Nissan Armada

Though the soft suspension absorbs bumps well, the body jostles frequently. Handling is clumsy, with slow steering and pronounced body roll, but it's ultimately secure. Inside, the spacious cabin has a premium feel, particularly in Platinum trim. Controls are a bit dated, and it's a long reach to some buttons and knobs. Seven- or eight-passenger seating configurations are available, and the third row can power fold and unfold. Available in rear-wheel or full-time four-wheel drive, the Armada can tow a generous 8,500 pounds. Updates for the 2019 model included standard forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Armada received a freshening for 2021, the engine now has 400 hp. Standard safety features include Nissan's Shield 360. This suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Also, dual-zone automatic climate control is standard on all trims. Updates for 2022 include one-touch folding third-row function for power seat-equipped models.

Power comes from a smooth-revving, but noisy 5.6-liter, 305-hp V8 with a slick five-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain makes the Armada quick, but it returns just 13 mpg overall. Handling is relatively responsive, but the ride is quite stiff and interior quality is unimpressive. Children may have trouble reaching the high-mounted rear door handles. There's lots of rear cargo space and with its available tow package, towing capacity is generous. While competitive in its early years, this long-running design grew outdated over time, falling behind on refinement and finesse.