Wife has been wanting a Sequoia to replace the Highlander but as we are looking at them they are seriously outdated and options my wife has become accustom to in the 2012 Highlander are not available in the Sequoia.
She noticed the Armada the other day and I brushed it off thinking it was still based on the Titan. But I did my due diligence and started to peak around a bit and aside from the awful fat lip looking rear bumper it is pretty good looking.
Come to find out it is no longer made in the states or based of the Titan but made in Japan and based off the Patrol. The Patrol being a Land Cruiser contender in other markets seems like a positive to me.
All I really know about Nissan are the complaints about the craptastic CVT transmission which the Armada does not have.
I am finding 2018 Platinums with 50k miles or less in our price range. Anyone have one? I’d like to get 10 years and another 120-150k miles out of it with out serious issues.

I have had a 2018 SV that I bought a year ago with 30,000 miles out the door at $36,000. Minor issue with AC leak at an O-ring fixed under warranty. You will likely see some hate responses but I've been very happy with mine. Super comfortable to drive. Good power but only gets 14 MPG about town and 19-20 Hwy.
The SV is the entry level but I find it well appointed. Unless you want the TV screens in the back the SV will likely meet your needs.
The AWD performed very well the one time we got caught in a major snow storm on I-15 in Utah. Rock solid on some really bad roads.
I drove the Piolets, 4Runners and the Acura version of the Piolt as well. I really preferred the Armada especially when comparing bang for the buck.
I will be driving mine into the ground.

I”m not sure if our 2011 is the second generation but it has been an excellent vehicle.

Yup, gas mileage is a downfall pretty much with all the big SUVs.
I don’t want the rear seat screens but we need the buckets in the 2nd row and they are only available on the Platinum line. We need to have a center pass through so the oldest boy can get in the 3rd row. The other 2 are in car seats for a number of years to come which eliminates the ability to access the 3rd row with a bench, unless the center section of the bench is removable. The Armada utilizes a 60/40 bench and the center seat is not removable. The center console in the 2nd row is a simple removal of 8 bolts and can easily be returned once the middle boy is out of a car seat and we can utilize the outboard folding seat to access the 3rd row.
My Expedition and the Toyota Sequoia have the removable center seats on the bench.

The 2nd Generation of the Armada began in 2017.

They are now based on a certain series / generation of the global Patrol, which does have an overall legacy like the LC. That said, you can find some criticism of that particular series from the Patrol faithful. But that is typically in the context of pure off-road capability and your threads haven’t indicated a strong interest in that niche. The Armada is a bit pedestrian compared also to the current 200-series LC that is sold in the US, but both are far from their roots and equipped for our more pedestrian form of driving (despite our insistence otherwise).

The pricing of the Armada is hard to ignore when compared to the +$80k LC’s and I was keenly watching the launch of the Armada. I never could quite pull the trigger. I’m loyal to the LC and I know it’s reliability much better. I would likely buy a used 200 series if I finally decided to part with my 100 series.

One thing to note if you’re shopping for a used Armada. Nissan was having to heavily discount those units after their launch. I haven’t checked 2019 pricing / offers but Nissan was really aggressive to clear inventory - somewhat like the new Titan that had been launched to a lukewarm reception. I’m not sure if that is sufficiently considered in the used pricing guides, especially given that sales data for that new model is still somewhat low in volume.

This will be the wife’s mobile so the diminished off-road capability does not upset me. Most importantly being longevity and reliability. Looking for 12-15k miles a year for 10 years. My understanding of the Patrol line that this is something that is certainly done.



Price wise the 18s under 50k seem to fit nicely in our price range in the Platinum trim. Locally there are no left over 2019s so I have not looked at pricing much.

Yes, I would much prefer a LC but the 200s are still well out of our price range.

That does not mean if the Armada (or whatever she decides on) settles nicely as our main vehicle (I am guessing that it will) that my Expedition won’t be gotten rid of for a nice 100 to build.

I have had a couple as rentals and I liked them. Well appointed, great space, tighter steering than the LC even liked the looks but with no 2 speed gear box I took it off my list.

Nice suburban crawler though...especially if you need the space.

You should probably have your search include the Infinity equivalent. They will be appointed like the Platinum and it may deepen your selection. Used I doubt that the price difference would be significant.

Had a 2011 Armada. The good about it was that it was the perfect size,smaller than an expedition,bigger that a 4Runner. Could take two large dogs and luggage. It was a gas guzzler thou and always had issues with the brakes which they finally upgraded right before I traded it in. It was comfortable and the 4 wheel drive system worked really well. The front doors would leake air when Nebraska winds kicked in,dealer could not reproduce the wind noise. Otherwise it served it's purpose. I'm assuming by 2018 they fixed their brakes and would be cool if they offered the diesel in them.

quote:

Originally posted by dewhorse:
I have had a couple as rentals and I liked them. Well appointed, great space, tighter steering than the LC even liked the looks but with no 2 speed gear box I took it off my list.

Nice suburban crawler though...especially if you need the space.

