NICO reviews the 2009 Nissan Armada - Nissan's "Gentle Giant"

[AZhitman]

Nissan's Armada may be a gentle giant, but its muscle lives up to the name. It has brutish power and is the biggest thing I have ever driven, but is more like a cozy living room on wheels, than a battleship.

The Armada comes complete with sofa-style passenger seats at the back and foldable child seats in the extreme rear and its size means there is still space for luggage and shopping.

It looks like a menacing machine, packed with power, but is as comfortable on smooth city roads as on rugged terrain.

The Armada's robust 5.6 liter V8 engine translates into lots of muscle and an impressive tow rating, but on the flip side is the atrocious fuel consumption, in smooth city conditions.

The Armada's 317 horsepower, 385 pound-feet of torque and a tow rating of 9,100 pounds are perfectly mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, with an option for four or two-wheel drive.

Parking can be tough, given the Armada's size - though it mounts the curbs easily if you want to risk a ticket!

At the rear, a more heavily contoured tailgate offers glass-only or full hatch access to cargo, with a relatively low lift for such a large truck and the wiper parks off the glass, to avoid interference with access or vision.

On models with roof racks, the rack has recessed tie-down loops at each corner for securing cargo, without scratching off paint or generating wind whistles.

Side steps are standard across the board, watering down the off-road image, but making it easier for shorter folks to climb aboard.

Even with the whole family (and a few friends) inside, I felt the Armada hauled like a gorilla on steroids and came out on top in terms of sheer brute force.

If brawn is not of paramount importance, some might be wiser to take a look at some seven-passenger cross-over vehicles, which are more "refined" to drive - but then, again, what fun would that be?

If you are the kind of driver who thinks an SUV should wear its brawn on its sleeve, then this is the ride for you.

Though the Armada's front facade is nothing short of menacing, its bumpers and fenders have the sort of bulging mass usually associated with power-lifters.

The "fully loaded" model that I was given never left me wanting, thanks to features like dual-zone automatic climate control, rear-parking sensors, an in-dash six CD changer and rear-seat air-conditioning.

Other features include a power-lift gate, a rear-view camera, heated leather seats and an upgraded 10-speaker Bose audio system.

Popular options include a hard-drive-based navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system. Being inside the cabin is like being in an airplane cockpit, with king-sized buttons and displays.

The Armada's huge cabin makes for impressive head and legroom. The third row offers high, stadium-style seating - legroom is adequate but short seat bottoms make this row one for the children.

Storage space is plentiful, with no shortage of overhead storage bins.

Though the Armada is quick on its feet, its bulk becomes evident in corner maneuvers - and stopping.

Nevertheless, it still offers a smooth ride and a pleasant driving experience, both on the highway and around town.

Dealers say the burly Armada was initially named the Pathfinder Armada, but Nissan dropped the homage to its smaller SUV sibling in its second year of production.

It was primarily built to capitalize on America's love of super-sized SUVs and it then won plenty of fans.

One of the most striking features of the interior is the exquisitely-crafted dash, which features a seven-inch colour display, while more soft-touch material and wood-tone accents add rather inviting warmth.

These enhancements are more in keeping with the Armada's emphasis on passenger comfort.

The 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless starting and leather upholstery add to the overall comfort levels, along with a power-fold feature for the third-row seat, Bluetooth connectivity, auto-dimming side mirrors, satellite radio and a sunroof.

Antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability control, front-seat active head restraints, rear parking sensors and side curtain airbags that protect all three rows of passengers, are standard on all Armadas.