NEW NISSAN ARMADA
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Other than its awkward name and odd proportions, the Pathfinder Armada sizes up favorably with its domestic competition on nearly every front.
Pros
Spacious interior, gutsy V8, lots of up-front storage areas, fold-flat third-row seat.
Cons
Bold styling is polarizing, leather seats not as comfortable as cloth, dismal fuel mileage.
What''s New for 2004
The Pathfinder Armada is an all-new full-size sport-utility vehicle from Nissan. Based on the Titan pickup, it features a standard V8 engine, seating for eight and numerous family-friendly features.
Overview
Introduction:
Nissan has had a reasonable amount of success with its small pickups and SUVs. The ever-popular Pathfinder was first introduced as a two-door and came off like a rough-and-tough-looking mini-Blazer. Later the four-door version came along and allowed those who needed extra rear-seat room to join the bold-looking Pathfinder party. Each subsequent redesign of the Pathfinder was an improvement, and the versatile compact SUV even stretched into the luxury segment when it was rebadged as the Infiniti QX4. However, the one thing the Pathfinder cannot escape is the fact that it is a midsize SUV, and in a world where Tahoes, Sequoias and Expeditions rule, Nissan was left with nothing even approaching full-size. That all changes for the 2004 model year with the introduction of the full-size Pathfinder Armada sport-utility. Doesn''t really roll off the tongue like Titan, Maxima or Frontier, does it? Name aside, the Pathfinder Armada is a seriously big and seriously powerful SUV. Inevitably, most consumers will compare the Pathfinder Armada to the Toyota Sequoia, as they''re the only full-size SUVs from foreign manufacturers. But the new Nissan is bigger than the Sequoia in just about every way -- more interior space, more horsepower, more ground clearance and more towing capacity. The Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe are more appropriate competitors in terms of size and capacities. The Armada is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 that makes over 300 horsepower and rides on a fully boxed steel frame. This is clearly not a car-based SUV; with a towing capacity of over 9,000 pounds and the most ground clearance in its class, those looking for an alternative to the Expedition or Tahoe will wonder what took Nissan so long. The Pathfinder Armada offers more than just brute strength, it also offers such family-friendly features as a DVD entertainment system, satellite radio capability (either XM or Sirius), leather seating, one-touch up-and-down front windows and fold-flat second- and third-row seats. With seating options for seven or eight passengers, the interior is more than roomy and second-row passengers are afforded limolike legroom. The Pathfinder Armada is Nissan''s first venture into the full-size SUV market, and as such the company has set reasonable sales goals for the first year of production. Based on its size, easy-to-configure nature, bold styling and powerful V8, we have no doubt that Nissan will sell plenty of these big and brawny SUVs.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The Pathfinder Armada is available only as a four-door SUV. There are two trim levels: SE and LE, both of which are available with either two- or four-wheel drive. Base SEs come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, a body-color grille, cloth seating, a second-row seat bench seat, full-length side curtain airbags, 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 can be equipped with the Off Road Package, which adds Rancho shocks, a lower final drive ratio, 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, foglights and skid plates; or the Tow Package, which in addition to trailering preparation, provides a self-leveling rear suspension. The high-line LE model offers a chrome grille, heated leather seats, a power driver seat with memory, second-row bucket seats, seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants and an upgraded 10-speaker Bose audio system. The leather upholstery, side airbags and Bose stereo can all be added to the SE, while a sunroof and a rear DVD entertainment system are optional on both models. Options exclusive to the LE include a power rear liftgate, a DVD-based navigation system and dual-zone climate control.
Powertrains and Performance:
All Pathfinder 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 Endurance V8 uses dual-overhead cams and a variable intake manifold to produce a broad band of power and an impressive 9,100-pound maximum tow rating. Four-wheel-drive models use a push-button transfer case with dual-range gears.
Safety:
The Pathfinder Armada comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic 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.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
The Armada offers seating for up to eight passengers and easy-to-use, fold-flat second and third-row seats. There''s plenty of storage space up front and an unprecedented number of overhead storage bins. A DVD-based navigation system is optional, as is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a rear power liftgate. With both the second- and third-row seats folded flat, there''s 97.1 cubic feet of cargo space.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
While the powerful V8 does give the Pathfinder Armada a "light on its feet" feel when accelerating, the massive girth of this truck is obvious when cornering or coming to an abrupt stop. Still, ride quality is smooth and comfortable on the highway, and the well-weighted steering makes the Armada easy enough to maneuver in everyday driving situations. The big V8 has a nice throaty rumble when pressed and at the same time delivers smooth power on par with Toyota''s iForce V8.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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