2006 Nissan Armada Road Test - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our road test for the 2006 Nissan Armada includes a full evaluation of the 2006 Nissan Armada from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2006 Nissan Armada, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2006 Nissan Armada help you decide if a 2006 Nissan Armada is right for you.

2006 Nissan Armada Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Fuel economy

Trailer-towing capability	Entry/exit

Visibility

Interior storage space

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
5	5	5.1

Armada and QX56 deliver 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 throttle action, resulting in jerky progress around town. Handy tow-haul mode complements alert, smooth-shifting automatic transmission.

Fuel Economy

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
2	2	2.3

Test 2WD Armadas averaged 12.0-14.5 mpg depending on driving conditions. No opportunity to measure with 4WD Armada. Test AWD QX56 averaged 12.9 mpg. Armada uses regular-grade fuel. Infiniti recommends premium for QX56.

Ride Quality

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
6	6	5.7

Takes most low-speed bumps and ruts in stride, but jiggles over patchy pavement and expansion joints at highway speeds. QX56 a tad smoother, more absorbent than Armada. Neither shows much float or wallow on dips and swells.

Steering/Handling/Braking

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
4	4	3.6

As clumsy in close quarters as any big SUV. Steering has firm feel, but Armada, QX56 react slowly to inputs. Cornering behavior generally good, with no undue noseplow or body lean. Good stopping power, but testers divided on pedal modulation: some find too much free play. Load-leveling suspension is standard on QX56, available on Armada, and we recommend it.

Quietness

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
5	5	5.8

Extra sound insulation renders QX56 slightly quieter overall than Armada, but both suffer marked full-throttle engine roar. Wind and road noise nicely muffled. Suspension on one test QX56 creaked over low-speed bumps.

Controls

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
5	5	6

Armada and QX56 share a basic cabin design, but Armada's decor is fairly plain vs. QX56's upscale aluminum and wood trim. Both have easy-to-read gauges, handy steering-wheel switches for cruise control, select audio functions. Simple three-dial climate system may be a stretch away for some drivers, and dial positions can be tough to decipher in daylight. Test Armadas had various creaks and rattles, including squeaking steering column and wind whistle from cargo area.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	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 visibility commanding otherwise, helped by jumbo door mirrors and unobtrusive headrests. Very high step-in gives standard running boards a workout.

Room/Comfort (rear)

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
7	7	7.6

Large doorways, but steep step-in here, too. Generous 2nd-row space, but available bucket seats are narrow and 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

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
8	8	9

High-ride stance means high load floor, makes available power liftgate a near necessity. No need to remove any rear headrests to fold rear seatbacks. Modest space behind 3rd-row seat, but its new split folding design adds versatility. Too bad raising those 3rd-row seats requires crawling into load area or climbing into 2nd row. Right-front seatback folds flat for a long cargo channel. Terrific interior storage: bins, pockets, beverage holders abound.

Value within Class

4WD SE w/Leather Pkg.	2WD LE	Class Average
6	5	7.6

Armada and its luxury cousin, the QX56 from Nissan's Infiniti division, don't lead their respective classes in any area. And they trail key rivals in 3rd-row comfort and ease of entry/exit. Still, engine performance is laudable, and prices generally undercut those of similarly equipped competitors. Despite quality gaffes in some of our test models, Nissan does have a good reputation for mechanical reliability, to which Infiniti adds red-carpet customer treatment.

Total Score