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