The Armada was introduced for 2004, coming from a company whose largest previous truck was the V6 midsize Pathfinder SUV. But instead of cautiously entering this class, Nissan stuck its new entry in the heart of the market with an exceptional new V8, bold styling, and unapologetic exterior dimensions. And Nissan's effort paid off in putting out an excellent SUV (though sales have yet to excel). The Armada is the quickest vehicle in this group, can tow the most, is the nimblest, and has the highest feature content at a reasonable price. But the Armada is still rough around the edges, suffering from an overly firm and noisy ride, imperfect visibility, and fairly low cargo volume figures. But all the basics for excellence are clearly evident, and the vehicle surpasses the class norm in multiple areas. 

       The Armada has a very firm ride. Unwanted ride motions are very well-controlled, but bumps, uneven pavement, and other road imperfections are not well filtered. This suspension tuning does pay off in the vehicle's agility at least. While it always feels like a large vehicle, it also feels fairly nimble, with responsive and accurate steering, and very well-controlled body roll. The 5.6-liter V8 makes the Armada the quickest vehicle in this class, but it and the vehicle's exhaust note are boomy under acceleration, and remain from subdued even in standard driving. Road noise is well-suppressed, though wind noise is pronounced. Fuel economy, estimated by the EPA at 15 mpg, tied for the worst even in this low-standards class.

       Inside, the Armada has large, supportive, and very comfortable front seats that could still benefit from some additional contouring. The second row is roomy, but the seats could be better shaped; they are currently a bit narrow and too flat. The third row has good legroom, but is low, flat, hard, lacking in headroom, and very uncomfortable overall. The cargo area seems roomy enough, but Armada's volume measurements fall short of most competitors. Towing capacity, at 9,100 lbs, is the best in this group. The doors open wide, but the Armada has a very high step-in height (running boards are usefully standard for that purpose), and it is difficult to get past the middle seats to the third row. The driver sits very comfortably, but has mediocre visibility in all directions, thanks mostly to thick roof pillars. The dash uses too much flimsy, cheap-feeling plastic, but the trim pieces for the most part fit together well, and the use of false aluminum trim dresses up the interior to some extent. The gauges are very large, and most instruments are well-placed and easy to use.

      The Armada has not been subjected to either the NHTSA frontal crash test or the NHTSA rollover resistance evaluation.

          The Armada reviewed here featured the typical price for this group, yet came with far more equipment than most of the others here, including traction and stability control, torso-protecting curtain side airbags, an entertainment system, and a sunroof, leaving no notable omission in feature content for a reasonable price. Even at a relatively small $5,700 off MSRP, the Armada is an excellent value.

       Overall, the Armada is an excellent SUV, and its agile handling and exceptional acceleration also make it the sportiest in its class. Even consumers uninterested in such traits still ought to consider the Armada for its roomy interior and competitive pricing. Though they may be better-served by a more-refined competitor, the Armada is still worth a look from all consumers shopping in this class.

Pros:

-Agility

-Features for the Money

-Acceleration

-Towing Capacity

Cons:

-Ride Comfort

-Refinement

-Cargo Space

Overall:

The sports car of this class.

Version Reviewed:

SE 4WD

Options Added to Vehicle Reviewed:

 -

Price of Version Reviewed:

$38,134

Powertrain:

5.6-liter V8

Vehicle Overview