
Powering the beast is the all-new 5.6L Endurance V8 engine. Built on an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel crank, six-bolt main bearing caps and single-stage timing chain, the Endurance V8 is no sissy engine. The aluminum heads sport four valves per cylinder, and take their direction from dual overhead cams spun by a single-stage silent chain. To prove the engine’s grit, the Endurance pumps out a whopping 305 horsepower (at 4,900 rpm) and 385 lb-ft of torque (at 3,600 rpm). Consider that while Dodge’s mighty 5.7L Hemi engine boasts 30 more horsepower, the Endurance puts out 15 more lb-ft of torque. Like we said, this isn’t a wimp, and 90 percent of available torque falls below 2,500 rpm. Fuel economy sucks at 13 city/18 highway, but no more so than other V8 engines of comparable output.
“Comfortably functional” may be the best way to describe the Armada’s interior. Passenger space is more than an illusion, and there are enough luxury options to make you feel downright decadent. Still, the glitz doesn’t get in the way of the real work.
Backing the 5.6L V8 is a five-speed automatic overdrive transmission that uses a console-mounted gated shifter. This is a wonderful setup for off-road driving because it allows you to easily shift between the gears to control speed and engine hold-back with a flick of your wrist. And engine hold-back is a strong suit of the Armada’s powertrain, especially given the vehicle’s delightful 4-Lo crawl ratio.
All in all, the Armada proved to be quite capable on the backroads — more so than we anticipated. The combination of the stout Endurance engine, sophisticated 4WD system, Vehicle Dynamic Control, low gearing, and acceptable underbody clearance delivers all the necessary attributes for a competent off-the-lot trail runner. Still, we’d recommend ditching the chin spoiler and running boards, and getting a set of mud grabby tires before setting off for the mucky hinterlands. After that the Armada is good to go.
True to its full-size billing, the Armada has plenty of interior space, which, as we alluded to earlier, is somewhat deceiving from the exterior view. The vehicle can accommodate seven or eight passengers, depending on the seating options, in three rows. Life is a bit tight for those passengers thrown into the back, but if you need more room than this you shouldn’t be looking at an SUV in the first place.
Yep, there’s plenty of cargo space in the back of this SUV-especially when the second- and third-row seats are folded flat. In this configuration the Armada delivers a healthy 97.1 cubic feet of cargo volume.
With the third-row seat backs up, there is 20 cubic feet of cargo space in back. The utility meter jumps considerably when the second- and third-row seats are folded flat. Now cargo space edges to 97.1 cubic inches across the nearly flat-load floor.
Amenities are everywhere, from the third-row side storage bins to as many as 14 cup holders. Drop in some of the optional goodies, such as leather seating, satellite navigation (with a 7-inch LCD screen), dual-zone climate control, DVD entertainment system, 10-speaker Bose audio system and more, and you can see that the Armada isn’t without its soft side.
As for styling, well...you’ll have to come to your own conclusions. We did have our fingers crossed that the Armada would forge a new path in SUV styling, but such was not to be. The pinched roof line from the C pillar back is a bit different, and helps the Armada set itself somewhat apart from the crowd.
Hey...we’ll take what we can get.
All the controls are within easy reach. The transfer case is operated via a dial switch on the left side of the center stack. The automatic shifter is comfortably placed, and the gated shift pattern provides for excellent drivetrain control in changing off-road driving conditions.
The bottom line is that while the Armada may seem to many as yet another luxo-SUV, reality is definitely more favorable to the vehicle. With its no-excuses-needed V8 engine, sophisticated yet capable 4WD system, and enough room and plush to make it comfortable for any driving purpose, the Nissan Armada scores well.