2018 Nissan Armada gets new tech upgrades, has starting price of $46,795

As the flagship of Nissan’s expanding lineup of SUVs and crossovers, the full-size family- adventure Armada features 8-passenger seating, a 5.6-liter Endurance® V8 with best-in- class1 standard 390 horsepower and standard towing capacity of 8,500 pounds for both 4WD and 2WD models (when properly equipped).

For the 2018 model year, Armada adds standard NissanConnectSM Services powered by SiriusXM®, an 8-inch multi-touch display, HD Radio, SiriusXM® Travel Link with three years of trial access (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Enhanced Voice Recognition, Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant, and additional USB ports for all three grade levels – SV, SL and Platinum.

And, for the first time on any Nissan vehicle, Armada Platinum models include standard Intelligent Rear View Mirror (I-RVM)5, which uses a high-resolution camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle to project a clear image onto an LCD monitor built into the standard rearview mirror. A switch located at the bottom of the mirror allows the driver to access either the traditional rearview mirror system or the new Intelligent Rear View Mirror.

The 2018 Armada is the first to offer I-RVM in the full-size non-luxury SUV segment6. The consumer benefits of the I-RVM are many, including “removing” interior obstacles such as oversize cargo and rear headrests, improving visibility in low-light conditions, reducing glare and providing an expanded field of view.

As the largest and most powerful vehicle in the portfolio, Armada earns its flagship status by every measure – whether performance, refinement, advanced technology and even heritage. Unlike the original Armada, which was based on the Nissan Titan full-size pickup, the new-generation design traces back to one of Nissan’s most beloved global vehicles, the Patrol. While Armada is intended primarily for family adventures here in North America, Armada owners will benefit from its underpinnings as a strong, durable and authentic full- size SUV with ruggedness to spare.

The 2018 Armada also continues the nameplate’s reputation for value and choice, offering a range of three high-content grade levels – SV, SL and Platinum – in both 2-wheel and 4- wheel drive configurations. In addition, Armada offers an exceptional array of standard features, including Nissan Navigation, NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM®, 8.0- inch color display with multi-touch control, heated front seats and 13-speaker Bose® audio system.

Bold Style, Traditional Body-on-Frame Construction

Like the first-generation Armada, the 2018 Armada features rugged body-on-frame construction, providing a balance of strength, durability and utility – including the ability to tow up to 8,500 pounds with confidence (when properly equipped).

Armada exterior appearance is both powerful and refined. The body features an aggressive stance with bold V-motion front grille and standard LED low-beam headlights with halogen high beams and LED Daytime Running Lights – maintaining the previous generation’s rugged, athletic image but with added contemporary style. The headlights offer a standard auto on/off feature. Fog lights are standard on SL and Platinum grades (optional on SV). In the rear, bold combination lights include LED taillights.

The front fenders include functional air intake vents. Chrome-plated, electro-chromic anti- dazzle side mirrors with memory, heat and puddle lamps are standard on SL and Platinum grades. The liftgate includes an auto-closure feature and available power function (standard on SL and Platinum, optional on SV).

Other exterior features include body color front and rear bumpers, black color grille with chrome trim accent, chrome trim accent side window moldings, chrome door handles, privacy glass, dark-painted overfenders and side step rails, dark-painted roof rails and front and rear parking sensors. Also available are rain-sensing front windshield wipers and front wiper de-icer.

Seven exterior colors are available: Hermosa Blue, Mocha Almond, Forged Copper, Gun Metallic, Super Black, Brilliant Silver and premium, three-coat Pearl White.

Reservation for Eight

Inside, Armada combines style, roominess and premium interior comfort – including special emphasis on quietness and quick interior cooling and heating. The roomy Armada interior offers 40.0 inches of 2nd row headroom and 41.0 inches of 2nd row legroom.

