Nissan Armada
Nissan's huge SUV comes at you like a, well...Armada. The Titan's platform mate borrows a lot of that architecture's truck-like capability and wraps it up with techno gadgetry.
We liked the textured, wrap-around dash. It had some cushion to it, which helped make it feel better than the "plasticy" plastic of the Tundra. The center stack looked really busy and could have been laid out more intuitively. For example, there are buttons for zooming in and out on the map that are only used when the map is displayed, so why not just add a plus and minus soft button on the map screen the way Ford and GM do? Another example, the volume knob is in easy reach of the driver, but the tuning knob is a foot away, definitely in the realm of the passenger. After having to lean forward to change the channels, you're all but forced into programming the audio presets to every channel that you might be inclined to listen to. That said, the steering wheel controls worked well, but we prefer the back of the steering wheel controls of Dodge and Jeep vehicles. As far as interior space goes, the center console is big, and takes up what could have been front passenger knee room, but the space that is left is still pretty good. Second-row legroom is excellent, and third row seats are actually fairly easy to access with fold-forward second row seats. Once you're in the third row, the stadium seating makes for a comfortable experience, for all but the tallest passengers. To sum it up, it has comfortable seating for six, but the surfaces just don't look compelling enough to justify $52K. Granted, the interior is OK, and there is a lot of functionality inside there, but we would rather pocket the cash and sit in the Grand Cherokee or the Durango.
We have always liked the front sheetmetal and grilles of both the Titan and the Armada, and the updates take what was already good and keeps them fresh. If there's one gripe about the styling, it's that the C-pillar doesn't quite look right. The curving roofline and glass above the rear doors meeting the flat roofline over the rear greenhouse still looks like two different designers merged concepts. Although, the rear fender flares make up for it and give the Armada an imposing stance.
When you compare it to the Durango and Grand Cherokee, its pricing looks bloated, but its ability to haul and tow is impressive. Still, the Durango comes close enough to the Armada in towing and passenger capacity, exceeds it in cargo volume, but costs 10K less. For the upmarket customer looking for high-end features at a higher price, the Armada is just fine. Otherwise, the Durango may be the better bet.
The best way to describe the Armada's driving experience is solid. We described the Titan's steering as heavy, and the Armada's is nearly identical, but we definitely don't want it to come off sounding clunky or unrefined. In fact, it's just the opposite. There's slightly more effort required to turn the wheel than in most of the trucks we drove, but it contributes to the overall stable feel of the vehicle, as do the quiet interior, smooth suspension, and ever-present engine power. The vehicle is large, but the driving dynamics don't leave you feeling like you're piloting a barge down the highway. In fact, parallel parking the Armada is a cakewalk. The backup camera includes on-screen distance guide and makes backing up easy. Combine that with front-mounted parking sensors and you've got a ticket to the smallest parking spaces possible. At first, the thought of front parking sensors seemed ridiculous, that's what our eyes are for, right? Well, after fitting the Armada into a tiny parking spot that would have previously required either ninja-like skill, or minor body damage, someone ask us how on Earth we managed to get the Armada to fit into such a tiny space.