2012 Nissan Armada Platinum review

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: This 2012 Nissan Armada Platinum is a big 'un, with power and capacity to take on anything you might throw at it. Just make sure your wallet is up to the job, both in upfront outlay and every time you visit your local filling station. Actually, for a vehicle of this size and with this level of equipment, the pricing is fair. This truck has all of the goodies--three rows of cushy leather-clad seating, navigation and maximum audio, rear-seat entertainment, power liftgate, heated seats (first and second rows) and heated steering wheel, serious V8 power and a surprising level of refinement. The truck drives smooth and steady, whether with the driver alone or loaded up with every seat filled and packed with gear. Power is ample and is available on command, though that Nissan V8 seems a little raw at times. Steering is steady and predictable, but the whole apple cart can get awfully upset in crosswinds. Gusts can really toss it off path, requiring constant correction. The five-speed autobox also seems antiquated--fuel economy would see at least a modest boost with a sixth overdrive cog to the work with. Fuel economy is really where the Armada suffers--we posted a series of numbers in keeping with EPA estimates, the best of which was 14.26 mpg. If gasoline prices climb, loading up the family for a long trip in the Armada will become mighty expensive--not that fuel isn't already topping $3.50 per gallon. If your lifestyle demands this much utility, hopefully your pocketbook can support it. NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The Armada is a nicely done large SUV with plenty of power and agreeable driving dynamics. It's big, the relatively old design still stands out at the curb, and the interior is simple, even if a bit plain, but functional. Everything about this thing is large, including the price. But as Gritz notes, it's well equipped and offers a ton of capability and function. I didn't have occasion to put more than one other person in the Armada (talk about a waste of all this space), but there's a cavernous amount of room to haul anything. It's also a comfortable daily driver and handles well for such an imposing utility barge. The chassis is comfortable, though potholes do a little more upsetting than one might expect. On the other hand, you could probably drive over a field of rocks in this thing, should the need arise. Additionally, the steering is light, making for an easy demeanor in corners and curves. Plus, I always love a big V8, and for "only" 317 hp, this thing felt rather strong. The thronelike seats, the elevated driving view--it all made for a conquering feeling on the road. Driving through some sketchy areas didn't faze me in the least, as the Armada felt like piloting a tank. Plus, as the sun set and dusk fell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue, it offered an excellent vantage point to soak in the architecture as I rolled toward the expressway. That was a cathartic feeling, for sure. The downsides: The fuel economy is obviously not so great; the interior is a bit tired, and it seems Brontosaurus utes such as this will be CAFE casualties. Yes, people will still need big trucks and SUVs, they'll just need to be way more efficient than this one. Still, this is a nice big rig and a fun weekend. Great name, too. Armada. That has attitude. EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This Armada hits all the right buttons in a full-size ute. Plenty of low-end grunt for pulling stuff, big enough to haul around a lot of people and/or stuff, and a roomy, comfortable cabin. I had a small flashback to our recently departed long-term Infiniti QX56, and even though they come from the same families, the two vehicles are a couple of blocks apart when it comes to interior finishes. But if you like a higher grade of leather and a couple of dead trees worth of wood, then the Infiniti is more to your liking. But in all honesty, the Nissan variant is more than adequate. One thing that annoyed me right off the bat was the nontelescoping steering wheel. If you can make it go up and down, why not in an out? That little feature makes getting a comfortable driving position so much easier. And in a truck tipping the price scale north of $50,000, I think a telescoping wheel should be standard. I'm still not a fan of Nissan's radio interface, with three separate pages in which to save radio stations from any band. Maybe if this were my own vehicle I would like that, but I sure don't like it here. All things considered, if I were in the market for a full-size SUV, would I buy this over, say, a GMC Yukon or a Dodge Durango? That's hard to say because there is nothing overly compelling here to differentiate the Armada from the rest of the field. ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: While its luxury cousin over at Infiniti moved onto the Nissan Patrol platform with the debut of the latest-generation QX56, the Armada remains on the old Titan base that it's been on since day one. Not that it is a bad thing because I've actually been a fan of the big barge for its solid drive quality (for a massive SUV) and healthy grunt off the line from the 5.6-liter V8. I'm not sure whether anyone remembers what the interior in the Armada looked like when it first came out, but the current cabin is way better, with quality plastics and a decent amount of soft-touch surfaces. There's massive space to easily carry large families and plenty of gear anywhere. Oh, and thumbs-up for the comfortable and cushy bucket seats up front. For such a big truck, it's easy to wheel around. Steering is light and responsive to make maneuvering around parking lots easy enough, and the brakes are strong and responsive to bring the rig down from speed with ease. And the ride is comfortable, with the Armada gliding over road imperfections. Of course, all of the space, comfort and power come at the expense of fuel economy. I averaged 14.16 mpg on my tank, which matches the EPA combined fuel-economy rating. An extra gear in the transmission might help squeak out some more efficiency, or maybe a cylinder-deactivation system? The fact is that some people need all of the capabilities that something such as the Armada offers to carry a big family and tow a camper or boat behind it. For those people, the Armada is still worth a look even though it's a little long in tooth. 2012 Nissan Armada Platinum Base Price: $54,925 As-Tested Price: $55,400 Drivetrain: 5.6-liter V8; 4WD, five-speed automatic Output: 317 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 385 lb-ft @ 3,400 rpm Curb Weight: 5,808 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 14/13.7 mpg Options: Rear cargo net and organizer ($245); floor and cargo mats ($230)