Auto 123 Reviews the 2008 Nissan Armada
Many of today’s SUVs have more in common with luxury cars than with their sturdy truck roots. After all, SUVs have become much more popular with suburban moms and wealthy city dwellers than with rural residents who might have reason to regularly travel off-road. However, the Nissan Armada is one of the few that manages to make a truly successful crossover.
Built on a truck chassis but loaded with luxury features, the Armada is equally home on the streets of Manhattan and in truly rugged off-road terrain. The Armada was introduced in 2004, and the 2008 redesign tweaked a number of features. Here is what Auto 123’s reviewer had to say.
Exterior
The vehicle’s hulking body is imposing, but the style and design elements keep it visually interesting. The 2008 changes are relatively minor, focusing primarily on the grille and front and rear fascias.
Under the Hood
The engine is a powerful 5.6 liter, 317 horsepower V8 that provides 385 pound feet of torque. The vehicle is sharply responsive, well controlled by a five speed automatic transmission with a gated shifter. The reviewer found this setup to be particularly easy to control. As is true with any SUV, this power does require a relatively high consumption of fuel.
Off Road Capability
It is the Armada’s off road capacity that truly sets it apart. A dashboard switch allows easy selection between 2WD, 4WD and low-range 4WD. The vehicle provides an Active Brake Limited Slip function in 4WD mode that helps detect slipping wheels and provide a better grip. Nissan also provides a system known as Vehicle Dynamic Control, which assists in both climbing and descent. Independent front and rear suspensions help to smooth out the ride dramatically.
The Bottom Line
The 2008 Nissan Armada manages to do what many SUVs cannot – provide equal measures of luxury and capability for a true go-anywhere vehicle. If you would like to learn more about the functionality of the Armada or any other Nissan truck, we invite you to visit our friendly Philadelphia area Nissan dealers.
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Filed Under: Nissan Trucks
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