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With demand for big SUVs now generally soft, Armada should get only minor near-term changes. A rumored interior upgrade failed to materialize for 06, but could be on the 07 menu.

New For 2006 Nissan Armada

A more-versatile 3rd-row seat highlights this large SUV for 2006. Armada is based on Nissans Titan pickup truck. It offers SE and LE versions in 2- and 4-wheel drive, and a 4WD SE Off-Road model. The 4WD system can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low-range gearing. The sole powertrain is a 305-hp V8 and 5-speed automatic transmission. ABS and antiskid system are standard. A load-leveling suspension is optional on SE, standard elsewhere.

SE Off-Road has a special suspension and gains a standard towing package for 06. A power liftgate is standard on LEs, available for SEs; all include opening glass. Curtain side airbags covering all three seating rows are standard. Front side airbags and leather upholstery are available for SE, standard otherwise. LE seats seven and has 2nd-row bucket seats with a removable center console. Optional on LE and standard on the others is a 2nd-row bench for eight-passenger capacity. For 06, a 60/40 split folding 3rd-row bench seat replaces a one-piece type. All rear seats fold into a level load deck. Exclusive to LEs is an optional navigation system with rearview camera. Nissans upscale Infiniti brand sells a retrimmed Armada as the QX56.

Interior

Armadas cabin is attractive, comfortable and convenient. The attractive mix of interior materials gives it a nice look without fake wood-grain trim or excessive use of chrome. The Seton leather available on the Off-Road model is rich and luxurious with texture thats visually appealing.

The eight-way adjustable drivers seat is comfortable and supportive. Adjustable pedals and a tilting steering column help ensure the proper driving position. We found the seats comfortable and liked the commanding view of the road. A two-piece sun visor keeps the sun off the eyes. The gauge package includes speedometer and tachometer, oil pressure, temperature, voltage and fuel gauges. Ordering the towing package adds a transmission temperature gauge.

Places to stash stuff are provided. Opening the lid to the center console reveals a deep storage compartment. In front of that is a large open binnacle, perfect for tossing odds and ends, and an arm swings out to secure a big water bottle. There are narrow storage channels along the sides of the center tunnel and more storage is found in the interior door panels and on top of the dashboard above the outer vents. The center consoles well-designed cup holders are easy to access. Armada offers 14 cup holders and four of them are designed to hold 64-ounce beverage containers. A long, overhead console provides more storage and a pair of map lights. Three 12-volt outlets are provided, including one in the rear, and two of them provide power even when the engine is not running.

The back seats offer acres of space. Passengers in the second row enjoy 42 inches of leg room. Families told Nissan they need more room in the second row than whats available in other full-size SUVs, so the Armada was designed with best-in-class rear legroom. The second-row seats recline so you can really stretch out. A choice of rear seats is available: a bench seat with a flip down armrest or captains chairs with a large center console. Either way, the second-row seat feels roomier than in the Ford Expedition and much roomier than in Tahoe, Yukon, or Sequoia.
Third-row seats are raised, stadium style, for better forward visibility by those sitting back there. The second-row seats easily flip down and tumble out of the way when getting in and out of the third row; the release is a little easier to operate than the Expeditions. Once seated, we found them reasonably comfortable for third-row seats, but they are more suitable for children or short distances.

The Nissan Armada can carry almost as much cargo as a Spanish armada from the heyday of maritime explorers. With all seats in their full upright positions, the Armada provides 20 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which is similar to that of the Expedition. Its deep enough to fit a 30-gallon cooler. Theres also a nice storage area hidden beneath the rear section of the cargo floor. The second- and third-row seats fold flat to the cargo floor. Folding down the third row reveals 57 cubic feet of cargo space, considerably more than whats found in the Expedition.

Folding down both rows provides 97 cubic feet of space, a little less than the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition. Fold down the front passenger seat and you can fit a 10-foot ladder inside. Like the Expedition, there are gaps in the floor between the second- and third-row seats when all are folded flat. Second-row bucket seats come with a center console between them and this setup is not nearly as good as the second-row bench seat when its time to haul cargo or dogs.

