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Long-Term Review
One of our editors tests the pet friendliness of our 2017 Nissan Armada. -
Long-Term Review
A year with our long-term Nissan Armada has come to an end -- and here are our conclusions. -
Long-Term Review
Our 2017 Nissan Armada has a bench in the second row, but captain's seats might make it a better family hauler. -
Long-Term Review
After about a year of ownership, the only real issue was caused by operator error -
New Car Review
The 2018 Nissan Armada full-size SUV offers room for eight, plenty of luxury and safety features and an 8,500-pound tow rating.
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I have to admit, my liking of the fresh, new 2017 Nissan Armada is getting serious. I've been finding that I prefer it over many other cars and trucks. When given a choice, I almost always pick the Armada. For years, the Chevy Tahoe has been my go-to car. It's kind of a catchall: The Tahoe is good-looking (better-looking than the Armada, I think), comfortable, spacious, and it has amazing engine choices. But it isn't very affordable.
I think the Armada might be a better all-around SUV than the Tahoe, even though I have a slight bias toward the Chevy. For one, the Armada is priced right. For $62,000, you can get a very nice Armada -- that's for the top-of-the-line Platinum version. In Tahoe-world, you'll need about $10,000 more to get the top-dog version.
I'm really liking the redesigned 2017 Nissan Armada mainly because of just how useful it is. Not only does it hold a good deal of cargo, but it's a comfortable family wagon, good for long drives, off-roading and weekend Craigslist runs. Don't ask why, but I bought a tree swing. I don't think we have a tree sturdy enough to hold it. I also picked up two used plastic toboggans and a still-in-the-box large vanity mirror. The Armada swallowed all this with the second row of seats still up and in place.
One bummer -- and i've said this before -- is that there's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It's just an obvious omission. With those smartphone interaction features, I think the Armada would be so close to the perfect automobile that it'd be too close to call. Other "Perfect Car" candidates in my book: the 2018 Honda Accord, Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe, Chevrolet Tahoe, Jaguar F-PACE, Mazda MX-5 Miata and BMW X5.
For the daily commute, I like the Armada but have to admit that something a little less thirsty might be in order. Still, this is a car I enjoy driving -- and I like the $43,000 starting price even better. The Armada is comfortable and smooth and can haul nearly anything a pickup can handle.