The standard seating configuration includes front 8-way power-adjustable bucket seats with large center console, 2nd row fold flat 60/40 split bench seat and 3rd row 60/40-split folding bench seat, which folds flat into the floor for extra cargo carrying flexibility. A 3rd row seat power-folding feature is standard on SL and Platinum grades. Armada Platinum models are also available with optional 2nd row Captain’s Chairs with removable 2nd row console (resulting in 7-passenger seating capacity).

Among the long list of standard Armada features are heated front seats. Climate-controlled (heating and cooling), heated steering wheel and heated 2nd row seats are standard on Platinum models. Armada SV offers premium cloth seating surfaces, while leather-appointed seating is standard on SL and Platinum grades. The Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control system (with microfilter) uses direct/indirect airflow, including a 2nd row “curtain” vent to effectively distribute cool air to every seat.

“Library level” interior noise levels (at idle) are achieved through the use of acoustic glass on the windshield and the front side windows, as well as through expanded use (versus the previous generation) of sound absorption materials. The windshield design also helps reduce wind noise.

The standard Bose® audio system features AM/FM/SXM/MP3/CD with 13 speakers and subwoofer and digital amplifier to provide rich and realistic sound reproduction. Every 2018 Armada also includes SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately) and standard Nissan Navigation System with NavTraffic Real-Time Traffic Information (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), NissanConnect Services Powered by SiriusXM®, an 8.0-inch multi-touch display, HD Radio, SiriusXM® Travel Link with three years of trial access (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), Enhanced Voice Recognition and Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant.

Armada Platinum models add a standard DVD Family Entertainment System with dual 8.0- inch head restraint DVD monitors, USB and HDMI ports, VTR jacks (two), two wireless headphones and remote controller. The wireless headphones offer three types of virtual surround modes (cinema, music and game) to match optimal sound for each media.

Utility is another area where Armada delivers, with a highly functional front center console with 12-volt power outlet at the rear of the console, nine cupholders, four bottle holders, power door locks with illuminated switches and anti-lockout system with auto door lock speed-sensing function, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Start, Bluetooth® Hands- free Phone System and RearView Monitor.

The long list of comfort and convenience features continues with available power tilt/telescoping steering column with memory, front footwell lamp and step lamp, rear step lamp, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver and Remote Engine Start System7. A large sliding moonroof with front tilt and rear slide is standard on Platinum and optionally available on SL.

Three interior colors are offered – Charcoal and Almond (cloth and leather); and Tan (Platinum leather only).

A Powerful 5.6-liter V8 Engine

Armada’s advanced Endurance® 5.6-liter V8 offers best-in-class1 390 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, thanks in part to a number of advanced technologies aimed at achieving improved engine performance and greater fuel economy (versus the previous generation 5.6-liter V8). Torque is rated at 394 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm.

The engine’s Direct Injection Gas (DIGTM) system provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy and emissions performance (versus a non-direct- injection system) by reducing engine knock, improving combustion stability and offering precise injection control. An 11.2:1 compression ratio aids overall engine efficiency and performance and a Multi Control Valve (MCV) assists in managing the engine’s thermal efficiency better than a traditional thermostat.

The engine also incorporates Nissan’s advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) technology, which combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake and exhaust sides to provide high performance and crisp response. Throttle response is enhanced by directly controlling the intake valve (rather than using the traditional method of controlling intake with a throttle valve) and valve timing and opening with non-variable camshafts. The Endurance® V8 is also available in the TITAN XD and TITAN full-size pickups.

The standard, advanced 7-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching helps enhance fuel efficiency through use of its wide gear ratios, ATF (automatic transmission fluid) warmer and adoption of idle neutral control. A 26-gallon fuel tank provides an ample driving range. Fuel economy8 is rated at 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined for Armada 2-wheel drive models. Armada all-wheel drive fuel economy is rated at 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined.

As part of its adventure-ready spirit, Armada offers a standard towing capacity1 of 8,500 pounds for both 4WD and 2WD models (when properly equipped). Armada meets the current J2807 towing certification standard.

