A pre-show debut of the 2017 Nissan Armada full-size, eight-passenger SUV was held ahead of its official appearance at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show on February 13. The 2017 Armada is the second-generation of its line, and comes with a full-feature cabin, enhanced performance and an extensive list of available safety and convenience features and will be displayed in Chicago alongside Nissan’s “Winter Warriors”.
The 2017 Armada is a re-badged Nissan Patrol, and is also sold as the Infiniti QX80. The Infiniti is sold in Malaysia at a price of RM799,000. “With the introduction of the all-new, second-generation Armada full-size SUV, the last piece of Nissan’s transformation of its SUV and crossover lineup falls into place following the recent makeovers of our Pathfinder, Murano and Rogue models,” said Phil O’Connor, Director, Chief Marketing Manager, Nissan North America.
Nissan intends to put the Armada in the premium class by offering safety and security features usually reserved for much higher priced luxury SUVs. These include features such as Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Backup Collision Intervention (BCI), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Distance Control Assist (DCA), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) and Blind Spot Warning (BSW).
A new V8 is part of the 2017 Nissan Armada package, maintaining the same 5.6-liter displacement as its predecessor with an increase in power to 390 hp from the previous 317 hp. This comes about with the inclusion of the new Direct Injection Gas (DIG) and advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) systems. A seven-speed automatic transmission replaces the previous-generation Armada’s five-speed automatic.
The Armada’s redesigned body features an aggressive stance with a redesigned V-shaped front grille and standard LED low-beam headlights combined with LED Daytime Running Lights, while in the rear, bold combination lights include LED taillights. Internally, the 2017 Armada emphasises roominess and interior comfort, with special attention paid to noise levels and quick interior cooling and heating.
The new Armada comes in three levels – SV, SL and Platinum – in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations. Standard features include Nissan Navigation with NavTraffic and NavWeather information and eight inch color display, heated front seats and 13-speaker Bose audio system. Towing capacity for the 2017 Armada is 3,850 kg when properly equipped.
