Test Drive Nissan Armada since 2009 SUV

Resident error

This Grozny SUV is officially sold only in the States. In Russia, you can buy a new Nissan Pathfinder Armada only at the gray dealer, if, of course, you have 100 thousand dollars.

The history of this car is very similar to the biographies of almost all American and quasia-American SUVs. Initially, he wondered as a pickup and was called Nissan Titan. However, the gulled Japanese, focusing exclusively on the star-striped market, they also developed an SUV. As a result, Armada appeared on the light almost simultaneously with Titan.

Made in the still fashionable style techno, the mighty SUV strikes not only the design, but also with dimensions: two meters width, almost as much in height and five are superfluous. On our roads such a bit. However, if you remember that the elder brother of this jeep truck, everything falls into place. What, in your opinion, the sizes were an SUV, if it were made from GAZ-53?

The front of Armada is the same as Titan, the rear, understandable thing, other. It was performed in the same style as the front: faceted, which cut down the flat forms, embossed, like the hood, the fifth door. Supports this topic and the roof, although its break is nothing but the illusion created by a peculiar slope of the window frame of the second row doors.

Torpedo accurate copy of Titanovsky. Although it was developed primarily for a truck, its form should be recognized quite acceptable for such an expensive car. You can describe what is located on the center console, the instrument shield or in general in the cabin, but much here is traditionally for cars of this class, and it is enough to state that it all is. It is more interesting to tell about what is distinguished by Armada from other SUVs.

The pedal node has electrical adjustment. Feeling that the pedals are far from pressing the key, and they are pulled closer to the feet under the smooth buzz of the servo. Lained to get out of the car to help the spouse put things in the trunk? Press the button, and the fifth door sprinkles itself. You can also close it using an electric drive, it is only worth poke the corresponding key on the torpedo or at the door itself, on the rear rack. Rear passengers tired of the landscape running around the windows? No problem! A monitor is installed on the ceiling console to which the image from the DVD player located in the central armrest between the front seats.

Seats in Armada Five: two in front, two in the second row and another sofa in the luggage compartment, calculated on two people. Large trunk 566 liters. If you remove the very sofa, the volume intended for baggage will reach 1606 liters by creating the seats of the second row, we obtain all 2750 liters with a maximum carrying capacity of 768 kg. In a word, a truck he is a truck.

At the same time, the suspension from Armada is completely different than the Titan fully independent (although the front is also resting on double transverse springs). The steel frame looks somewhat differently. By the way, the designers abandoned from the carrier body abandoned almost immediately would have to create a new platform. At the same time, the body of the car does not only perform a decorative function: the revised design has acquired a bog tightness torsion and bending.

As for the engines, they are identical. And on Armada, and the Titan is installed 5.6-liter V8, developing 305 hp. And possessing the breathtaking torque 522 N.M. A 5-speed automatic helps to dispose of such a strong.

The full drive system is partly taken from the passenger Nissan Skyline GT-R. Skeptics doubt the feasibility of such borrowing, but we are in a hurry to assure you: everything is done correctly, what we were convinced of one hundred percent.

Included, having remembered that the car has such a powerful engine, went to refueling: a 106-liter tank was filled with about a quarter, and the fact that it was splashing, obviously would not have enough for a full test. At the gas station were injured under the warning gesticulation of alarmed tankers, who considered that we did not approach the column without their help. They would know how easily you feel behind the wheel of Armada! Huge outer mirrors, parking sensors, easy steering, informative brakes All this allows not to strain even when performing very complex maneuvers in cramped conditions.

It is easy to drive a car and at speed. Equipped with a course stability system, he adequately behaves on the track. The country road on the day of the dough was covered with bare ice, which did not bother to constantly keep the speedometer arrow at 7080 miles per hour. Were envied by our rapid march on the regional highway turned out to be a lot. They would also know that the machine is shoved in summer tires!

On the way noted only two negative points. The first: vibrating the ceiling console; Apparently, the monitor is too heavy for her. The second: a fairly confusing scheme, which adjusts the heater of the reverse seats; It was not possible to achieve uniformity of blowing between the bottom and the upper zones.

By turning the handle on the center console in advance to translate the transmission to the permanent full drive mode and we turn into a snowy virgin. Honestly, far away did not hoped, however, contrary to our distrust, the car goes forward.

Complete the task: brake. Do this in deep loose snow can not be in any case, but we did. What was the surprise when Mastodont didn't happen next!

Having consisted, we decide to bring the complexity of the mission to the knowing impossibility: the assault on the snow-covered hill with the slope of degrees at thirty-five. We turn on the prayer and practically idle go to the road. There was a moment when we doubted in a safe completion of the climb of the wheel began to break down on the SMO. But then it helped the powerful engine: gas to the floor, and Armada, throwing out a couple of cubic meters of snow from under the wheels, throws the victoriously to the top.

Yes, impressive. But at first it seemed that this car was intended only for the frightening of the passenger cars and the rocking of the Ponte, that she could run along asphalt and, at best, for a good country. Mistaken. Pathfinder Armada is the most real SUV.

Specifications Nissan Pathfinder Armada

Body all-metal, on the frame
Number of places, people. 7.
Curb weight, kg 2402
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm 5255/2000/1953
Base, mm 3130
Fuel control (urban / country cycle), l / 100 km 18.1 / 13.1
Engine:
- Type V8.
- Working volume, cm 5598
- Power, hp at min-1 305/4900
- torque, NM at min-1 522/3600
Automatic transmission, 5-speed, with a shut-off front drive
Tire size 265/70R18
Wheel suspension (front / rear) independent
Brakes (front / rear) Disk, ventilated / disc
Steering gear-rail, with gur
Volume of fuel tank, l 106
Trunk volume, l 566
Price, $ 99500

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [02/2004]