2005 Nissan Armada: Road Test
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2005 Nissan Armada ▼
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- MSRP: $34,000 -$41,900
- Invoice: $30,911 -$38,094
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Our road test for the 2005 Nissan Armada includes a full evaluation of the 2005 Nissan Armada from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2005 Nissan Armada, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2005 Nissan Armada help you decide if a 2005 Nissan Armada is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Fairly strong takeoffs. Armada bests heavier QX56 for passing response at any speed and for towing capacity (9100 lb vs. 8900). Test QX56 and one test Armada had overly sensitive throttles, resulting in jerky progress around town. Handy tow-haul mode complements alert, smooth-shifting transmission.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2.1 |
Test Armadas and QX56s averaged 12-14.5 mpg, depending on driving conditions. Armada uses regular-grade fuel. Infiniti recommends premium for QX56.
RIDE QUALITY
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5.2 |
Most low-speed bumps and ruts absorbed with little disturbance. Still, Armada jiggles on blemished pavement at highway speeds. QX56 a tad smoother, more absorbent overall. Neither shows much float or wallow on dips and swells. Both are firmer than Chevrolet Suburban/Cadillac Escalade, slightly softer than Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.2 |
Sheer size makes Armada/QX56 as clumsy in close quarters as any big SUV. Steering firmer than Suburban's, not as sharp as Expedition's. Cornering more composed than either. Good stopping power, but testers divided on pedal modulation, with some finding too much free play. We recommend the load-leveling rear suspension, standard on QX56s and Armada LEs.
QUIETNESS
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.3 |
Extra sound insulation renders QX56 slightly quieter than Armada, but both suffer marked full-throttle engine roar. Wind and road noise nicely muffled. Suspension on a test QX56 creaked over low-speed bumps.
CONTROLS
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 6 |
Armada/QX56 share basic cabin design, though Armada's decor is fairly plain, while QX56's is classier, with aluminum and wood trim. Both have easy-to-read gauges. Simple 3-dial climate system may be a stretch for some drivers, and dial positions can be tough to decipher in daylight. Standard steering-wheel buttons for cruise control and selected audio functions are handy. Test Armadas had various creaks and rattles, including squeaking steering column and wind whistle from cargo area.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 8.7 |
Roomy, supportive seats, but Armada wedges driver's manual lumbar-adjustment lever against door pillar. Standard tilt steering wheel (powered on QX56) teams with standard power pedals to fine-tune comfortable driving position. Small nearby objects tough to spot, but good vision otherwise, helped by jumbo door mirrors and unobtrusive headrests. Very high step-in gives standard running boards a workout.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7.8 |
Large doorways, but steep step-in here, too. Generous 2nd-row space, but narrow bucket seats lack proper contouring and thigh support. They tumble forward, but leave a slim passage that means a jungle gym climb into or out of 3rd row. Once there, adults find a flat, hard, undersized bench and less space than in most other large SUVs.
CARGO ROOM
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8.8 |
High-ride stance means high load floor, making available power liftgate a near necessity. Modest space behind 3rd-row seat, but that folds for large, flat cargo deck; too bad raising it requires crawling into the load area or onto the 2nd row. Second-row cushions flip forward so seatback can drop to be level with folded 3rd seat. No need to remove headrests to fold either rear row. Front-passenger seatback folds flat for a long cargo channel. Terrific interior storage: Bins, pockets, beverage holders abound.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6 | 6.7 |
Armada and QX56 don't lead their respective classes in any area, and they trail in 3rd-row comfort and entry/exit ease. Still, engine performance is laudable, and prices generally undercut those of similarly equipped rivals. Despite quality gaffes in our test models, Nissan does have a good reputation for mechanical reliability, to which Infiniti adds red-carpet customer treatment.
Total Score
| 2WD LE | 4WD SE w/Leather Pkg. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | 57 | 58.6 |
Total Score: 57
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