Despite what you've read in the news about the war against fuel inefficient
vehicles, people can't stop buying massive, gas guzzling SUVs.
I was reminded of that when I took delivery of the 2018 Nissan Armada, a full-size SUV
many thought would've disappeared by now.
In fact, Nissan's current body-on-frame offering is still alive and well, following
a complete makeover in 2016.
Built on the latest version of Nissan's truck and SUV "F-Alpha" platform, the
Armada shares its backbone with the former Infiniti QX56, and latest QX80 luxury SUV.
The 2018 Nissan Armada is available in a total of four- trims, with the base model "S"
starting at $46,090.
Bumping up to the "SL" raises the price to $50,850, ticking off improvements like
20-inch wheels over the base 18-inch rollers, and a 360-degree camera.
Taking a massive leap to $59,190 is our tester's "Platinum" trim.
Checking all the boxes is the top-spec "Platinum Reserve" trim, which is just short of making
the jump to an Infiniti QX80.
While it looks good on paper, the Nissan Armada battles full-size SUVs from two of America's
"Big Three," General Motors and Ford.
These include the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban along with their GMC cousins and the all-new
Ford Expedition.
Another strong competitor hailing from Japan is the Toyota Land Cruiser.
It's a tough crowd of competitors.
Can the gigantic Armada force its way ahead of them?
Interior and tech Our tester's list of standard features includes
NissanConnect infotainment with sat-nav and a Bose sound system.
The standard safety kit is as substantial as the Armada itself and includes Automatic
Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Warning, forward-collision-sensing automatic braking, and automatic braking reverse
assist.
On the convenience front, radar-guided cruise control and a power one-touch moonroof come
standard.As you'd expect, interior space is cavernous enough that one could almost
live out of its 171.1 cubic-feet of total interior volume.
But if making a mobile home isn't your mission, the Armada seats up to seven people, plus
all their things.
Our sampler came with the optional $450 "captain's chair" arrangement for the second row, swapping
the bench out for individual bucket seats.
It's all very comfortable and yet, it all feels strangely outdated.
We blame that on the upright dashboard, hard-to-reach controls, and a switchgear that's obviously
from Nissan's previous generation.
The quality of the materials is about on par with its competitors, if not a tad on the
plasticky side.
And despite the suite of technology, up-to-date connectivity, and features, the Armada's
8.0-inch infotainment screen still feels like its stuck in 2010 with a low-resolution look
and blocky menu design.
Given that the latest Armada, and its Infiniti cousin, are based on a platform that came
out eight years ago, this isn't the least bit shocking.
One will find a far more modern interior in any of the American alternatives.
Driving Experience As you'd expect from something that resembles
a huge chest freezer on wheels, the Armada's on-road mannerisms are ponderous.
Its dimensions are slightly larger than a competing Chevrolet Tahoe, at over 17 feet
long, 6.6 feet wide, 6.3 feet tall, and 5,822 pounds of curb eight.
Handling isn't its strong suit.
Any attempt at spirited driving causes the Armada to scream "what the heck are you
doing!?" before it flops into submission.
The ride seems stiff at first, but it does absorb road imperfections, allowing few big
bumps into the cabin.
While an adaptive suspension is standard, it's designed to handle load-leveling when
towing heavy trailers, not to enable an aggressive sport mode.
As you'd expect with something resembling a huge chest freezer on wheels, the Armada's
on-road mannerisms are ponderous.
Even normal driving makes the Armada's heft obvious.
It often feels slow, dull, and brutish.
It takes some getting used to but, once you do, it becomes a quiet and comfortable long-distance
cruiser.
Nissan's latest "Endurance" 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8, with 390 horsepower and
394 pound-feet of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic, motivates this leviathan.
The result is that 0-60 only takes around six seconds to complete from a standstill.
And it sounds great doing so.
Top speed?
Irrelevant, but if you had to ask, it's limited to 133 mph.
That power isn't supplied as much for performance as it is grunt and hauling capability.
Right off the assembly line, all Armadas come with a max tow-rating of 8,500 pounds.
That bests the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban by more than a ton (2,000 pounds), depending
on how modestly it's optioned.
To come anywhere near that with the GM crowd, one would have to opt for a more expensive
GMC Yukon with its optional tow package.
And that even maxes out at 8,400 pounds, 100 short of the Armada.
However, the Armada does lose to the new 2018 Ford Expedition, with its tow rating of 9,200
pounds.How DT would configure this car Because our actual 2018 Nissan Armada tester
came very well equipped as the second-most expensive Platinum model, it's the one we'd
jump for, even with its Hermosa Blue exterior and Almond Leather interior.
The Hermosa Blue is the only shade available, but it's still the closest thing to matching
Digital Trends' blue.
The Almond Leather helps lighten up the cavernous interior, unlike darker options, which makes
it feel like a never-ending void.
We can do without the $3,000 Platinum Reserve package, which brings some minor interior
and exterior luxury appointments.
At that point, a much nicer 2018 Infiniti QX80 becomes within reach, price wise.
And it's essentially the same truck, just dressed up to match Infiniti luxury brand.
The near-loaded Armada Platinum guarantees every occupant is happy and comfortable with
three-zone automatic climate control, heated and cool front seats, and a whole suite of
safety technology.
This includes a 360-surround camera, parking sensors, blind-spot detection, an intelligent
rear-view mirror, radar-guided cruise control, automatic emergency braking, back-up intervention
assist, and more.
Oh, did we mention a rear entertainment system also comes standard?
OUR TAKE The 2018 Nissan Armada Platinum is a rugged
full-size SUV geared more towards utility with its max tow rating of 8,500 pounds.
It also happens to be spacious, well-equipped, and comfortable.
However, it's not at all fuel efficient, and a bit clumsy to drive if you're not
used to driving large vehicles.
Because it's still based off of an SUV platform that's almost a decade old, its age is starting
to show itself with its handling, the seemingly dated infotainment screen interface, and the
interior's overall design.
Is there a better alternative?
The Nissan Armada shares its playing field with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, its
GMC cousins, the Yukon and Yukon XL, and the recently renewed Ford Expedition and Lincoln
Navigator.
While the Armada does its just job perfectly fine, the GM offerings feel more up-to-date
and are much better and easier to drive, while the new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator
also promise improved driving experiences, as they were recently redesigned from the
ground up.
Should you get one?
No, unless the tow rating is a must-have feature.
The Nissan seems to trail behind the latest and greatest from America's stablemates.
The Armada does a fine job at being a full-size SUV, but it only excels at towing and hauling
in luxury.
If you need that, it's great – but most people don't.
If you don't have a boat to put behind your SUV, you'll be better off with a recently
updated option from Nissan's competitors.
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