Hefty SUV drives like it's not

Large sport utility vehicles aren't as fashionable as they once were, so today's buyers of big SUVs are likely to be the people who really need them -- for towing horse trailers, boats and motor homes and for carrying large groups of people.

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Associated Press

The 17.3-foot-long, 2-ton-plus 2010 Nissan Armada Titanium is good for people who need something hefty for towing or generous space for passengers, yet it drives like a much smaller vehicle.

The 2010 Nissan Armada handles all these tasks capably yet drives like a smaller vehicle than it is. Body motions for this 17.3-foot-long SUV are well-managed, and despite the 2-ton-plus weight, the ride is comfortable and controlled.

The 317-horsepower, 5.6-liter V-8 is powerful, allowing for a towing capacity of 9,100 pounds with optional towing package.

There's generous room inside the eight-passenger Armada, enough for people in the first and second rows to stretch their legs and for smaller adults to be accommodated in the third row. Maximum cargo space is a healthy 97.1 cubic feet.

Pricing is competitive for the segment. Starting price, including destination charge, for a base, two-wheel-drive Armada is the same as for 2009: $38,010.

This compares with $39,480 for a Toyota Sequoia and $42,440 for a GMC Yukon XL 1500. An Armada with four-wheel drive starts at $43,610 -- compared with $42,705 for the Sequoia and $45,280 for the similar Yukon XL.

Based on the sturdy, fully boxed platform of the Nissan Titan full-size pickup truck, the Armada has attractive styling and an immense presence on the road.

Standard running boards boost drivers up to a commanding view, way above the pavement.

The robust V-8 is named Endurance by Nissan officials, has dual overhead cams and produces 385 foot-pounds of torque at 3,400 rpm.

At startup, passengers hear the deep, strong engine sounds. Some people might prefer a quieter engine, but I liked hearing the confident sounds of power from this engine.

The V-8 never stressed in its duties and merged the SUV into city and highway traffic without fuss. There was just a bit of coasting when I'd let up on the accelerator pedal.

This V-8 uses regular unleaded gasoline, not pricey premium. Fuel economy for the four-wheel-drive tester is rated 12 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway.

I averaged just 12.7 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The tank is big -- capable of holding 28 gallons -- and so I could go 355 miles before needing a fill-up.

Power in all Armadas comes through a five-speed automatic transmission. In the test vehicle, shifts were smooth and exactly where they needed to be generate lively performance. This SUV didn't feel heavy or sluggish at all, even when all seats were occupied.

Fit and finish was excellent, and manually flipping the second-row seats out of the way for access to the third row was a one-hand operation. I just released the lever atop the seat back so the seat back would fall forward and then lifted the cushion in one smooth motion. The seat moved quickly and came to rest just behind the front seat back.

People climbing into the third row have to step onto carpeted floor that's not flat -- it's the floor that's usually covered by the second-row seats. But the door entry is good-size, which is helpful.

The third row seat splits 60/40 and has short cushions, so there's not full support for thighs. Because this third row seat rests closer to the floor than do the other seats, knees rest higher. But I rode back there with acceptable legroom.

For 2010, Nissan revised the lineup, so there's a base SE trim level plus Titanium and Platinum models.

The SE includes 18-inch wheels, halogen head lamps, body color grille, dual-zone climate control, remote keyless entry, overhead console storage, cloth seats and manual front passenger seat adjustment.

The test Titanium model, the next trim level up, added chrome-look grille, chrome-look roof rack, leather-trimmed seats, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, Intelligent Key entry and startup and 20-inch wheels.

All Armadas come with electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and six air bags.

Despite its heft, the Armada is one of the few large sport utility vehicles that doesn't score the top rating of five out of five stars in frontal crashes. Driver protection is rated by the federal government at five stars, but protection for the Armada's front passenger is rated only at four out of five stars.

Spokesman John Schilling said he "can't comment on why other SUVs got five (stars), but we believe the Armada is performing in the top levels of occupant protection."

Consumer Reports lists reliability of the Armada as average.