2009 Nissan Armada LE 4x4

The Armada makes some sense if you need an SUV that can tow a large amount or go off-road, but for most buyers who are looking for extra space, a three-row crossover is a better option. Additionally, the similarly priced Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon both drive better than the Armada while serving the same basic needs. The Armada doesn't offer as much interior space as its external dimensions might suggest, and the steering wheel and secondary vibrations that radiate through the cabin continually remind you that this is a truck-based vehicle. In addition, many of the interior plastics remind you of the cost cutting days at Nissan. Still, for about $52,000, the Armada comes with an impressive list of features, including a heated steering wheel, heated seats with memory, navigation, hard-drive audio, Bluetooth, and twenty-inch wheels. Add in the discounts offered on a vehicle rated at 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway and a buyer who truly needs all the functionality offered by the very truck-like Armada could get quite a deal from the local Nissan dealer. Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor