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Even past large SUV standards, the Nissan Fleet casts a giant footprint. A 2022 redesign that carries over almost unchanged for 2022 more than doubled the big guy'due south sales. If you're doing a lot of carpooling, towing a boat, or taking long trips — kids in travel sports, for instance — it's non a bad ride. Put vi people on board and the Armada gets 100 miles per gallon — well, per rider, at to the lowest degree.

The Fleet is too one of the least costly full-size SUVs, starting around $47,000. At the aforementioned fourth dimension, an upscale Fleet Platinum Reserve with wide-angle camera rear view mirror can push the price to $66,000.

This is the second generation of the Armada, based on the Nissan Patrol SUV sold elsewhere in the world. More to the point, it shares a lot in common with the costlier Infiniti QX80, and so much and so that the Armada's upper trim lines make it experience like you're in the Infiniti. The new Armada is longer, 209 inches versus 208 inches, and fuel economy has been improved to xiii mpg city, 19 mpg highway, 16 mpg combined, and 1 mpg less for 4-wheel-drive.

All Armadas come nicely equipped. The base SV Fleet has thirteen-speaker Bose audio, four USB jacks, navigation, and 3 rows of seats. The mid-grade SL gets a surround view four-camera monitor (Intelligent Effectually View Monitor in Nissan terminology), a power tailgate, power operation of the 3rd-row seats, remote start, leather seats, and 20- inch wheels (up from 18 inches on the SV). The Platinum gets the camera rear review mirror, or Intelligent-Rear View Mirror (I-RVM), 5 USB jacks, adaptive cruise control, lane keep help (lane departure warning with intelligent lane intervention), blind spot detection, dual-screen rear entertainment, and a power moonroof. For those who desire a car that sounds like a credit card, the Platinum Reserve bundle tacks on $3,000 worth of premium leather seats, open-pore wood trim, dark chrome rims, and Platinum Reserve badging to remind you where the money went. The Platinum's commuter assistance features (ACC, LKA, BSD) are a $2,200 pick on the SL. Four-bicycle drive is a $2,900 selection.

Nissan Armada Platinum Reserve edition, in summertime weather.

Cruising with the Armada

Out on the road, the Fleet was comfortable, fifty-fifty luxurious, to drive and ride in. On a couple of snowy days, the power to lock into four-wheel-drive low gearing was a help. I got up a fairly steep suburban road leading to our house with some slipping, a road impassible to forepart-drive vehicles; it would accept been meliorate still with wintertime tires. The heated steering wheel was a approving after scraping snow off the big windshield, but information technology got and then warm I had to plough off the cycle heater subsequently most 10 minutes.

While it's big outside, the third row and cargo area are not class-leading. With the four-wheel-drive version, I averaged 15 mpg from the 390-hp Endurance V8 and vii-speed automatic. Nissan rates the Armada at 6.0 seconds 0-60 mph. I didn't go to exam the ability to tow an viii,500-pound gunkhole or trailer, a capacity that's outstanding even for full-size SUVs. It is also a fairly proficient off-roader.

Photographic camera Rear-View Mirror Works Well

The Platinum'southward Intelligent Rear View Mirror is a offset for the non-luxury class of SUVs. It'southward both a traditional mirror and a wide-angle camera-based in-car mirror. Flip a lever on the mirror to become from one to the other. The view is markedly wider with the camera version, which is useful in heavy traffic, or when the car is full of people or, as Nissan suggests in a higher place, political party balloons. Older drivers, the ones who need reading glasses, will need a moment to re-focus; even younger drivers may need a split-second longer than using the optical mirror. It feels less of a prophylactic outcome than something you need to know well-nigh and piece of work with.

Between the surroundings view exterior cameras and the I-RVM, plus the backup camera that'due south standard on all cars now, the Armada Platinum is as good as it gets in helping the commuter in traffic and easing into and out of tight parking spots.

The biggest downside on the technology side was the center stack and instrument panel. They feel dated. The multi-information display, the picayune brandish between the speedometer and tachometer, is monochrome and doesn't show much. The adaptive cruse control isn't full-range, either.

In 2022, Nissan Fleet has one-tenth of all big-SUV sales, merely that is two.5 times its 2022 share.

Should You Buy?

The Armada makes sense for several groups of owners. Consider it if you lot tow a heavy load; the Armada is surpassed only past some pickup trucks. Information technology's good for conveying lots of people, although those in the tertiary row will find better accommodations elsewhere, including minivans such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna (the only 1 with all-wheel-drive), or the Chrysler Pacifica (particularly expert every bit a hybrid). And information technology's skilful for people who're confident gasoline will stay closer to $ii.50 a gallon than $iii.l or $4.00. Otherwise you lot're looking at $100 to refill the Armada's 28-gallon tank.

Withal, the combination of bonny pricing and exceptional towing chapters make this a heavyweight competitor in the large SUV category. In a field where all other sales brutal, Nissan'southward shot through the roof.