The name Armada conjures up the image of a massive fleet of ships hurtling towards England, and the Nissan Armada certainly lives up to its name in sheer size. It is based on the Nissan Titan pickup, and feels more like a truck than a big SUV at times, particularly when trying to negotiate city streets and tight parking lots. Since its introduction in 2004 the Armada has undergone significant improvements to keep it competitive in its class, including a complete overhaul last year. While it can’t compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition in performance and space, its level of comfort and superior towing ability do set it apart.
2009 Nissan Armada Performance
There is only one engine on offer in the Armada, the 5.6-liter V8 which produces 317hp and 385 pounds-feet of torque with five-speed automatic transmission. The engine block is aluminium and it has a forged crankshaft and cast-iron cylinder liners with 6-bolt bearing caps, producing a light yet powerful and responsive drive. Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control optimizes flow intake and engine efficiency and there is rear suspension auto-leveling available to minimize bumps.
Having said all that, despite its superior power, the Nissan Armada still drives like a truck thanks to the weight behind it. Rather than going all out for light power steering like many other SUVs in its class, Nissan has left the steering fairly heavy and while great on the highway, this proves difficult when manoeuvring around the city. Cornering and braking are typically slow and cumbersome for a big vehicle, and the engine noise even from inside the vehicle is marked .
The 2009 Armada comes in a choice of rear wheel drive and All-mode 4WD which remains on and can switch to low-range for off-road driving. It has amazing pulling power at 9100 lbs with the correct attachments and this really gives it a strong advantage over the competition.
Nobody buys SUVs for their fuel economy, but the Nissan Armada is below average even for a large SUV and in these days of high fuel prices when so many are downgrading to smaller vehicles, the Armada stands out as a gas-guzzler. In the city the Armada does 12mpg and on the highway 17mpg, although to offset this and reduce the running costs somewhat, Nissan has introduced a flex-fuel option to make use of ethanol-based fuels.
2009 Nissan Armada Interior
There are two trims in the 2009 Nissan Armada. The SE features a rear sonar system, dual automatic climate control, Bose stereo with eight speakers and seating for 8 passengers with the rear third seat opened up. The third row of seating folds into the floor and the second row seats can also fold to create 97 cubic feet of cargo space.
The LE is a step up in luxury and features 20-inch alloys, a chrome grille, Bluetooth Hands-free phone system and Bose stereo system with 9.3GB hard drive and 12 speakers, leather heated front seats and leather second row seats. It is also available with captain’s chairs for the second row instead of the bench seat for extra comfort, but this also reduces seating space to seven. Navigation system is optional, as is the rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 8-inch screen that flips down from the ceiling. A power liftgate comes standard on LE trims and optional on the SE and is essential for any larger weights due to the unusually high rear. The height also makes it challenging for kids to get in and out of the vehicle, and even once they get in there is a scramble into the third row seats and not much leg-room available.
2009 Nissan Armada Safety
Standard safety features on the Armada include Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock disc brakes and brake assist to predict when the vehicle is moving out of control and alter engine power and individual braking to prevent under and oversteering. Front side airbags are only optional on the SE, but standard on the LE with curtain side and dual front airbags. The NHTSA crash tests yielded only four stars for driver protection, yet a perfect five stars for front passenger protection. Rollover resistance scored just three stars.
Safety features include:
- Electronic stability control
- Anti-lock braking and brake assist
- Front, front side and curtain side airbags
- LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children)
- Tire pressure monitoring system
Overall the 2009 Nissan Armada offers plenty of power and towing ability, but fails to stand out from the crowd in its performance, handling or interior design. While the market for big SUVs inevitably shrinks with the rising fuel costs and economic downturn, vehicles like the Armada have a harder and harder time securing a share.