We're sure that Nissan->ke62 still wants its full-sized Armada->ke551 to do well, but there's just a number of things about it that makes the though of it burning up the sales floor a pipe-dream. In a market that includes the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan isn't doing the Armada justice by keeping its outdated looks going.
That's the biggest concern we have of the Armada, but its not the only one. The SUV->ke145 does have a lot of optional equipment available, which is a good thing if the Armada's basic template was already good enough to stand on its own. But it's not, and Nissan should've just done its customers a solid by at least adding some of this equipment as standard features.
It's performance numbers is up-to-par with its competitors, which is a sigh of relief. But for the most part, the Armada really deserved better than what Nissan's giving it in it in 2014.
So we're hoping that a next-gen model is in the works. Otherwise, the Armada will likely continue to loiter in obscurity, as its rivals take most of its sales away.
Updated 10/14/2014: Nissan announced prices for the 2015 Armada which is now on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide. For the 2015 model year, the SUV received a series of small updates, limited especially to some new exterior paints, new wheels and some interior upgrades. Prices will start from $38,060 for the 4x2 SV version.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan Armada.
2014 Nissan Armada
- Make: Array
- Model: 2014 Nissan Armada
- Engine/Motor: V8
- Horsepower: 317 @ 5200
- Torque: 385 @ 3400
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior
There's really nothing to get excited about when it comes to the Armada's exterior looks. Suffice to say, it's had very little cosmetic changes since the model arrived into the scene at the early part of the millenium. That's how dated the Armada looks.
There are some hints of luxury that you can find throughout the SUV, including a whole lot of chrome details and some functional items like the one-piece roof rack and the side-step rails.
Other than the list of available equipment, which is pretty extensive, you're going to need to toss in a lot of them to turn the Armada into a nicely-dressed SUV. Otherwise, it's just plain boring to look at.
2014 Nissan Armada - Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase |
123.2 in. |
Overall length |
207.7 in. |
Overall width |
79.3 in. |
Overall height (2WD/4WD) with roof rack |
77.2 in. / 78.0 in. |
Tread width Front |
67.5 |
Tread width Rear |
67.5 |
Minimum ground clearance (without skid plate) |
9.8 in. – 4x2 |
Step-in height Front |
20.9 in. – 4x2, 21.6 in. – 4x4 |
Step-in height Rear |
21.5 in. – 4x4, 22.2 in. – 4x4 |
Angle of approach (degrees) w/o chin spoiler |
24.7 in. – 4x2, 26.2 in. – 4x4 |
Angle of departure (degrees) |
21.8 in. – 4x2, 22.7 in. – 4x4 |
Ramp over angle (degrees) w/o fuel tank skid plate |
9.3 in. – 4x2, 9.6 in. – 4x4 |
2014 Nissan Armada - Standard Exterior Features
- 8JJx18-inch aluminum-alloy, painted finish
- 265/70R18 BSW SUV tires
- Center high mount stop light
- Body color grille
New for 2015
- Two new exterior colors – Arctic Metallic Blue and Magnetic Black
- Pearl White is available as a premium option
- 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheel designs for Armada SL and Platinum trim levels
Interior
Given how Nissan needs a whole lot of changes to make the Armada look respectable, the company did do something right on the interior. It created enough space to comfortably fit as many as eight passengers as most full-size SUVs should be capable of doing.
In the Armada's case, the second row can actually be configured by either a bench seat that can seat three passengers or a pair of captain's chairs with a removable center console, creating space to for adults to reach the third row of the SUV. Oh, and speaking of space, the Armada offers ample amounts of that, even on the third row seats, which comes with adult-size legroom to be proud of.
Adding to the copious amounts of space, the Armada's interior colors are actually quite nice. As customers, you're given a choice on whether to opt for either an Almond or Charcoal paint finish. If you ask us, we're going with the Almond trim treatment, if only for our believe that the shade is a lot classier to look at compared to that dark and dreary Charcoal finish.
