2013 Nissan Armada

The 2013 model year sees a few changes to the interior fitment alongside a new options package, other than that Nissan has carried forward the SUV as it is. Although the 2013 Armada has now become even more exciting with the low starting MSRP of $37,885, the more modern SUVs and crossovers like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, and Mazda CX-9 offer a more refined and frugal experience. 

The 2013 Nissan Armada is offered in three different trims with either rear-wheel drive or a 4-wheel drive drivetrain to choose from. The base SV trim is packed with a long list of creature comforts which includes power-adjustable front seats, adjustable pedals, satellite radio amongst many more, that makes it feel every bit worth its price. The SL trim adds a few more convenience features and premium cabin materials while the Platinum trim adds more technology and a few more premium features. 

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The 2013 Nissan Armada SV trim with 4WD is the best one to opt for budget-minded buyers as it comes standard with the Driver Package that adds fog lights, a power liftgate, an auto-dimming mirror, a rearview camera, and an 11-speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio to the base trim. For the ones wanting a bit more creature comforts, the SL 4WD trim should be the preferred choice. 

The 2013 Nissan Armada continues to be powered by a 5.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that is rated to produce 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired up with a 5-speed automatic transmission which drives either the rear wheels or all four wheels depending upon the choice of the drivetrain. The 4WD drivetrain features electronic dual-range gearing, automatic locking hubs, and center locking limited-slip differential for better off-road capabilities.

The performance of the 2013 Armada is pretty decent as it does a 0-60 mph run in 7.6 seconds while covering the quarter-mile run in under 16 seconds. The towing capacity is also rated for a maximum of 9,100 lbs when properly equipped. Armada’s handling isn’t the greatest though, as one can feel the heft of the car when driving. The ride quality isn’t the greatest on the broken tarmac, and the heavy steering does need quite a bit of arm exercising which becomes tedious in tight city bylanes.

The 2013 Armada is not only the most affordable SUV here, but it also is one of the most potent ones with impressive acceleration and towing performance. The Toyota Sequoia is the most expensive one and that too by a huge margin. It is a bit quicker in terms of acceleration but lacks in the tugging department. Both the Ford and Chevy SUVs are priced similarly and also have similar acceleration timings, but the Ford Expedition can tow much more than the Tahoe. 

The large meaty V8 engines can never be expected to be frugal but the V8 under the hood of the 2013 Armada gulps more gas than its peers. The EPA rated 15 mpg of fuel economy for combined city and highway driving is particularly low and even with the large 28-gallon fuel tank, the driving range is limited to about 400 miles of combined driving. Opt for the 4WD and the ratings fall by 1 mpg in each aspect. 

Both the Japanese giants have very identical fuel economy ratings but the Sequoia employs a smaller gas tank which adversely affects the driving range. The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe is the most frugal of the lot while the Ford Expedition has a marginally better fuel economy than the Armada and Sequoia. Both the Americans have very similar driving ranges as well to offer.

The cabin of the 2013 Armada is very built and attractive to look at. Though most of the controls and switches are logically placed and intuitive to use, the top-end Platinum trim’s dashboard looks a bit cluttered with the additional switches for the navigation system. That said, the abundant leather surfaces, wood trims, and ambient lighting make the cabin very appealing to look at. Nissan offers seating for 8 as standard but with the optional captain chairs which are much more comfortable, drops the capacity to 7 occupants. 

In terms of space, there is plenty of headroom and legroom on offer in all three rows, and although the third row won’t be comfortable for adults for longer journeys, shorter individuals won’t complain much. The 20 cu-ft of luggage space at the back is very usable and good enough to accommodate the grocery shopping sprees. Folding down power-folding third-row seats (only on Platinum trim) opens up 56.7 cu-ft of cargo space which can be maximized to 97.1 cu-ft by folding down the second row as well. 

The cargo space on offer by the Nissan Armada might seem a lot but is around 10 cu-ft less than what its peers have to offer when folding down both the rear seats. Also, the Ford Expedition offers a lot more headroom and legroom in the third row to accommodate adults rather comfortably. The Toyota Sequoia too has a more spacious first and third row but compromises space in the second row. Chevrolet Tahoe on the other hand is the most compact SUV here, with the least amount of room for both the passengers and their luggage. 

• 8-way power driver seat with manual lumbar, 4-way power passenger seat
• Heated front seats and power-adjustable pedals
• Heated second-row 40/20/40 fold-flat split-bench seat with manual recline
• Third row 60/40 power fold-flat store-in-floor bench seat
• Leather seat trim and Wood tone interior trim
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise & audio controls
• Driver memory for seat, pedals & outside mirrors
• Dual-zone auto air conditioning with rear-seat controls
• Ambient interior lighting
• Homelink universal garage door opener

How intuitive is the 2013 Nissan Armada SUV’s infotainment unit?

The 7-inch head unit offered by Nissan with the Armada is standard across the trim and although it works just fine, the top Platinum trim with a standard navigation system looks very cluttered on the dashboard. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment setup is a highlight and also comes with digital music storage, wireless headphones compatibility, and even a remote control. The hard-drive-based navigation system isn’t the best out there but does its job rather well. 

• A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 11-speaker Bose audio system with 2 subwoofers
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• HDD navigation system with NavTraffic, NavWether, and Zagat restaurant guide
• Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone system
• Dual 7.0-inch rear-seat entertainment system
• Rear seat audio controls with wired & wireless headphone capability and remote control

The 2013 Armada does not particularly look striking and blends quite well with design language being quite similar to its rivals. The rectangular headlights and front grille with a minimalistic bumper design look classy while the ample amount of glass area with large windows, windshields, and sunroof makes the cabin feel airy. The chrome accents all around the car on higher trims add the premium appeal, but the chrome-clad wheels might turn out to be too much bling for some. 

In terms of dimensions, the Nissan Armada is the largest SUV in this comparison but Nissan has done well to keep the weight below the segment standards. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the most compact SUV here but offers class leading ground clearance. The Toyota Sequoia is the heaviest of the lot and offers a ride height on par with the Armada. The Ford Expedition on other hand is pretty heavy for its size and also rides much closer to the ground when compared to its rivals. 

• Auto on/off halogen headlights
• Power rear liftgate with flip-up glass
• Power flip-out rear quarter windows
• Power folding heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, puddle lamps
• Color-keyed body-side moldings with chrome accent
• One-piece roof rack side rails with chrome accents & adjustable crossbars
• Pwr moonroof with tilt/slide, one-touch open/close & sunshade
• 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels

The Nissan Armada is a premium offering from the Japanese carmaker and hence does not see high sales volume, that’s probably why the 2013 Armada hasn’t been crash tested by either of the government or private safety testing agencies. The Armada is also yet to receive the new age driver assistance features that other Nissan products have recently received and are also available with some other vehicles of the segment. A highlight of most of the safety features available with the 2013 Armada has been mentioned below. 

• Vehicle dynamic control system (VDC)
• Nissan advanced airbag system (AABS)
• Roof-mounted side impact curtain airbags for all rows with rollover sensor
• Active head restraints
• Front and reverse sonar
• Rear back-up camera
• Tire pressure monitor with 4-wheel independent monitoring

The Nissan Armada has received quite a few changes to its features list for the 2013 model year but misses out on the driver aids that more affordable Nissan products like the Murano have to offer. The acceleration and towing performance are impressive and while the cabin is attractive, comfortable, and feature loaded, the rivals offer a more supple ride quality. The overall experience is more refined and the powertrain is more frugal on rivals. Therefore, unless you really have a liking for the Armada, it is better to spend additional bucks and opt for either one of its competitors.