Getting in and out is easy in spite of the high step up. The inside door handles are well designed for easy exit. The rear doors open wide. And the running boards help when climbing in or out.

Safety

The Nissan Armada comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, rear parking sensors and side curtain airbags that protect all three rows of passengers. A vehicle rollover sensor will deploy the side curtain airbags when it senses an imminent rollover accident. Seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants are optional on the SE and standard on the LE.

Powertrains and Performance

All Armadas come with a 5.6-liter V8 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Rated at 305 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque, the V8 produces a broad band of power and warrants an impressive 9,100-pound maximum tow rating. SE and LE models are available with two- or four-wheel drive; the SE Off-Road is 4WD only. Four-wheel-drive models use a pushbutton transfer case with dual-range gears.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The Nissan Armada is available only as a four-door SUV. There are three trim levels: SE, SE Off-Road and LE. Base SEs come well equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, three rows of seating, a power driver seat, a tire-pressure monitoring system, power-adjustable pedals, rear parking sensors, rear-seat air conditioning, an eight-speaker stereo with an in-dash CD changer and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The SE Off-Road adds Rancho shocks, a lower final drive ratio, 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, foglights and skid plates. The high-line LE model loses the hard-core off-road equipment but gains upscale items like a power liftgate, heated leather seats, driver-seat memory, a power front passenger seat, second-row bucket seats, and an upgraded 10-speaker Bose audio system. Many of these features are optional on SE and SE Off-Road models. A sunroof and rear DVD entertainment system are optional on all trims. A DVD-based navigation system with a rearview monitor is an exclusive LE option.

Driving Impressions

The Nissan Armada offers brilliant throttle response and feels quicker and more responsive than other SUVs in its class. Its 5.6-liter V8 produces a best-in-class 305 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque.

The five-speed automatic transmission takes full advantage of the engines strong low-end torque. Having five gears to choose from makes the Armada very responsive and the transmission never hunts around for the right gear. It shifts smoothly and the close ratios eliminate abrupt downshifts. The substantial torque is available even at low rpm, providing confidence-inspiring power when merging into heavy highway traffic with a loaded two-horse box in tow or when maneuvering off road. A 2WD Armada earns a 13/19 mpg City/Highway EPA fuel economy rating, 13/18 for 4WD.

Like the Titan, Nissans brawny full-size pickup, the Armada is built on a fully boxed steel ladder frame that yields a smooth ride and responsive handling. Unlike Titan, Armada features an independent rear suspension, a design that enhances ride and handling. Indeed, the Armada makes a smooth transition as it turns into corners. Its handling feels controlled and handles emergency lane-change maneuvers well at highway speeds. The front suspension is also independent with rack-and-pinion steering.

We found the Armada to be very well mannered, instilling a sense of confidence in the driver that this full-size SUV will go and turn as well if not better than its competition. The brakes dont seem to be fully up to the task of repeated hard braking, however, a consideration when towing through mountainous areas.

The Off-Road package rides much better than we expected after looking at its big, aggressive off-road tires and reading about its Rancho suspension. Out on the highway, it does not ride as well as the standard suspension, however, as road vibration is transmitted on rough freeways. For driving off road, the angle of approach (without the front spoiler) and departure are 31.1 degrees and 27.7 degrees, superior to the Toyota Sequoia and Chevy Tahoe, and the ramp-over angle is 25.0. The 4x2 SE has 9.9 inches of ground clearance while the SE 4x4 and all LEs have at least 10.6 inches of clearance.MSRP Price Range $34,700 - $42,800

Invoice Price Range $31,548 - $38,912

Favorite Features

The DVD entertainment. While the kids can watch, the parents can listen to their own music. NAV- excellent, easy to navigate. Interior design and functionality. Exterior design...it turn heads. I also like the feature, which tells you hown miles left until empty.Helps with your decision to gas up.

Overall Review

this vehicle is no less then any other brand or suv in this market. armada can beat the tahoe,sequoia,expedition,navigator or any suv anytime, anyday. if you want a suv with better torque, towing capacity,more power,amazing acceleration, then this is the car for you!

Posted by Unknown at 3:15 PM

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Labels: 2006, armada, nissan, reviews, specs