2014 Nissan Armada - Interior Dimensions
Interior (inches) |
Front |
2nd Row |
3rd Row |
Head room w/o moonroof / w/moonroof |
41.0 in. /39.7 in. |
40.0 in. |
35.9 in. |
Shoulder room |
65.0 in. |
64.7 in. |
63.7 in. |
Hip room |
61.4 in. |
60.8 in. |
48.8 in. |
Leg room |
41.8 in. |
41.9 in. |
32.2 in. |
Cargo capacity (Behind 3rd row / Behind 2nd row / All Seats Folded)] |
20 Cu. Ft. |
56.7 Cu. Ft. |
97.4 Cu. Ft. |
2014 Nissan Armada - Standard Interior Features
- Luxury seat cloth
- Bucket seats w/integrated armrests (non-ratchet)
- Driver's side manual lumbar
- Driver's side 8-way power
- Driver's side 2-driver memory/auto entry/exit
- AM/FM/MP3/6CD with mid-switches, 8 speakers and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately)
- Steering wheel audio controls
- Body color satellite radio antenna
New for 2015
- Revised interior trim styling
- Standard power lumbar added to the driver's seat
Drivetrain
The 2014 Nissan Armada comes with a powerful 5.6-liter V-8 engine that develops close to 317 horsepower and 285 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to have enough power under its hood to become a real bonafide contender in its segment.
2014 Nissan Armada - Drivetrain Specifications
Name |
Endurance 5.6 V8 (VK56DE) |
Type |
VK56DE |
Cam design |
DOHC |
Orientation |
Longitudinally mounted |
Cylinders / configuration |
V8 |
Block / head composition |
Aluminum / Aluminum |
Displacement (liters / cc) |
5.6 liters / 5,552 cc |
Horsepower |
317 @ 5,200 RPM |
Torque (lb-ft) |
385 @ 3,400 RPM |
Bore & stroke (mm) |
98 x 92 |
Compression ratio |
9.8:1 |
Maximum engine speed |
6,000 rpm |
Induction system |
Naturally aspirated |
Valvetrain |
32 valve; silent chain, single-stage |
Engine mounts |
Standard (non fluid-filled) |
Recommended fuel |
Regular unleaded |
2014 Nissan Armada - Towing Specifications
Package |
Capacity |
SV with Tow Package (2WD) |
8,200 |
SV with Tow Package (4WD) |
6,500 |
SL/Platinum (2WD) |
8,200 |
SL/Platinum (4WD) |
9,000 |
Prices
Price for the Armada may be a bit of a concern, especially for those who could just opt for a newer - and fresher looking - model at just around the same price, or possibly even a tick lower than what the base Armada is going for these days: $37,240. If you're looking for the biggest and baddest Armada of them all, the 4x4 Platinum 5.6 Liter V8 A/T retails for a whopping $52,510.
4x2 SV |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$37,240 |
4X2 SL |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$42,330 |
4x2 Platinum |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$49,610 |
4x4 SV |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$42,540 |
4x4 SL |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$45,230 |
4x4 Platinum |
5.6 Liter V8 A/T |
$52,510 |
Options
Option |
Price |
Moonroof |
$1,000 |
Driver Package |
$2,150 |
Platinum Reserve |
$2,090 |
SV Tow Package |
$300 |
Captain Seat Package |
$450 |
Splash Guards |
$170 |
Cross Bars |
$130 |
Dual DVD Head Restraint Monitors |
$1,850 |
Floor Mats & Cargo Mat (5 piece set) |
$240 |
Rear Cargo Net & Organizer |
$250 |
Nissan Ship Through Fee |
$250 |
Competition
Big boy SUVs don't get more esteemed as Toyota's venerable Land Cruiser. It's been around for close to 50 years, which is really saying something.
For the 2013 model year, Toyota actually gave the Land Cruiser a mild makeover that has extended into the 2014 model. Even the interior was overhauled and includes more standard features than ever before. Oh, and let's not forget that powertain isn't an issue for the Land Cruiser, thanks to its 5.7-liter, V-8 engine that produces 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque.
The caveat with the Land Cruiser is that it's only available in just one trim level and as such, the price tag is pretty steep. For the 2014 model, the Land Cruiser can be yours for $79,605.
The Nissan Armada has nothing on the Jeep Grand Cherokee as far as it's looks goes. Whereas the former has remained largely the same in its design, the latter just got new looks, which are far more sophisticated than the Armada.
A choice of multiple engine options are also being offered for the Grand Cherokee, topped out by a 5.7-liter V-8 that pops a fantastic 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, bigger and more powerful than the top-of-the-line Armada. I, of course, left out the SRT model and its insane 470 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of twist.
Even pricing slants towards the side of the Grand Cherokee. The variety of models allows for the base Laredo 4x2 to be significantly cheaper than the Armada at just $28,795 with the top-of-the-line Summit 4x4 model priced at $50,995.
Conclusion
If you're in the market for a full-size SUV, there are just a lot of other models that you can get instead of the Armada. That's the sad reality that we feel bad that we have to point out. But it's also indicative of how Nissan should give this SUV a new life, if only for reasons that not doing so would probably lead to it becoming more and more irrelevant.