Overview & Reviews
The word "armada" usually refers to a group of large moving things. It's a fitting name for Nissan's entry in the large SUV segment, because pretty much every aspect of this beast is size L or XL. The Nissan Armada's standard 5.6-liter V8, for example, enables you to tow trailers and campers with ease. And then there's the large number of cubic feet in the Armada's cabin -- this is a very spacious SUV that's also loaded with storage areas.
The downsides are typical for this segment. Fuel mileage is poor, and the Armada's supersized dimensions can turn parking into a frustrating ordeal. If brute force isn't a top priority for you, we'd recommend looking at three-row crossover SUVs, which offer superior fuel economy and maneuverability. But if you need a rig that hauls like a gorilla on steroids, the Armada's got you covered.
Current Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada is a full-size SUV that seats up to eight passengers in its three standard rows. Buyers can choose from three trim levels: SV, SL and Platinum.
The base SV won't leave you wanting, offering side-step rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The SL trim adds 20-inch wheels, an auto-leveling rear suspension, leather upholstery, Bose audio, a power-folding third row and a power liftgate. The Platinum trim includes front parking sensors, a sunroof, a 7-inch touchscreen interface, a rear-seat entertainment system and a navigation system with music storage. Note that the Platinum can be specified with second-row captain's chairs in place of the standard three-passenger bench, dropping passenger capacity to seven.
All Armadas are equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 5.6-liter V8 that cranks out 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is the default, with four-wheel drive (including low-range gearing) optional across the board. The Armada's tow rating is a healthy 9,100 pounds, although those 317 horses make for a modest herd by modern V8 standards. Not surprisingly, they're also thirsty -- overall fuel economy maxes out at around 15 mpg.
The Armada's cabin is quite classy, with intuitive controls that are familiar from vehicles throughout the Nissan/Infiniti family. Head- and legroom are excellent in the first two seating rows. The third row offers high, stadium-style seating with adequate legroom, but short seat bottoms make this row one for the kids. Storage space is plentiful, with a generous supply of handy bins and nooks.
In our reviews, we've noted that the Nissan Armada's V8 provides brisk acceleration, but the truck's heft quickly reveals itself in cornering maneuvers and braking. Still, the Armada offers a smooth ride and a pleasant driving experience, both on the highway and around town.
Used Nissan Armada Models
The current-generation Armada debuted for the 2004 model year. It was initially named the Pathfinder Armada, but Nissan dropped the Pathfinder connection for the Armada's second year of production. There were two primary trim levels: SE and LE. The SE Off-Road package, offered from 2004-06, toughened things up with features like skid plates, a lower final-drive ratio and all-terrain tires.
The 2008 model year saw minor exterior changes and a major interior overhaul; prior to that, the Armada's dash resembled a silver plastic boom box. New technology features like keyless ignition, Bluetooth and a hard-drive-based navigation system also appeared for '08. The LE trim level was supplanted by the Titanium and Platinum trims for 2010, while the SE received standard front side airbags.
The current trim level trio -- SV, SL and Platinum -- arrived for the 2011 model year. The SL upgraded to a standard power liftgate for 2012, while the Platinum's entertainment system received standard dual 7-inch monitors for 2013.
User Reviews:
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Best Large SUV IMO - 2007 Nissan Armada
By shawn - November 9 - 4:50 pmI have driven 40k miles thus far and owned for 3 years along with owning just about every other large SUV on the market at some point in the 2004- 2008 range and still pleased with the armada. It it a power house, nimble for such a tank and is easy to run 85 on trips with feeling very secure. The only issues I have had is the brakes that only seem to last me about 7k miles before they start warping and I drive 90 percent highway with no towing. Oh, forgot to mention that when you do tow, what a powerhouse. My family loves this truck and we are considering a second one for my wife even though the gas mileage is about 13.9 MAX for highway, its worth it!