The All-Mode 4-wheel drive system features Auto/4H/4LO modes, electronically controlled part-time transfer case and 2.70:1 4LO gear ratio. Under normal driving conditions, the system operates in two-wheel drive mode, but it can distribute torque to all four wheels when road conditions warrant (up to 50 percent of torque can go to the front wheels on demand).

Responsive braking is provided by a 4-wheel disc brake system with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Also standard are 2-wheel or 4-wheel limited-slip (ABLS) and a Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system (which includes a deactivation switch). Steering is provided by an engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system.

Armada’s durable independent double-wishbone front and rear suspension provides smooth ride comfort and responsive handling for both on-road and off-road driving. The front stabilizer bar is 36 mm in diameter, while the rear measures 26.5 mm. Twin-tube shock absorbers are featured on each corner.

Three wheel and tire combinations are offered, depending on model: Armada SV features 18- inch aluminum-alloy painted finish wheels with 265/70R18 all-season tires; standard on SL are 20-inch machine-faced aluminum-alloy wheels with 275/60R20 all-season tires and Platinum models feature machine-faced with tinted clear-coat 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 275/60R20 all-season tires.

A Flagship Level of Safety, Security Features and Driving Aids

Another way Armada stands out from other full-size SUVs in its segment is its extensive suite of available advanced safety and security systems.

In front, the available Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)2 can help warn the driver of risks that lie beyond the driver's forward field of vision. The advanced radar system not only can sense the relative velocity and distance of a vehicle directly ahead, but also of a vehicle traveling in front of the preceding one. Also in front are available Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) 2 and Intelligent Distance Control (I-DC)10. The available Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)11 can help assist the driver in potential accident avoidance.

On the sides, Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI)12, Lane Departure Warning (LDW)12, Blind Spot Warning (BSW) 13 and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention (I-BSI) 14 can help alert the driver of potential lane drift and detected vehicles approaching in the blind spot area. In the rear, RearView Monitor and Intelligent Around View® Monitor (I-AVM)4 help provide extra sets of “eyes” when backing out or parking. The innovative Intelligent Around View® Monitor can also come in handy when negotiating tight off-road trails.

Other Armada safety features include Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual- stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and front occupant classification sensor; roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for side-impact and rollover head protection for outboard positions in all three rows; front seat-mounted side- impact supplemental air bags; and front seat Active Head Restraints.

Also standard are 3-point front seat belts with dual pretensioners and load limiters, 3-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants, including center position; LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system; child safety rear door locks; Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones; engine immobilizer; and Vehicle Security System.

A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is also included, with a warning lamp in the gauge cluster or a warning display in the navigation system.

A Choice of Three Well-Equipped Models

The 2018 Nissan Armada is available in SV, SL and Platinum models in 2WD and 4WD drive configurations. In addition to the standard features on the Armada SV, the Armada SL adds Nissan Intelligent Key®, Remote Engine Start System7, power 60/40 3rd row seat, Intelligent Around View® Monitor (I-AVM)4, power liftgate, 20-inch wheels and tires and more.

The top-of-the-line Armada Platinum includes power-sliding moonroof, front climate controlled seats, Family Entertainment System, Nissan Safety Shield technologies and the new Intelligent Rear View Mirror (I-RVM)5.

Four option packages are offered, including the Driver’s Package (SV only) with fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink®, power 60/40 3rd row seat, power liftgate and trailer towing harness and pre-wire and connector for brake controller. The Captain’s Chairs Seat Package (Platinum only) replaces the 2nd row bench seat with 2nd row Captain’s Chairs and 2nd row center console with padded armrest. Also available is premium Pearl White paint.

Finally, the Premium Package (SL) includes Intelligent Cruise Control9 (Full Speed Range) (ICC), Intelligent Distance Control (I-DC)10, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)11, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)2, Blind Spot Warning (BSW)14, Intelligent Back-up Intervention (I-BI)3 and power sliding moonroof with front tilt and rear slide.

The 2018 Armada is assembled by Nissan in Kyushu, Japan, with the Endurance® V8 engine assembled in Decherd, TN.