It’s a full-size family adventure, at least that’s what the Nissan folks are touting when they mention the redesigned 2017 Nissan Armada. An SUV with three rows, towing capabilities and an off road vibe, the Armada is a do-it-all kind of vehicle for the new year.
Completely redesigned for 2017, this new and improved offering boasts a stronger engine with a more impressive interior and a sleeker exterior attitude.
The new rugged body on this 2017 full-size SUV Nissan Armada goes up against competition like the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and the Ford Expedition.
Built on the truck body-on-frame chassis the 2017 Armada can fit up to eight passengers. If you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs however, there is only room for seven. There are several trims to choose from including an SL and Platinum option.
To begin, you get 18-inch alloy wheels, full-size spare tire, roof rails, side steps, a rear privacy glass, automatic LED headlights and keyless ignition and entry. For comfort, you have the heated six-way power front seats and there is also a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and rearview camera. The second row bench seats will recline and there is a 60/40-split in the third-row seat.
You can also expect an eight-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth connect, a navigation system and a Bose audio system that includes a CD player, satellite radio and USB media player interface.
The Driver package add-on has a power liftgate, fog lights and a trail package. When choosing the SL trim the Driver Package features are standard along with 20-inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, leather upholstery and a 360-degree top-down parking camera that detects moving objects. For a bit more cash, there is a sunroof addition and the Technology package will add adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and forward and rear automatic braking.
The Platinum trim includes the SL goodies with the addition of heated front and second row seats and air-conditioned front seats along with a heated steering wheel, blind-spot warning and an entertainment system in the back seats. There are two seven-inch displays on the headrests and two USB ports. It is on this trim level that you can also opt for the second-row captain’s chairs.
Under the hood, the 2017 Nissan Armada has a V8 5.6-liter engine with an increased horsepower of 390 and 394 pound-feet of torque with a seven-speed automatic transmission. You can choose from either rear-wheel drive, which is standard or opt for the four-wheel-drive system with low range.
Safety on the 2017 Nissan Armada includes antilock brakes and front side and full-length side curtain airbags. There is traction and stability control, a rearview camera and blind-spot monitoring as well as forward collision warning. The automatic emergency brakes are optional on the SL and standard on the Platinum and on the latter you also get blind-spot intervention and a lane departure warning system.
Its comfort extraordinaire when riding in the 2017 Nissan Armada and the high-end feel of the interior is reminiscent of the Infiniti brand when it comes to overall comfort. There is space for second row passengers no matter the size, but the third row seats are a bit more questionable in regard to real comfort for adult riders. Maximum cargo space is 95.4 cubic feet, but with the second row in use you get 49.9 or 16.5 cubic feet when all three rows are occupied.
For a large engine like the V8 on this beast, it’s still impressively quiet even as it’s a sturdy look and feel. When driving you will find a smooth ride without a lot of fuss even if the 2017 Nissan Armada will not let you forget you are driving a SUV with full-on truck features. Final answer, this one is big and bad and strong enough for a man, but a woman will certainly enjoy the ride too.
Should You Need to Know: With everything properly outfitted the 2017 Nissan Armada will easily tow up to 8,500 pounds.
Miles Per Gallon: You will get about 14 miles to the gallon in the city on this one and 19 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: The price on the 2017 Nissan Armada begins around $44,400.
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