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Spend Less - Get More - 2005 Nissan Armada
By TDavis - October 30 - 5:16 pmThe Armada has made a much comfortable ride for my family. It allows my growing boys plenty of room and space from one another while being able to cargo the groceries for a family of 6. The pricing of the Armada is affordable while the style is elegant. Nissan is a reliable name and doesnt get the credit it deserves, however, for me and my family we feel fortunate to own a nice vehicle and not have it cost as much as our house.
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Armada AH YES! - 2005 Nissan Armada
By PJ - October 28 - 3:40 amI have not had my vehicle for very long, but I think its awesome. The ride, comfort, looks, dependability. It is top of the line as far as I am concerned....no better anywhere. Two downsides that I am not happy with. 1. I have leather seats (love them) I sometimes slide on pressing the brake. 2. Fuel economy Poor.
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NISSAN ARMADA - 2004 Nissan Armada
By JWALKER - October 26 - 10:00 amSPEND 6 MONTHS REVIEWING AND TEST DRIVING THIS SUV. WE WANTED SOMETHING FOR OUR FAMILY AS WE GROW AND THIS IS IT. BUCKET MIDDLE SEATS GIVES OUR 3 CHILDREN THEIR OWN SPACE AND THEY LOVE THE DVD. LOTS OF ROOM IN THIS CAR AND WE REALLY ENJOYED ON OUR FIRST VACATION TRIP. WE FELT IT HAD A BIT MORE LUXURY FEEL THEN THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA.
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My Armada - 2006 Nissan Armada
By kdocdent - October 22 - 3:56 amI really like the 2005 Nissan Armada, but it feels like a TRUCK sometimes, rather than a luxury vehicle. I have had a Lincoln Navigator (should have never gotten rid of it!), a Toyota Sequoia, and now the Nissan Armada. Both the other vehicles handled better. The color and the build are great, and the interior room especially the second and third rows cannot be beat by any thing! Overall I love it.
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limited exposure - 2017 Nissan Armada
By John Larsen - October 19 - 12:25 amOwned the Armada for a couple of weeks and happy so far.
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Great SUV that is hard to beat. - 2005 Nissan Armada
By Bob Ciammaichella - October 1 - 11:03 amThis is the first foreign car that I have purchased. To date I have not had one thing that I have had go wrong, and I have had nothing to take it to the dealers for after the purchase, I havent been able to find a thing wrong with this car. It has more than enough power for all conditions and is loaded with featuers. I considered this the best car on the market for its price. This replaced a Grand Cherokee.
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Awww!!!! Man!!! Another Mistake - 2005 Nissan Armada
By BJ - September 30 - 9:33 amI cannot stress to you about how much my 05 Armada has been giving me problems. I have to take it to the dealer every couple of weeks to get something fixed. From the A/C to the automatic tailgate. The A/C wouldnt give out cold air. It takes about 15- 20 minutes for it to get going. The steering wheel vibrates when you go 55 mph or more. The DVD system would not play the DVDs. The front headlights got water stuck inside of them because they were not installed correctly. The CD player would not eject my CDs. I went to the grocery store and I had a whole bunch of foods for Thanksgiving and the tailgate would not open. You could not manually open it or even open it with the remote.
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powerful and spacious - 2004 Nissan Armada
By Ronald Desir - September 30 - 2:00 amthis vehicle is impressily powerful and fun to drive. even without 4wd i was able to drive on the snow easily. thanks to its 18 inch wheels this and its 305 horsepower this full size suv is truly the real deal. and not to great andling.
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Nissan Armada a refreshing experience - 2004 Nissan Armada
By Orange Nutcutter - September 30 - 2:00 amThe Nissan Armada is our second experience into the SUV market. It is fun to drive, handles well and is an eye catcher from other SUV drivers. The Armada does not have the clumsy feel that our last SUV had and corners better than the Yukon and Expedition we test drove. For the money, you get more quality and more room than the Armadas domestic competition.
