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:
Showing 81 through 90 of 662.00-
2004 Armada - 2004 Nissan Armada
By hhlewis - October 28 - 2:00 amThe new armada will be a front runner in the full size SUV market. With the most horse power in its class.And the interior room. Its also a good value for the money.
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mah nissan - 2006 Nissan Armada
By troy - October 25 - 12:16 amreally really , nice powerful v8 nice looking turn head nice powerful growl lol ~1~
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Overall, a very nice SUV - 2005 Nissan Armada
By Steamthief - October 19 - 9:56 pmI was hesitant to buy a 2004 due to problems mentioned on edmunds, and Im glad I waited. The 2005 is indeed a very nice truck. Gobs of power; merging onto the freeway is a breeze. Interior cabin is very quiet, surprisingly so at freeway speeds. Lots of interior room; front seats (leather) are firm and supportive, middle bench has lots of legroom, and the kids prefer sitting in the third row, so I assume its pretty comfy back there as well! Bose stereo sounds great. One concern is the underpowered brakes; steering wheel started shuddering after about 3k miles, mostly city driving. Dealer serviced brakes at no charge, all is well again. Overall, I love this truck & have NO regrets.
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Poor Quality - 2005 Nissan Armada
By Kevin - October 13 - 5:56 amA Nissan Failure. Very poor in quality, poor braking system. Rotors are too small and warp between 3k-4k. Sunroof leaks and rattles. Rattle sounds through out entire truck. Poor radio reception and navigation system will not work in cold weather until vehicle reaches warm temperatures. Also though your wheel alignment may be fine the steering wheel itself becomes off centered. My Armada has been in the shop for all of the above problems 16 times in the first full year. Not where a new vehicle $40K+ belongs unless its a Lemon, the Armada is a lemon. The truck has already lost $20K in trade-in value. Thats a big hit just to get out of this and in to something more reliable.
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This is one HOT SUV!!!! - 2004 Nissan Armada
By Paulo356 - October 11 - 10:00 amIve driven my new black Armada 4x4 LE for about a week now and theres only one word to describe this SUV - its a BEAST! Depressing the accelerator pedal is like opening up a can of whup- ass on the road - this baby definitely has a lot of get-up-and-go. My friends can hear this thing coming down the road 4 blocks away! Also, the Nav system is one of the easiest to use and the seats are very comfortable. The DVD screen is a little too small at 7" for such a cavernous cabin - audience in the third row has to squint to see dvd image.
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Lovin It - 2004 Nissan Armada
By Rob G - October 5 - 10:00 amBought the Armada in Sept 2004, then sent wife and kids to Phoenix the first week. Almost 20 mpg on the highway! No problems so far, love the exhaust not and the power. Great space for our growing family. My only complaint is that my wife gets to drive it all the time and I dont! I love the fact that it comes standard with so many airbags.
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Powerful - 2004 Nissan Armada
By RCall - October 5 - 10:00 amThis is an SUV that drives like a muscle car. It has a lot of zip! I love the styling. It shows a lot of attitude! I have had some issues with minor things, such as the electric seats and electrical gauges not working. The mileage was not as good as I expected. I am only getting about 12 MPG around town. I have not had a chance to try it out on a good road trip for highway MPG yet. We love the roominess in the seating, the second row has especially good head & legroom. The third seat we dont use much, I would not recommend it for long trips for large people due to the lack of headroom that comes from the theater- style seating. Lots of space comes with folding down the rear seat.
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Great but............ - 2004 Nissan Armada
By Love the looks - September 30 - 12:20 amI enjoy driving this truck ( I do mean truck because this vehicle rides nothing like the Tahoe we owned just before purchasing the Armada) Additionally, Nissan needs to pay attention to the details like brakes that squeak, DVD rattles, and tail gates that fail to operate correctly. Besides that the vehicle has performed well.
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Okay - 2006 Nissan Armada
By Armada - September 22 - 5:06 pmThe performance is great for a vehicle that size. It has great pickup speed. There is something about the driver side chair that is not right just cannot explain what. the fuel economy is very poor and should be design better. It is fun to drive because it is big and somewhat easy to handle. Interior design is plain for the price I paid for, exterior is simply but good to look at if you had the right color. Built is okay cannot judge it right now. I believe this vehicle is very reliable.
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We love our Armada. - 2017 Nissan Armada
By JRA - September 20 - 7:27 pmIf your reading this review, your likely considering the 2017 Armada. Ive long been impressed with the looks and performance of the QX56/80 and when Nissan first released the very similar redesigned Armada, I immediately wanted one. After reading the "expert" reviews, I decided to pull the trigger and purchase a 2017 Black on Black Platinum 4WD. My new Armada is absolutely beautiful and is the envy of our friends. I found it a little odd that I was filling up so freequently but have gotten used to the fact that this beast is just a gas hog. As it stands, we are only getting about 220-260 miles per tank. The freequency of fill ups is excessive and inconvenient. When driving the vehicle, the ride is nice and pleasant. The steering is a little sloppy and steering wheel feedback is lacking. The wheel turns too easily and doesnt return to the neutral position with enough force. A couple additional items to note, the USB port in the front center console charges at a Very slow rate. Its so slow that it barely keeps your phone from discharging while plugged in. Interior lighting is adequate however, its very surprising to find that LED bulbs are nowhere to be found. The Bose sound system is also very underwhelming. There are very limited adjustments available which include basic Bass, Trebble, fader and balance only. Overall, we are very pleased with the 2nd Gen Armada and proud to arrive in style. **I highly recommend getting the available software update. This has helped with acceleration and shifting issues.
