The Almond leather upholstery and padded dash give the Armada an upscale vibe.Fast facts
› Model: 2017 Nissan Armada Platinum› Exterior color: Forged Copper› Interior color: Almond› Engine: 5.6-liter, V-8› Horsepower: 390› Transmission: seven-speed automatic› Fuel economy: 18 mpg highway, 13 mpg city› Local Dealer: Mountain View Nissan, Nissan of Chattanooga East› Price (as tested): $57,090 (est.)› Local dealerships: Nissan of Chattanooga East and Mountain View Nissan
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Our 9-year-old son, an auto enthusiast, sized up the new-for-2017 Nissan Armada sport utility vehicle immediately.
"It's hard to see how the Infiniti QX80 could be much better," he said confidently, reclining in a second-row captain's chair with his soccer cleats kicked off.
Good observation, kid.
The 2017 Nissan Armada, in top-of-the-line Platinum trim, is in almost every way the equal of the luxury-class Infiniti QX80, its corporate cousin. Both are based on the international version of the Nissan Patrol, one of the best off-road SUVs in the world. The Armada competes alongside the Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition and Toyota Land Cruiser full-size SUVs.
Our tester is painted Forged Copper on the outside and has a buttery Almond leather interior: envision a creme-filled penny. It's an upscale color combo that adds a luxury aura to a big, mainstream SUV that's only a sack of potatoes shy of 6,000 pounds. That's about twice the mass of a typical sedan.
The Armada starts at $44,400 in SV trim, and our Platinum edition tester has a base price of $57,090. By comparison, the excellent Infiniti QX80 we drove a few months ago had a sticker price of $89,840. For that price, you could buy our swanky Armada and throw in a well-equipped Altima sedan, to boot.
As of this week, Chattanooga area Nissan dealerships report an ample supply of 2017 Armadas in stock, including Platinum models like our tester.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The new Armada is a major upgrade over the previous generation model. In the Times Free Press parking lot, the 75-inch tall Armada towers over most other vehicles like a sixth-grader who has hit puberty before all the other kids.
In length, the Armada is more than 17 feet long: Two Armadas placed end-to-end will get you a first down in football. The face of the Armada is a little less imposing than the QX80, which looks like the gates to a gilded castle. The profile, while boxy, has a rugged elegance with flashy side air vents, clad wheel arches and chrome-encased windows.
Settling into the padded interior of the Armada, it's apparent that the second-row captain's chairs are just the ticket for families that don't need to carry eight passengers. With the captain's chairs (a $450 option) the Armada seats seven (theoretically), although it would be a tight squeeze to wedge three people into the third row. A second-row bench seat is available.
The interior is comfortable like your favorite sofa. Command seating, boosted by more than 9 inches of road clearance underneath, provides an excellent view of the road. The unobtrusive dash is designed around an array of clean arcs with an 8-inch telematics screen in the center. Navigation is standard on the Armada Platinum, as is a thumping, 13-speaker Bose stereo system with Sirius XM radio.
Features include a power moon-roof, an around-view monitor for easier parking, four 12-volt power outlets and eight-way power driver's and passenger's seats. In the second row, a padded console and independent AC controls make the space a laid-back comfort-zone. Pack a couple of pillows and your passengers will be snoring in no time.
The Platinum also has a tri-zone video system with 7-inch monitors in the front row seat backs. The system includes a DVD slot in the dash, video inputs in the front console, a remote control and available wireless headphones. Honestly, most kids these days just use tablet computers for entertainment, but this factory video system is especially nice for kids with a DVD collection.
Advanced safety tech includes collision warning, backup alarms and adaptive cruise control.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
All Armadas are powered by 5.6-liter, V8, direct-injection engines which make 290 horsepower. Car & Driver estimates a 0-60 mile-per-hour time of about 6.3 seconds, which is quite quick for a vehicle this size. Rear-wheel-drive is standard and four-wheel-drive is optional.
The Armada, which has a self-leveling rear suspension, can tow up to 8,500 pounds.
In a week of commuter driving, we found the Armada to be extraordinarily quiet. The big, eight-cylinder engine purrs like a kitten, yet has plenty of power on demand. A drive-by-wire throttle makes for responsive acceleration. Steering is smooth, without any of the sloppiness that sometimes plagues big SUVs.
The ride is plush, despite the 20-inch, machine-finished wheels, and the transmission operates seamlessly. The interior is airy and spacious without being van-like; although parking and executing right turns takes some forethought. Heated and cooled front seats take the edge off the weather.
The government estimates fuel economy in our four-wheel-drive Platinum tester to be 18 mpg highway and 13 mpg city. Rear-wheel-drive models get 19 mpg highway and 14 mpg city. A 26-gallon fuel tank is useful for extended trips.
BOTTOM LINE
The 2017 Armada represents a real improvement over previous generation models and delivers enough luxury and performance to match the premium brands.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.