2013 Nissan Armada

The 2013 Nissan Armada SV trim with 4WD is the best one to opt for budget-minded buyers as it comes standard with the Driver Package that adds fog lights, a power liftgate, an auto-dimming mirror, a rearview camera, and an 11-speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio to the base trim. For the ones wanting a bit more creature comforts, the SL 4WD trim should be the preferred choice.

The 2013 Nissan Armada is offered in three different trims, namely SV, SL, and Platinum with either rear-wheel drive or a 4-wheel drive drivetrain to choose from. The prices range from $36,890 for the base trim, while the top-end trim is priced at $49,460, with the 4WD setup setting you back by a premium of $3000 on top of the base price. Moreover, all trims of the Armada are powered by a standard 5.6L V8 engine, that is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The base SV trim is packed with a long list of creature comforts including power-adjustable front seats, adjustable pedals, and satellite radio amongst many more, that makes it feel every bit worth its price. The SL trim adds a few more convenience features and premium cabin materials while the Platinum trim adds more technology and a few more premium features. Also included in the lineup is a new Platinum Reserve package, that includes dark chrome 20-inch alloys and grille, along with the two-tone leather upholstery.

The large meaty V8 engines can never be expected to be frugal but the V8 under the hood of the 2013 Armada gulps more gas than its peers. The Armada EPA estimates are rated at 13 MPG in the city and 19 miles to the gallon out on the highway. The 15 MPG of fuel economy for combined city and highway driving is particularly low and even with the large 28-gallon fuel tank, the driving range is limited to about 420 miles of combined driving. Opt for the 4WD and the ratings fall by 1 MPG in each aspect.

Both the Japanese giants have very identical fuel economy ratings but the Sequoia employs a smaller gas tank which adversely affects the driving range. The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe is the most frugal of the lot while the Ford Expedition has a marginally better fuel economy than the Armada and Sequoia. Both the Americans have very similar driving ranges as well to offer.

The cabin of the 2013 Armada is spacious and decent to look at. Though most of the controls and switches are logically placed and intuitive to use, the top-end Platinum trim’s dashboard looks a bit cluttered with the additional switches for the navigation system. That said, the abundant leather surfaces, wood trims, and ambient lighting make the cabin very appealing to look at. Nissan offers seating for 8 as standard but with the optional captain chairs which are much more comfortable, drops the capacity to 7 occupants.

In terms of space, there is plenty of headroom and legroom on offer in all three rows, and although the third row won’t be comfortable for adults for longer journeys, shorter individuals won’t complain much. The Armada's 20 cu-ft of cargo space at the back is very usable and good enough to accommodate the grocery shopping sprees. Folding down power-folding third-row seats (only on Platinum trim) opens up 56.7 cu-ft of cargo space which can be maximized to 97.1 cu-ft by folding down the second row as well. The cargo space on offer by the Nissan Armada might seem a lot but is around 10 cu-ft less than what its peers have to offer when folding down both the rear seats.

The 7-inch head unit offered by Nissan with the 2013 Armada is standard across the trim lineup and although it works just fine, the top Platinum trim with a standard navigation system looks very cluttered on the dashboard. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment setup is a highlight and also comes with digital music storage, wireless headphones compatibility, and even a remote control. The hard-drive-based navigation system isn’t the best out there but does its job rather well.

Some of the infotainment features on offer are-

• A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 11-speaker Bose audio system with 2 subwoofers
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• HDD navigation system with NavTraffic, NavWether, and Zagat restaurant guide
• Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone system
• Dual 7.0-inch rear-seat entertainment system
• Rear seat audio controls with wired & wireless headphone capability and remote control

The 2013 Armada does not particularly look striking and blends quite well with its design language being quite similar to its rivals. The rectangular headlights and front grille with a minimalistic bumper design look classy while the ample amount of glass area with large windows, windshields, and sunroof makes the cabin feel airy. The chrome accents all around the car on higher trims add the premium appeal, but the chrome-clad wheels might turn out to be too much bling for some.

In terms of dimensions, the Nissan Armada is the largest SUV in this comparison but Nissan has done well to keep the weight below the segment standards. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the most compact SUV here but offers class-leading ground clearance. The Toyota Sequoia is the heaviest of the lot and offers a ride height on par with the Armada. The Ford Expedition on other hand is pretty heavy for its size and also rides much closer to the ground when compared to its rivals.

Some of the exterior features on offer are-

• Auto on/off halogen headlights
• Power rear liftgate with flip-up glass
• Power flip-out rear quarter windows
• Power folding heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, puddle lamps
• Color-keyed body-side moldings with chrome accent
• One-piece roof rack side rails with chrome accents & adjustable crossbars
• Pwr moonroof with tilt/slide, one-touch open/close & sunshade
• 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels

The Nissan Armada is a premium offering from the Japanese carmaker and hence does not see high sales volume, that’s probably why the 2013 Armada hasn’t been crash-tested by either the government or private safety testing agencies. The Armada is also yet to receive the new-age driver assistance features that other Nissan products have recently received and are also available with some other vehicles of the segment. A highlight of most of the safety features available with the 2013 Armada has been mentioned below. 

• Vehicle dynamic control system (VDC)
• Nissan advanced airbag system (AABS)
• Roof-mounted side-impact curtain airbags for all rows with rollover sensor
• Active head restraints
• Rear back-up camera
• Tire pressure monitor with 4-wheel independent monitoring

2013 Nissan Armada Vs. 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe 

Both the full-size SUVs are equally powerful and have very similar engine configurations, with the Nissan putting out nearly 15% more torque than the Chevy Tahoe. The Armada is faster off the line and has a better towing capacity. The fuel economy takes a hit and despite a bigger tank, the Armada puts out lesser range than the Chevrolet. Inside, the Armada gets more headroom across rows but the Tahoe’s cabin has much more legroom. The Armada has a longer wheelbase and, hence, gains a bigger boot space. That said, the Armada’s big dimensions make it very difficult to drive in the city and the Tahoe takes a minor advantage here.

2013 Nissan Armada Vs. 2013 Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition and the Nissan Armada are similarly powered but the former is noticeably underpowered on paper. In real life, both the big SUVs are very close while the Ford tows more than the Nissan. The Ford trumps the Nissan in the MPG game as well, posting in much more miles than the Japanese counterpart. The Nissan gets a bigger cabin and has more luxury on offer but the third-row space is a parameter that the Expedition handles well. The Nissan also holds more storage space because of the well-planned rows to seat people. The Nissan gets the cabin space well while the Ford doesn't shy away from capability.

The Nissan Armada has received quite a few changes to its features list for the 2013 model year but misses out on the driver aids that more affordable Nissan products like the Murano have to offer. The acceleration and towing performance are impressive and while the cabin is attractive, comfortable, and feature-loaded, the rivals offer a more supple ride quality. The overall experience is more refined and the powertrain is more frugal than rivals. Therefore, unless you really have a liking for the Armada, it is better to spend additional bucks and opt for either one of its competitors.