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Nissan Armada
Titanium Edition Review: After starting as a rough-and-tumble
SUV to compete with the full-size American models, Nissan's huge Armada
has taken a new direction. It hasn't gotten smaller and more nimble like
the crossover vehicles that are cropping up. It's stayed big, heavy and
brawny, with four-wheel drive and V8 power. It's just gotten more
refined.
The high-end versions
of the Armada have moved upmarket into the luxury SUV class, replacing
the original hard plastics with soft-touch materials in the cabin that
feel like they were tailored in Paris. It has more gadgets too, like an
available high-tech navigation system and keyless ignition. And now
those high-end Armadas are more affordable.
For 2010, Nissan adds
two new versions of its big SUV that offer more luxury for less money.
One, called the Titanium Edition, starts at $42,140 and includes leather
seats, keyless ignition, a rear-view camera, Bluetooth phone connection,
Bose stereo and a power rear seat that folds flat with the touch of a
button.
"Titanium" may sound
like a name designed to squeeze more money from buyers, but it's
actually a pretty good bargain. It costs $2,500 less than you'd pay
putting the same equipment on an ordinary Armada SE or LE last year.
The 2010 Armanda
Platinum Edition is a similar luxury deal. It's priced at $49,390 and
includes all the Titanium Edition equipment, plus heated front seats and
steering wheel, a power liftgate in back, DVD player, navigation system
and a Music Box system that uses a hard drive to store your music.
That's $1,100 less than you would have paid for the same equipment last
year.
Other than the new
savings, other changes are minimal. It has some new side moldings and
chrome strips outside, plus contrasting stitching on the upscale models
upholstery to give it a high-class look. New choices for wood trim look
nicer too.
It has the same
powerful engine as before, a 5.6-liter Endurance V8 rated for 317
horsepower. Considering it's such a big, heavy SUV, it has surprisingly
good acceleration, with plenty of low-end grunt to get it started. All
that power, of course, comes at the expense of gas mileage. It's rated
for 12 mpg in town and 18 on the highway.
Inside, as before, it's
all about space. There's plenty of it, both for storage and for
comfortable seating. Big, deep buckets up front feel like living room
recliners, and a wide second-row seat is perfectly comfortable for three
adults. Even the third-row seat is roomy.
And really, that's what
the Armada has always been about. It's still a huge, traditional SUV,
only more refined and, for the newest luxury models, more affordable.
What was tested?
The 2010 Nissan Armada Titanium Edition 4x4 model with a base price of
$44,940. Options on the test vehicle: none. Total MSRP price as tested:
$44,940.
Why avoid it?
Since it's a big, heavy SUV with a big V8 engine, it guzzles gas. It's
rated for 12 mpg in town and 18 on the highway.
Why buy it? The
new luxury versions are good bargains, moving closer to big luxury SUVs
like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator at a cheaper price.
It's got plenty of space inside, too.
The Bottom Line:
The Nissan Armada gets a slightly different look for 2010, with new side
moldings and chrome strips. But the big news is in two new luxury
models, which are cheaper than an Armada with the same equipment last
year. Inside, the new Platinum and Titanium Edition Armadas come with
contrasting stitching and new choices for wood trim in the cabin, giving
the big SUV a high-class, upscale look.
By Derek Price © AutoWire.Net - San
Francisco
Bottom Line
Review provided by Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
Nissan Home Page
Column Name: Nissan
lowers luxury prices
Topic: The 2010 Nissan
Armada Titanium Edition
Word Count: 676
Photo Caption: The
2010 Nissan Armada Titanium Edition
Photo Credits: Nissan
Armada Internet Media
Series #: 2009 - 62
Download
the Microsoft Word version here:
2010 Nissan Armada
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2010 Nissan Armada
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