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Just before hearing that Nissan was producing the 2004 Armada I was thinking what this country really needed was another large Sport Utility Vehicle. Obviously that is not what I was thinking. In fact the last few years has seen a proliferation of these ponderous pavement pounding packages. Once a niche vehicle of sportsmen and gentlemen farmers, the Sport Utility Vehicle is now the station wagon of choice for suburban mothers and frustrated office bound executives. Even with gasoline prices escalating ever upward the sport utility market is hotter than an August picnic. This phenomenon has not gone unnoticed by Nissan, already producing the Murano Exterra, and Pathfinder. But the full size pickup market is huge with Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge dominating. Large Sport Utility Vehicles, derivatives from these pickups, provide a tempting lucrative market. Based on the new Nissan Titan pickup the 2004 Nissan Armada layers luxury features on top of a tough full-size truck platform. Over 17 inches longer than the Hummer H2, the 4X4 Armada has the same 10.7 inches of ground clearance as the H2. The big 5.6 Liter DOHC V8 produces 305 horsepower and a massive 385 lb-ft torque moving the 5,051 pound Armada around with power to spare. Properly equipped the 2004 Nissan Armada can tow up to 9,100 pounds. The 5-speed Automatic Transmission features a tow/haul mode and even has an available Transmission Temperature Gauge. The Automatic 4WD System is so advanced it continuously adjusts the amount of power distributed to the front and rear wheels for optimal traction. A low-speed crawl ratio is important for steep off-road terrain. While collision protection is important, crash avoidance is much more desirable. That's why 4-wheel Anti-Lock Disc Brakes with Vehicle Dynamic Control is standard equipment on the 2004 Nissan Armada. Tire pressure monitoring system and rear proximity sensors are designed to keep problems from happening. The base 2WD SE package can be purchased for less than $33,000 while our 2004 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 test vehicle topped $45,000. The SE version is very nicely equipped with second and third row fold flat seats and the SE edition with the Technology Package is an experience in luxury. Excelling in every category the Armada competes with the best Sport Utility Vehicle on the market. Features such as the power liftgate and puddle lamps on the outside mirrors make a favorable impression. Driving the 2004 Nissan Armada is a true joy. Independent rear suspension combined with front and rear stabilizer bars make the Armada seem more like a well tuned sedan than a large Sport Utility Vehicle. Very quite and bathed in luxury appointments, the 2004 Nissan Armada is a solid contender in a very tough competitive field. My friends at State Line Nissan have been telling me about how great the new Armada was ever since they saw it previewed last year at the New Your Auto Show. Finally they convinced me to take one through the paces. And while I know that most large Sport Utility Vehicles will never be driven to their potential, the 2004 Nissan Armada is a go anywhere, do anything in style and comfort vehicle. Maybe we did need another Sport Utility vehicle on the market after all.
2004 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 $40,600 Base MSRP
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©2003 - Stan Risener