2011 Nissan Armada

Since there are only three trims on offer, the decision boils down to which trim has the best features on offer for the price point. The midrange 2011 Nissan Armada SL trim level was the best pick of the lot because, at $43,640, as it promises a lot of practical yet premium features for a good price. These include 20-inch alloy wheels, auto-leveling rear suspension, an optional towing package, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, 11 speakers Bose audio system, satellite radio capability, and more.

The trim lineup of the Nissan Armada includes three different trims that are targeted at various price ranges from $38,490 and going all the way up to $53,790 without options. These are known as the SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels. Right from the base trim level, the SUV is very well equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking assist, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear climate controls, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, tilt steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, and so on.

Which trim should you buy?

The 2011 Nissan Armada gets a 5.6L Endurance V8 engine that is rated at 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. The EPA-rated fuel efficiency ratings of the Armada are rated at 13 MPG in the city, 19 MPG on the highway, and 15 MPG combined. Even with a massive fuel tank capacity of 28 gallons, the SUV returns a very poor range of just 420 miles combined. Thus, one of the prime reasons manufacturers are now moving towards smaller engines is that they guarantee good fuel efficiency. Looking at the 5.6L V8 inside the Armada, one exactly understands why.

One can see that even though the Nissan Armada has bad fuel efficiency, none of its competitors have much to brag about either. The fact that the Chevrolet Tahoe produces the most amount of power and yet manages to have the most efficient engine is an amazing feat. The Ford Expedition is not the most fuel-efficient but has a massive fuel tank at 23.5 gallons and hence has the most range. The Chevrolet and Toyota managed to strike a decent compromise in terms of both performances as well as efficiency.

The interior of the Nissan Armada has been around for a while, but it is very pleasantly designed and feels fresh even today. It has a very decent material quality, which can be considered above average. The overall ergonomics in this cabin has come a long way from the previous year's model as well. Overall it is a very practical cabin and can definitely impress buyers.

The seats are also sufficiently large and can seat eight people very easily. What is truly impressive about the cabin is that it offers a lot of space even in the third row. The space offered in the interiors is also quite amazing and will make anyone feel at ease. The cargo capacity is nothing great at 20 cu-ft, but the seats can fold down and make room for a lot of stuff.

Only the Ford Expedition seats less than eight people in this category, and this is a bad mark. However, when it comes to cargo capacity, it attains an advantage over its competitors by offering much more than the rivals, but it is a much larger car on the outside. The Toyota Sequoia is also quite spacious inside. Chevrolet Tahoe offers the least amount of cargo capacity in its standard configuration. Some standard features include:

• Cloth or leather seating
• Available faux wood or metal trim
• Standard dual-zone automatic climate control, plus rear controls
• Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Standard eight-way power driver’s seat
• Optional power passenger seat
• Optional heated steering wheel
• Optional heated front seats

Although it is not the most technologically advanced car, the infotainment features are quite plenty in the Nissan Armada. The functionality is definitely great, and the graphics are also pretty nice with the touchscreen. There are also a lot of options available that can seriously make the infotainment much better. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• 8 Total Speakers
• Radio Data System
• Speed-Sensitive Volume Control
• Diversity Antenna
• Bose Premium Brand Speakers (O)
• 265 Watts Stereo Output (O)
• Video Monitor
• 12 Total Speakers (O)

The 2011 Nissan Armada has a very boxy and upright exterior design layout. It has a more functional than fashionable design. The flared wheel arches are the largest ever seen in an SUV. The design is definitely dated and is in urgent need of a refresh. At the front, the headlights are not really stylish to look at, whereas the roofline slightly slants upwards to meet the wider rear door latch. However, there are both fans and haters of this particular design language. The 2011 Armada is also quite on the lighter side of the spectrum with a curb weight of 5,346 pounds. This allows it to post an impressive 0-60 MPH acceleration time.

In terms of dimensions, it is quite large and offers a very decent ground clearance of around 10 inches. The Ford Expedition has the longest wheelbase in this category. All cars offer excellent ground clearance of around 9 or 10 inches. The Nissan Armada is the lightest car in this category, with the Ford Expedition nearly being around 6,000 pounds. Nevertheless, all of them have an insane road presence.

Some standout exterior features include:

• 18 or 20-inch wheels
• Standard running boards
• Standard power side mirrors that can be heated and folded
• Optional integrated turn signals for side mirrors
• Optional fog lamps
• Optional moonroof
• Optional power liftgate

The 2011 Nissan Armada has not been tested to the new and updated crash test procedures by the NHTSA. However, it has previously scored a five-star rating. Further, the IIHS has also not tested the Armada on the safety crash test front. Moreover, when compared to the competitors, the Armada fails to equip itself with the latest safety features expected from an SUV of its caliber. The 2011 Armada has safety features like knee airbags, hill start assist, active front head restraints, rearview camera, etc. being offered as standard.

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Trailer sway control
• Standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist
• Standard electronic stability system and traction control
• Standard rear backup sensor
• Optional rear view camera

2011 Nissan Armada vs 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe

There is nothing much that separates the Nissan Armada and the Chevrolet Tahoe when it comes to price and performance. Fuel economy does though as the Tahoe comes out with better MPG numbers and range even though the Armada has the bigger fuel tank by almost 2 gallons. The Armada hits back with its long wheelbase as it has the better legroom on all three rows and also gets the bigger trunk when all seats are in use. That said, as we see it, the Tahoe looks better and gets the better cabin despite being the older vehicle here. The ride and handling balance is also slightly better on the Tahoe.

2011 Nissan Armada vs 2011 Ford Expedition

Firstly let’s address the elephant in the room, which is the Ford Expedition. Be it any dimension, the Expedition is bigger than the Armada which is clearly reflected in its cabin space and cargo capacity. The bigger size however has brought in additional heft and this makes the Ford considerably slower than the Nissan. That said Ford’s V8 is slightly more efficient than Nissan’s which combined with the significantly bigger fuel tank, helps the Ford eke out an easy win when it comes to fuel range. The comfort levels are comparable but the ride and handling do feel a bit more poised on the older Ford models compared to the softly sprung Armada. As an overall package, we think the Ford still manages to come out as the better one and really justifies its slight mark-up in the base price.

The 2011 Nissan Armada is a rugged and utilitarian full-size SUV with a ladder-on frame chassis. However, looking at the price range this SUV is offered at, one definitely has to check it out. It has decently-spaced interiors and has an excellent engine that delivers exceptionally well on the performance front but has very bad fuel efficiency. But since this is what the market is used to, it makes for a great buy in 2011.