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Driving Impressions
The first thing we noticed when driving the Nissan Armada is its brilliant responsiveness. The Armada feels quicker and more responsive than any of the other SUVs in this class. Its new 5.6-liter V8 engine produces 305 horsepower and 385 pounds-feet of torque. The five-speed automatic transmission takes full advantage of the strong V8 performance. It's very responsive. And with five gears to choose from, it never seems to hunt for the right gear. It shifts smoothly and the close ratios mean eliminate uncomfortably abrupt downshifts. A 2WD Armada earns a 13/19 mpg City/Highway fuel economy rating from the EPA, 13/18 for 4WD.Like the Titan, the Armada is built on a fully boxed steel ladder frame that yields a smooth ride and responsive handling. Unlike the Titan, the Armada features an independent rear suspension. This design enhances ride and handling. Indeed, the Armada makes a smooth transition as it turns into corners. Its handling feels controlled and handles emergency lane-change maneuvers well at highway speeds. The front suspension is also independent and the steering is rack and pinion. We found this full-size SUV to be very well mannered, instilling a sense of confidence in the driver that the Armada will go and turn and stop as well if not better than its contemporary competition. The Off-Road package rides much better than we expected after looking at its big, aggressive off-road tires and reading about its Rancho suspension. Even with the off-road suspension, the Armada seems to ride as good or better than the competition. For those who opt to go off-roading, the angle of approach (without the front spoiler) is 31.1 degrees, the angle of departure is 27.7 degrees, and the ramp-over angle is 25.0. The 4x2 SE has 9.9 inches of ground clearance while the SE 4x4 and all LEs have at least 10.6 inches of clearance.
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