Look out Tahoe! This Nissan is going to give you a run for your money. Packed with cool features and tons of power, get ready to do some hauling.
I work for a large rental car company so I have the opportunity to drive many different SUVs on a daily basis. I average between 100-150 miles a day, I can really figure out what I like and don’t like. Also, customers are very vocal about what they like and don't like as well. I write my reviews based on personal experience driving and maintaining the vehicle as well as the feedback I have heard from customers.
Let's start with the good stuff. It happens to come in the form a 5.6L V8. This things sounds cool just starting it up. Step on the accelerator from a stand still and the Armada will strap you to your seat. It caught me off guard the first few times driving it, but this thing will keep you strapped all the up to 90MPH. I was amazed at how quick revving the V8 is and the power that it made. It is more quick revving than most V6's I have driven, yet will still cruise at highway speeds well under 2000 rpm. A large factor in whether or not I like a vehicle is dependent on how fun it is to drive. This engine makes the Armada a blast to drive. Handling is as expected. The stance of the armada is fairly wide which minimizes body lean, but it still feels top heavy and should be driven keeping that in mind. Once on the highway, it is a very smooth ride and wind noise is kept to a minimum.
Any first class section would be jealous of the space the Nissan Armada offers. The front seat are a cool looking mesh, very comfy, and almost big enough to hold 2 people! The dash is well laid out, with all buttons and knobs in easy reach. The stereo has controls on the steering wheel and sounds great. The middle and 3rd row is where the Armada really amazed me. I had 8 adults in an Armada on a 1000 mile road trip, and I did not hear one complaint about anyone being uncomfortable. I am 6'1" and I had more than enough led and head room in the middle and 3rd rows.
The downside to having all this room is the Armada is huge, and it feels huge when you drive it. Don't expect to squeeze this thing into a tight parking spot at the grocery store or get it in and out of a parking garage easy. The size of this vehicle definitely takes some getting used to. I suggest you lower you collision and liability deductibles on your insurance the first few months of driving it just in case you bump into someone. However, the Armada does have a back-up sensor system that beeps when you get close to an object.
From what I understand the Armada shares the same power train as the Nissan Titan. I have been dealing with both these vehicles at work since they initially came out a few years ago. I have yet to see any problems with either of these vehicles, and both have gotten rave reviews from almost every customer that rents one. Most of the time they don’t want to give it back!
If you are worried about gas mileage, look elsewhere. Somewhere really far from here! Calling the Armada a 'gas guzzler' would be giving it a compliment. This thing sucks down gas faster than anything I have driven. Around town, don’t expect more than 13MPG, driving it easy. Start having some fun, and you are looking between 8-10MPG. Once on the highway the Armada does alright. Fully loaded with 8 people and gear, we were seeing upper teens, around 17-19MPG. Not great, but all things considered it is not too bad.
Overall, the Armada is an excellent vehicle. I would recommend this to anyone needing to cart a large family around or someone wanting to drive a vehicle with its own zip code. Take a look at what gas will cost before buying this vehicle. If you do a lot of driving, your gas bill will likely be more than your car payment. But, who cares? You are the king of the road when you are driving an Armada!
Amount Paid (US$): 29000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2007
Model and Options: SE
