2010 Nissan Armada Review

First Impressions

I don’t know about you – but I simply cannot stand getting driving tips from my elders. It’s not that they are wrong or that I am above their cautioning. Simply put, I rebel against folks who tell me, “It can’t be done.”

This is why I adore the 2010 Nissan Armada (view photos).

Ignoring logic and a warning by a resident who drives the route daily, I charged up a fire trail on the backside of a snow-filled pass. The elder Ranger who was stationed at the peak warned me repeatedly not to venture up during the winter. Which is why, against all logic, I did exactly that.

Fortunately, I was in a burly 2010 Nissan Armada. Some folks liken the design of the Nissan Armada to a Nissan Titan with a rear section grafted on as an afterthought. Indeed, the design is rather unusual and can look a tad fragmented to some. The midsection has a hump, which contains the doors and definitely stands out.

I find the look unique, modern and slightly unbalanced. Compared to every single competitor, the Nissan Armada stands out. More importantly, the entire structure is rugged and robust – and looks it.

So, as I was careening down a snow-filled, steep hill nearly out of control – the rugged Nissan Armada soaked up all the mountain could dish out without a physical blemish. As I plowed through slush, mud and a few trees, the mighty bumper (covered in chrome and plastic) managed to bowl over everything in its path.

When all was said and done – the (far smarter than I) Ranger motioned me over, commended my luck, lambasted my stupidity and said, “Even when I thought you were a goner – the truck looked good.”

Perhaps my stupidity may have garnered a sale for the somewhat long-in-tooth Nissan Armada. You know what? This tough truck is certainly worth a look.

Pricing, Trims and Options

The base model Nissan Armada is the SE ($37,210) with the midlevel being the Titanium ($42,140) and the Platinum ($49,390) rounds out the trim levels.

Popular options include:

Interior Features

I like the interior of the Nissan Armada to paint-by-numbers simplicity. The design is simple and clean with nothing overtly luxurious or complex. Buttons are big, seats are big and the doors are big – in fact, everything is big. It’s like Texas built this truck (even though it’s built in Canton, Mississippi).

The seats work well for big folk (like yours truly) who like a wide perch. For others, they may be considered a tad flat. Second row is easier to use when the optional captain chairs are selected as they are easier to place kid’s seats and offer an easy pass-through to the third row. The third-row seating is more than adequate for kids and adults under six-feet tall. The power, fold-flat function is very valuable for folks who regularly juggle between cargo and passengers.

There are two problems with the rear doors when a five-year-old tries to open and close them. On the outside, they have a very high handle located in the back of the door, WAY out of the way and very hard to reach. The doors are so big and heavy that my kid had to launch herself at the door, spin around and smack it just right with her backpack to close it. Fun, but not very practical.

Options that I highly recommend are the excellent-sounding Bose® audio system with XM® Satellite Radio and the rear-view backup camera (available in the sound package). With such a high tailgate and limited rear visibility, the extra expense is worth it.

Safety, Quality and Reliability

The Nissan Armada received the NHTSA’s top score of five stars for frontal driver protection. A four-star rating was received for front passenger protection. Both 2WD and 4WD Nissan Armadas receive a three-star rating in rollover tests.

Every Nissan is backed by a 36-month/36,000-mile limited vehicle coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage.