2008 Nissan Armada
by Steve Schutz, MD
It’s big, V8 powered, and can seat
eight. It looks tough, can tow a
boat without sweating and is
proudly American made. But the
full-size Armada SUV is a Nissan, not
a Ford, Chevy or Dodge, and the fact
that it exists at all should help you
understand why Japanese automakers
have U.S. manufacturers on the run.
You see, the Armada is a perfect
competitor for the Ford Expedition
and Chevy Tahoe. Not only is it big
and loaded with utility, but it offers
all that along with Japanese quality.
That’s the secret sauce.
Design-wise, the Armada is aggressive
looking, almost to the point of
being American. Unlike the more
feminine Toyota Sequoia and Honda
Pilot, the Armada sports a macho
exterior design. It’s tall, wide and
deliberately square in profile, yet
includes details like hidden rear door
handles and a double bumped roof.
Continuing the “tough truck” theme,
the head- and taillight housings are
imposing and the prominent grille is
impossible to ignore — especially
when it’s bearing down on you from
behind on the interstate, which is
presumably the idea.
Inside, the dash features prominent
gauges, big dials and thick knobs, all
of which are ergonomic and attractive.
Many controls are now integrated into
a new center stack display. And thanks
to a mid-cycle upgrade, there are nicer
materials and more up-to-date colors
than last year. Still, the Armada’s interior
is more plasticky than it should be,
which hurts it in this class. While it’s much better than it used to be, it’s not as nice as GM’s big
SUVs, the interior leaders in this class.
The best thing about the Armada — as it is with all
full-size SUVs — is the huge cabin that can swallow a
big family plus all their gear without a hiccup. Seating
can be configured for either seven or eight passengers,
and even the fold-flat “way back” seat is (relatively) spacious.
Just remember, if you frequently take trips with
kids in the third seat, you may be better off with an
extended wheelbase full-size SUV like the Chevy
Suburban or Ford Expedition EL.
A 5.6-liter, 317-horsepower V8 provides strong acceleration
any time you need it. It sounds great, too. In
addition to gobs of passing power, the big Nissan can
tow up to 9,100-pounds — and that’s a pretty big boat.
While the powerful V8 makes the Armada step lightly,
at just over 5,000 lbs. it’s anything but light. Like any
big SUV, it feels ponderous whenever you need to corner
tightly or stop suddenly. While narrow city streets
and parking structures can be challenging, ride quality
is excellent and the nicely balanced steering makes this
SUV easy to maneuver in everyday driving situations. I
drove the Armada extensively over many road surfaces
during my week with it and was very pleased with its
general composure. Its long legs and highway manners
in particular are excellent.
As you’d expect, the 2008 Armada has a full complement
of standard safety features such as antilock disc
brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control, rear
parking sensors and side curtain airbags that protect all
three rows of passengers (Front-seat side airbags are
optional on the SE and standard on the LE).
The 2008 Nissan Armada is offered in SE and LE trim
levels. The SE is the base trim and comes with seating
for eight, 18-inch alloy wheels, a power driver’s seat,
dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker sound system
with CD changer and MP3 input jack and
adjustable pedals. The LE package includes 20-inch
alloy wheels, keyless ignition, power rear hatch, leather
seating surfaces, heated front seats, power front passenger
seat, second-row captain's chairs and a 265-watt, 10-
speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio.
Many of the LE's features are available as options on
the SE. Additional options include: power-folding thirdrow
seat, Bluetooth connectivity, auto-dimming side
mirrors, navigation with an internal 9.3GB hard drive
for storing digital music, rear-seat DVD system, satellite
radio and sunroof.
Credit Nissan for building a full-size Japanese SUV
that’s big enough for large families and manufactured
in America. Is it better than the benchmark Chevy
Tahoe and Ford Expedition? Only you (and your family)
can decide that, but the Armada is certainly a credible
competitor — more so than the Toyota Sequoia, in
my opinion. To see for yourself, call Phil Hornbeak at
301-4367 and arrange a test drive.
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