ARMADA PLATINUM BOASTS OFF-ROADING PROWESS

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringtampabay@gmail.com

THE RIDE: Four-door, up to eight-passenger full-size 2022 Nissan Armada Platinum 4WD SUV.

DOWN THE ROAD: Ensconced on a heavy-duty, body-on-frame structure, the power in the Armada is abundant to propel the 6,000-pound-plus vehicle. The ride is quiet and graceful whether you are on the highway or testing the Armada’s off-road talent.

TECH & PERFORMANCE: A 5.6-liter V-8 DOHC engine pumps out 400 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 413 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. It is mated to a smooth-shifting 7-speed auto gear box. Tow capacity? An astonishing 8,500 pounds. The four-wheel-drive system can be driven in auto, 2WD, 4Hi or 4Lo modes depending on road and weather conditions. Up front and in the rear is an independent double wishbone suspension with stabilizer bars and shock absorbers. The power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering is accurate and direct. Stopping power is left up to the massive 13.8-inch front and rear vented disc brakes.

LOOK & FEEL: We test drove the top Platinum model with chrome accents on the bold and familiar Nissan grille, door handles, exterior mirrors and exhaust tip. Huge LED headlights and fog lamps stand out as you approach the SUV. The dark-painted, side-step rails come in handy for the little tykes for ingress and egress. Space is at a premium (make that Platinum!) in the full-size Armada with storage areas in the center console, overhead console and doors. Want cargo space to haul plywood from the local home improvement store? Then fold flat the second-row seat. Or press a button and watch the 60/40 third-row seat fold flat to open up 95.4 cubic feet of space (that’s with both second and third row seats down). Wood trim on the doors and the dashboard above the glove box conveys a tasteful appearance. Also notable are a leather-wrapped steering column and shifter knob, 12.3-inch touch infotainment display, 13-speaker Bose audio, dual auto a/c, 10-way power heated/cooled driver and eight-way passenger quilted leather seats, power slide/tilt moon roof and liftgate and nine total cup/bottle holders!

SAFETY FIRST: Standard are dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for all rows, four-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, hill start assist, lane departure/blind spot and forward collision warnings, rear-cross traffic alert, auto emergency brake with pedestrian detection, vehicle dynamic/traction control, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system.

OUT THE DOOR: $68,300, plus tax, tag, delivery and destination charges.

BY THE NUMBERS: Tires, 275/50R22 all-season; wheelbase, 121.1 inches; length, 208.9 inches; fuel capacity, 26 gallons; city, 13 mpg; highway, 18 mpg; Web site: www.nissanusa.com

WHY DIG IT: Lots of room for passengers and cargo as well as commendable tow capacity backed by a robust engine. What’s there not to like? If you looked past the fuel economy figures (we eked out just 14 mpg in combined driving), this full-size SUV should serve the needs of large households quite well.