The previous version of the Armada has been on the market for around a decade so it had to be replaced in order to become competitive once again. The all new 2017 Nissan Armada has been launched a few months ago in the early 2016 and it is pretty much the same car as the Nissan Patrol Y62 with minor modifications to make it fit the US market better. The car is quite a bit more different than the older model. For starters, it is between 200 and 300 pounds heavier than before but that doesn’t really matter as it is more powerful, a lot more comfortable and larger as well.
Platform
Like we mentioned, this time around the Armada shares most of its underpinnings with the Patrol and the Infiniti Q80. This means that it now has a 2.1 inches shorter wheelbase. However, it is 1.2 inches longer, 0.6 inches wider and 2.2 inches lower. The end result is a large SUV which does look a lot more aggressive than it previously did. With the new chassis, the Armada also gets an independent suspension at all four corners and its 20% more rigid body should increase the way it feels on the road considerably. Like you would expect from such a large redesign, the price has been also adjusted accordingly. Now, the new Armada will cost slightly more than before.
Design
The car previously looked like a Titan with a large box on the back. This changed dramatically for the 2017 Nissan Armada. For starters, it looks a lot more like its Infiniti counterpart which is great considering how much cheaper it actually is. However, Nissan added their own unique touches for a complete look. The front end features a similar design to what the new Titan xD offers. It has large headlights, a large honeycomb mesh grille as well as Nissan’s V-motion grille added to the mix. The entire underside of the car has been wrapped in black plastic which should protect it from rocks while on the sides it features small air-vents to complete the look.
2017 Nissan Armada Interior
The new Armada is being offered in two different seating configurations. The base car offers eight seats with two completely folding benches at the back. The higher end trim levels can be had with individual middle seats which offer a much better experience and also considerably more space. Despite being not as costly as its Infiniti counterpart, the Armada will still offer great materials inside the cabin ranging from soft touch plastics all the way up to leather, wood, and aluminum.
Engine
Like before there is just a single engine option on the 2017 Nissan Armada. This features a 5.7 liter naturally aspirated and direct injected V8 petrol engine. The output has been bumped by a good chunk to 390 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed automatic is the only offering here. However, this is not a problem as the automatic is smooth, fast and quite responsive for this class. With this new powertrain, the tow rating of the Armada remained quite similar to the older model. It now manages to be rated at 8,500 pounds which are still good all things considered. The only drawback we see with it has to be the fuel consumption which will be higher than any of its rivals. This is a similar situation with what happened in the past but before Nissan was considerably cheaper. This won’t be the case with the newer version which will cost quite a bit more for its high-end models. A rear wheel drive system will be offered as standard but people will also be given the chance to get an all wheel drive system which will send as much as 50% of the torque to the front wheels.
2017 Nissan Armada
Summary
The new Armada is being offered in two different seating configurations. The base car offers eight seats with two completely folding benches at the back. The higher end trim levels can be had with individual middle seats which offer a much better experience and also considerably more space.
Release date in US: Summer, 2016
Price: $39,000 – $54,700
