An armada usually refers to a large group of things, primarily a number of large ships. It's a fitting name for Nissan's first entry in the popular large SUV segment, and pretty much every aspect of it is size L or XL. If you like your SUVs heavy on power, then that large group of ponies under the hood will be just your thing. The Armada's robust V8 translates into lots of muscle and an impressive tow rating. And then there's the large group of cubic feet in the Armada's cabin -- this is a very spacious SUV that's also loaded with storage areas.
The downsides are unsurprising. Fuel mileage is atrocious, and the vehicle's size means that parking can easily become a white-knuckle ordeal. But if these drawbacks really bothered you, you wouldn't consider buying a full-size SUV in the first place. Yet the Armada hauls like a gorilla on steroids, and comes out on top in terms of sheer brute force. If brawn is not of paramount importance for you, though, we'd recommend looking at some seven-passenger crossover SUVs, which offer better comfort, refinement and fuel efficiency.
Used Nissan Armada Models
The current-generation Armada was introduced as an all-new model for 2004. It was initially named the Pathfinder Armada, but Nissan dropped the honorary prefix for the Armada's second year of production. There were two primary trim levels -- SE and LE -- until 2010 when the latter was split into the Titanium and Platinum trims. Available feature content did not change, but was merely reorganized. Prior to '10, front side airbags were not standard on the SE.
Other notable changes to Nissan's biggest SUV occurred in '08 with a minor exterior restyling and a major interior overhaul. Prior to that, the Armada's dash resembled a silver plastic boom box. New technology features like keyless ignition, Bluetooth and a hard-drive-based navigation system also debuted that year. Until '07 there was an SE Off-Road trim level that toughened things up for off-pavement adventures, with features like skid plates, a lower final-drive ratio and all-terrain tires.
If you are looking for newer years, visit our new Nissan Armada page.
