2006 Nissan Armada SE 4x4 Test Drive and Review

A forum for the Nissan Armada, Infiniti QX56, and beginning in 2014, the Infiniti QX80
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AZhitman
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By: Jason Fogelson

When you name your SUV after a fleet of ships, you have to expect the nautical puns, so here we go: The 2006 Nissan Armada SE 4x4 cruises into harbor.

Decked out with a $37,300 list price ($44,530 as tested), the 2006 Nissan Armada SE 4x4 sets sail with a 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty and a 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. Batten down the hatches and stow the gear, we're underway. There's a following sea of traffic, so keep an eye on our starboard side. Anchors aweigh! Okay... enough of that...

The Armada is big. There's no two ways about that. It's big, even for a large SUV. At 78.8 inches wide (without mirrors), 206.9 inches long and 78.7 inches high, the Armada casts an impressive shadow. There are distinct family resemblances to Nissan's other SUVs and trucks. As with the Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Titan and Frontier, the Armada's styling is going to be a "love it or hate it" issue for most people.There's a very articulated look to the Armada's body – the engine compartment, main passenger compartment and rear passenger/cargo compartment each have their own shape and style. From the side, it almost looks as if the main passenger compartment leans back, while the rear compartment sits straight up.

Some really nice touches add interest to the design. A beefy front grille and large chrome Nissan logo dominate the front façade, with big multi-projector headlights dressing each corner.

The rear passenger door handles are mounted high up on the back edge of the door, inset into the body. Releasing the latch and pulling open the door is one fluid motion. Splashes of chrome on the side view mirrors and bumpers bring excitement to the overall look. No tricks employed to look smaller – the Armada celebrates its massiveness.

It's a climb to get into the cabin of the Armada. Nissan has included functional running boards and grab rails to ease the task. The comfortable driver's seat is power-adjustable, as are the pedals, so finding a good driving position is pretty easy. My test vehicle was equipped with leather seats, part of a $4,100 package that included a power sunroof, power liftgate, side airbags and XM Satellite Radio. The steering wheel is adjustable for tilt only, and has buttons for audio and cruise control. There's a large center console, a big glove box, and big storage pockets on the doors. The dash is simple, built with high quality plastics. My favorite features are the non-skid cubbies, just the right size for cell phones, mp3 players and other junk.

The middle 40/20/40 bench seat drew high praise for space and comfort. With two child car seats, there was room for an adult to ride comfortably in the middle – a useful parental buffer between squabbling kids. Access to the third row of seating was easy from either side of the Armada. The third row is not bad at all. The seat is elevated so you can see over the headrests and not feel totally isolated back there. There's enough leg room and depth so that the seating position is not fetal.

Once the tugboat has guided you from your mooring – sorry, I promised I was done with the nautical stuff. Actually, the Armada drives about as well as you could expect, given its size. Sight lines are pleasantly uncluttered, and a rear sonar system is standard equipment to aid backing and parking. The turning radius is good, 40.8 feet, so U-turns are actually a possibility on the boulevard.The 5.6 Liter V8 under the Armada's hood pumps out 305 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, and does a great job putting the 5458 lb SUV through its paces. The Armada can tow up to 9000 lbs – an optional $650 tow package was installed on my test vehicle with a lower final gear ratio to give more access to the grunt. 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS haul the Armada down from speed, and vehicle dynamic control helps keep the wheels on the road.

I drove the Armada at low speed off-road for a few minutes at a recent event.

In SE dress, the Armada has a skid plate, shift on the fly 4-wheel drive and 10.7 inches of ground clearance. With a 123.2 inch wheelbase, the Armada is not well-suited to extreme off-roading, but it will do a fine job on the dirt road to Grandmother's house. The $1,600 DVD Entertainment package will keep the kiddies quiet while you drive.

If you need a big SUV, you need a big SUV. Just be prepared for the downside: the Armada gets 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway according to the EPA. Also, with its height and width, you won't fit in some parking garages, and you have to hunt for full-size parking spots at the mall. A minivan will get you better gas mileage and maneuverability, and still carry a family's worth of people and their stuff.If you need the big 4-wheel drive SUV, though, you've got several choices in the Armada's price range. Be sure to check out the Toyota Sequoia, the Ford Expedition, the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and the Jeep Commander. If size is the name of the game, the Armada is the winner, inside and out.

Accessories are the name of the game in the SUV world, and it's possible to rack up a big bill in a hurry on the Armada.

Choose wisely, and get just what you need. Safety appointments are always a good investment, especially if you're going to be carrying a lot of passengers. If you're under 6' tall, get the power liftgate – it's not a luxury with a vehicle this big.

The 2006 Nissan Armada delivers a nice ride, comfortable accommodations and unique style in a crowded sea of SUVs. Add the Armada to your fleet, and you'll be sure to command the road.



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AZhitman
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Posts: 71061
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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