The first full-size Nissan (7-seater or 8-seater) SUV Armada in the United States made its debut in the fall of 2003 (originally as the Pathfinder Armada). The borrowed name is just a “knight's move” of marketers, who decided that a friend would attract the followers of the classics. In 2004, Nissan made an official statement that the 2005 model lineup would simply be called Armada.
Representatives of the company explained this decision by the fact that the model was firmly established in the market, buyers recognized its own merits, and it could well come out from under the Pathfinder wing. The SUV is based on the Titan pickup. He inherited from him: a completely steel frame, very impressive dimensions (length 5.25 m, and a width and height of about two meters) and a weight of 2.5 tons. But the similarities do not end there, so the appearance of the car, especially its front end, is largely borrowed from Titan.
The unusual combination of “bloated” hood, powerful headlights, grille with a proprietary V-shaped jumper and bumper with chrome-plated elements gives the Armada a special convincingness. It is possible to note the original shape of the roof, which has a slight curvature in the central part and an unusual arrangement of the rear door handles: they are installed vertically (just like on the Nissan Pathfinder). Salon impresses with its size.
The car can comfortably accommodate 7 adults, and legroom in the second row is considered the best in its class. The arrangement of second-row seats, thought out to the smallest detail, does not interfere at all when landing on the rear seats. For each chair there are two pairs of lamps and individual ventilation.
Plus three seat belts and small side tables. Speaking about the driver's seat, we note that all of his attributes, not counting the upholstery, are borrowed from Titan. The driver and front passenger seats are regulated by an electric drive in 6 directions.
In addition, they are equipped with multi-level heating. As for the central panel, everything is in the usual places: the steering wheel (with power steering), the 7-inch display of the navigation system, and the climate control buttons. A nice addition to the general equipment is the ability to memorize 2 positions of the driver's seat and exterior mirrors in the onboard computer's memory. Special attention is given luggage compartment. In normal condition it is 566 liters. If you remove the chair only the last row, then its volume will increase to 1,606 liters, if 2 rows - up to 2,750 liters.
Between the 1st and 2nd rows, a liquid crystal monitor of a multimedia DVD system is mounted in the ceiling of the car. In Armada there are many gloveboxes, mini-lockers, cup holders, which are evenly and thoughtfully distributed throughout the cabin. In the role of the driving force Nissan offer only one engine - the new Endurance V8 5.6-liter all-aluminum 8-cylinder 32-valve engine. Maximum power 305 hp The engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission with electronic control. To achieve greater comfort, the rear suspension, like the front one, is made completely independent, on twin wishbones with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar and coil springs.
The security system includes: ABS with electronic brake force redistribution between the front and rear axles, EBD, Brake Assist, front airbags and side curtains that are mounted in the seats of all three rows. Depending on the road conditions, you can choose the desired mode of transmission. Armada allows you to use both rear and all-wheel drive. If necessary, on the flat terrain, the car is set in motion by the rear wheels, but it is worth moving out of the asphalt highway - the all-wheel drive system is connected with the center differential blocked by viscous coupling.
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