2015 Nissan Armada

2015 Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada is one of the last remaining true full-size SUVs–and its dressed its truck-based chassis with a roomy interior, clad in masculine, imposing sheetmetal. However, it’s also one of the oldest big SUVs left on the market, now that the GM trucks have all been redesigned. That doesn’t make the Armada any less tow-ready, though, nor does it make it any more fuel-efficient.

• Interior / Exterior »

The 2015 Nissan Armada leaves little to the imagination, thanks to its ultra-masculine, ultra-big design that’s totally lacking in subtleties. But, we’re okay with that.



Inside the look isn’t nearly as aggressive-looking—it’s actually now one of the more softly-contoured designs in this competitive set—and while it’s one of the more dated designs among full-size trucks it still feels well-laid out and straightforward. Smaller controls and more delicate buttons in general, though, project that it takes aim at suburban types more than the work-gloved crowd.

You may not see quite as mean Armadas parading down the road as you might the Expedition or Tahoe, but it’s been around for long enough to be recognizable to just about everyone on the highway. With its exaggerated, yet decidedly macho fender flares and wheel wells, this SUV hasn’t sold especially well. Maybe it’s the notchy roofline that swells over the passenger cabin, or maybe it’s the funky door handles. Either way, there’s no question that the Armada is more than just a little over the top–and looking a little aged, almost a decade after it was introduced.

• Performance »

The Armada shares most of its driving components with Nissan’s Titan pickup truck, so you get the same excellent exhaust notes from the same 5.6-liter V-8 engine.

A carlike steering wheel and shifter hint that the Armada driving experience is going to be more carlike, but it isn’t. Brake feel is good, but steering, handling, and maneuverability are sore spots for this mammoth truck. Try to make any quick change in direction, and you’re woefully aware of this vehicle’s tremendous heft. The tall body and tall-sidewall tires don’t help either, leading to a somewhat detached feel when making abrupt lane changes and the like. Ride quality in the Armada is firm but smooth, soaking up most small bumps, but it isn’t the most refined experience.
It’s powered by a 5.6-liter V-8 that produces 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. When the engine revs, you’d almost confuse it for a NASCAR V-8–it’s that muscular sounding. The engine has been in the Armada for ten years now, and while its competitors have improved over their V-8s and even V-6s in that time, this mill has rested on its laurels. For example, the Ford EcoBoost V-6 produces 360 hp, and that comes from a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine.

With the five-speed automatic, the Armada launches smoothly and confidently from a standstill, and there’s plenty of power for passing, too. It moves from zero to 60 in just under seven seconds–good for its class–though some of the GM SUVs are quicker. With four-wheel drive and the towing package, the Armada can pull up to 9,000 pounds.
That aging machismo still differentiates the Armada from its domestic competitors–there’s just something big, brawny and handsome about its angular exterior and raised rear cabin. And, while some of the interior bits have started to feel a little chintzy over time, the Armada remains a well-organized, easy to use vehicle–even despite its size.

Nissan’s “Endurance” V-8 still takes up every nook and cranny in the engine bay, and though it sounds richly powerful and unabashedly an American-at-heart, its 317 horsepower is now down against the competition. The rumbly 5.6-liter eight kicks out strong acceleration off the line–Nissan claims 0-60 mph times of about seven seconds–thanks to a five-speed automatic that’s a gear behind some other utes. The combination pairs up with either rear- or four-wheel drive. Passing ability is impressive, and the Armada 4WD tows up to 9,000 pounds.
It has strong brakes, but the Armada’s handling and its in-town maneuverability are not its strong points. Quick changes in direction will make you well aware of its mammoth size and heft. Ride quality in the Armada is firm but smooth, soaking up most bumps, but it isn’t the most refined experience.

It’s quite the climb to get into the Armada, but once you’ve mounted the seats, you’ll find a cabin that is as spacious as the exterior is expansive.The first two rows are quite comfortable, with lots of headroom resulting from the bowed roofline. Ordering second-row captain’s chairs cuts down the overall seating capacity by one, from eight to seven. The third-row seat doesn’t have quite enough room for adults, and the tall floor makes it a scramble, getting in and out. It also makes loading cargo into the rear more difficult than it could be. There’s not much cargo space behind the third-row seat, either, so you’ll be leaving it folded down if you use the Armada regularly for family errands.
The Armada shows its age with interior materials. Nissan has dressed up the interior a bit better in recent years, but there are still too many dull plastic trim pieces inside. In multiple test vehicles over the years our editors have noted a fair amount of wind noise, and engine noise in these vehicles is cranked up to an almost ever-present level. While the V-8 sounds good, it can get wear on you on long mountain passes, or when towing.

Three different Armada trim levels are offered: SV, SL, and Platinum. Each can be had with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Armada has a limited list of options, compared to the Tahoe and Expedition. At the top of the line, the Platinum gets heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a moonroof, power rear liftgate, DVD entertainment, and a nav system with real-time traffic capability and hard-drive space for music storage.
Photo Gallery: Nissan USA

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