The Nissan Armada is the brand's largest non-commercial vehicle and is a direct competitor to Chevy's Suburban and Ford's Expedition. The Armada Platinum represents the highest rung for the model and comes equipped with four-wheel drive. It's worth mentioning that this top-of-the-line outfit's price point is about $10,000 less expensive than those of the Expedition and Suburban (both equipped with four-wheel drive). It also features a higher towing capacity than both the Expedition and Suburban. So are the other options really worth $10,000 more?
If I could only use one word to describe my reaction to the 2017 Nissan Armada, that would be: Sold! After driving this SUV I will actually be purchasing one of these in the near future.
As a full sized SUV enthusiast and Ford Expedition owner, in my eyes this Nissan delivered a new level of comfort and luxury from an import brand.
The standard 5.6L “Endurance” V8 with nearly 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque delivers a sporty, fun response to a steady and safe ride at interstate speeds. However, you don’t have to reach highway speeds to notice this. While cruising the roads in town, it’s extremely smooth and comfortable. The overall impressions are of safety and confidence while behind the wheel.
If there was one small complaint to be made, it's that the comparatively small 26-gallon fuel tank combined with the 14/19mpg rating means I watched the fuel gauge drop faster than anticipated. In researching some consumer reviews, I noticed that this observation was made by other drivers, too. But I can live with it.
The cockpit offers all the bells and whistles you find in modern vehicles, but after jumping into the vehicle for my first drive the key features—like navigation and stereo—were easy to learn and manage together. The interior really brought the feeling of luxury to life: simple, yet somehow glamorous. It's spacious for drivers and passengers without the feeling that you are piloting a large passenger bus.
This Nissan Armada is a definite winner for me. The only option I would change when I do buy it is the color. Of the seven available factory colors, "Mocha Almond" sounds tastier than it looks.
This vehicle would have been out of consideration before my experience with it, so thank you Nissan for making me believe again. It is possible to have a luxury SUV for $60,000 and enjoy the drive. I can’t wait to see how it tows.
Are the direct competitor's rigs worth $10,000+ more? No. It comes down to people's loyalties/preference, that being said Nissan is forced to sell a similarly equipped truck for less due to ford/gm having the US market cornered. The cheaper price tag has no bearing on the quality of their product.
Badge engineering.
That body has been sold as the Infiniti QX80, n'ee QX56 since '11
New Armadas range from $45k - $60k
New QX80s range from $64k - $90k
Pretty amazing to see one model with a $45k swing in price.
Or, is it?
The Chevy Suburban starts at $45k and the Cadillac Escalade ESV can be as high as $101k if you get all the options!!!!
I legitimately didn't know Nissan still made the Armada. Not sure when I've even seen one last. This new one sure looks better than the earlier ones, minus the big chrome fender vents.
thatsnowinnebago wrote: I legitimately didn't know Nissan still made the Armada. Not sure when I've even seen one last. This new one sure looks better than the earlier ones, minus the big chrome fender vents.
Yeah, the earlier Armadas looked like the guy who designed the center section wasn't on speaking terms with the stylist who designed the tail end of it.
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