The 2009 Nissan Armada LE sport utility vehicle is larger than life. One would expect nothing less from a vehicle named after Spain’s historic naval fleet.
Restyled and enhanced for 2008, the Armada adds some additional features for the new model year to ensure its position as a leading full-size adventure SUV.
For 2009, equipment previously included in the optional Armada LE Preferred Package is now standard. It includes heated front seats, power quarter glass flip-out, power folding outside mirrors with puddle lamps and turn signals, memory setting for driver’s seat/mirrors/pedals, Bluetooth technology and a tow package (receiver hitch with seven-pin wiring harness and larger battery).
Armada’s distinctive styling mixes modern cues with traditional ruggedness. With its wide stance, long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs, Armada combines stability, maneuverability and exceptional cargo room.
Versatility and functionality are the two attributes I found most dear. Seating for eight is supplied with – and I’m not making this up – comfort for all.
The front-row leather captain’s chairs are family-room comfortable. The second-row bench seats accommodate three more adults with plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for one and all. And even the third row – which on many vehicles is functional only for children under the age of 12 – provides uncompromised comfort.
With the push of a button, the second and third row seats fold flat as a pancake in a matter of seconds. My unscientific research yielded enough space to accommodate a full-length vanity mirror, glass shower door and assorted other junkola on a short weekend jaunt to the Paine Field transfer station.
Additional utility and storage space is offered by a full-length overhead console with six map lights, center console with large storage capacity, multiple pockets and bins throughout the cabin, up to 14 cupholders and four 12-volt power outlets.
The heart of every Armada is its 317-horsepower, 5.6-liter DOHC V8 engine with 385 lb-ft of torque. The V8 is tuned to provide nearly 90 percent of the engine’s torque below 2,500 rpm – where it’s needed for hauling, towing or slow-speed off-road driving. Available flexible fuel vehicle technology allows drivers to use gasoline or an alternative fuel such as E85.
The engine is mated to a reinforced, electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode, which revises shift patterns accordingly.
As you might expect, the Armada likes fuel. Its EPA rating is 12 mpg for city driving and 15 mpg on the highway. A 28-gallon fuel tank provides reasonable driving range.
My tester came equipped with four-wheel drive to maximize traction on- or off-road, with an advanced full-time automatic control system, which under normal driving conditions operates in two-wheel drive mode, but can instantly distribute torque to all four wheels whenever road conditions warrant. A two-speed electronic transfer case allows the driver to select between auto, full-time 4WD and 4LO, which provides enhanced low-speed driving force and hill descending ability.
Other goodies that come standard on the LE are an 11-speaker Bose audio system that allows for the use of radio and CD at the same time, rear-view monitor, heated steering wheel, navigation and DVD systems, XM satellite radio, and a power liftgate.
Safety features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, and vehicle dynamic control.
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