Maybe this is a Fleet thing or I am misunderstanding what you mean. Granted so far I have not actually been in one but all the videos and pics I have seen have a selectable 2 speed transfer case with 4 wheel high and low.
True 2 wheel drive is not an option on 4wd models (this may be what you mean) only Auto 4wd but I am fine with that as this is for my wife and it will be in 4 wheel auto 99% of the time anywho.

All I have seen have the 4wheel selector like in this one.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ingImages/252974378/

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
You should probably have your search include the Infinity equivalent. They will be appointed like the Platinum and it may deepen your selection. Used I doubt that the price difference would be significant.

The Infiniti is tuned differently and requires premium fuel so it can tout over 400 horsepower yet you gain nothing as the 0-60 time and towing is the same for the Infiniti and Nissan.
Around here premium runs about .60 more per gallon. So presuming a 20 gallon fill up and we fill up once a week generally and more when we are on trips so you’re looking at at least $650 more a year on fuel for no reason.

As for gas mileage all these big SUVs are not fuel sippers and realize that.

Wife drives a 2018. Solid vehicle so far (36K miles). Only gripe is fuel economy, which has not exceeded 18mpg combined.

We trudge on.

I had a new Armada as a rental a few weeks ago. It's very smooth but kind of floaty on the freeway.

Will likely be using mine to pull the biggest Uhaul trailer across country. Can't wait to see the gas mileage on that trip.

I love modern magazine reviews that seem perplexed by the low mileage!

As you note, these are not crossovers and you clearly understand that, given your comparisons to the LC or Sequoia.

And I believe you are right as to transmission & drive type. I think the Armada is quite similar in that regard to modern LC’s, which long ago eliminated full mechanical lockers and part-time 4WD systems.

Have you looked at Consumer Reports, etc for reliability ratings? I suspect they rate the Nissan lower than the Toyotas but I don’t know if that difference suggests praise of Toyota, condemnation of Nissan or a bit of each.

And to sidestep a bit, have you thought about the new Kia Telluride? Seems to be getting a lot of good reviews and, to me, is the least crossover-looking crossover of the lot.

Had not looked at Consumer Reports.
The GM/GMCs seem to get the best mileage. The in-laws have a 2017 Suburban and get 24 mpg on the Highway but are closer to 17 in the city. Most of my wife’s mileage is in town.
Gas mileage of course the more the better but it is not our biggest concern. Not outgrowing this vehicle is the main concern.
Prior to the 1st kid she went from a Mustang to Escape and it became too small, Escape to the current Highlander which is too small now that we have 3 kids.

So I don’t really think a crossover even the largest will suffice. I think the Hyundai Palisade is much better looking than the Telluride but not sure I am ready to jump into the Korean Automotive scene yet and about 100% sure my wife is not.
I think the best large crossover option for us would be the VW Atlas SE Tech package R line with 4motion. They are running about 35k currently new for the 2019s. They have a 7 year 65k mile bumper to bumper warranty.

The 2018 Toyota TRD Sport will likely be what we end up. Toyota’s just go forever which is a huge plus. She really wants a smart key which only became available in the Sequoia top trim lines in 2019 and it will be a few years before those are in our price range.

The Armada and the Tahoe/Yukon are high on her list and have the smart key option as well.

We’ll drive them all and whichever she likes best we’ll get.

I like my Expedition but she does not have much interest in driving the same vehicle as me.
If the Toyota had a smart key we would not even bother looking elsewhere as that is what she wants but the Highlander is loaded and she has become accustom to some of the fancy options. It being a 2012 I find it so surprising the Sequoia is so far behind.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by dewhorse:
I have had a couple as rentals and I liked them. Well appointed, great space, tighter steering than the LC even liked the looks but with no 2 speed gear box I took it off my list.

Nice suburban crawler though...especially if you need the space.

Maybe this is a Fleet thing or I am misunderstanding what you mean. Granted so far I have not actually been in one but all the videos and pics I have seen have a selectable 2 speed transfer case with 4 wheel high and low.
True 2 wheel drive is not an option on 4wd models (this may be what you mean) only Auto 4wd but I am fine with that as this is for my wife and it will be in 4 wheel auto 99% of the time anywho.

All I have seen have the 4wheel selector like in this one.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ingImages/252974378/

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
You should probably have your search include the Infinity equivalent. They will be appointed like the Platinum and it may deepen your selection. Used I doubt that the price difference would be significant.

The Infiniti is tuned differently and requires premium fuel so it can tout over 400 horsepower yet you gain nothing as the 0-60 time and towing is the same for the Infiniti and Nissan.
Around here premium runs about .60 more per gallon. So presuming a 20 gallon fill up and we fill up once a week generally and more when we are on trips so you’re looking at at least $650 more a year on fuel for no reason.

As for gas mileage all these big SUVs are not fuel sippers and realize that.

Thank....maybe I missed it, if that is the case I might look at one as well as I thought that was the only negative

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
I had a new Armada as a rental a few weeks ago. It's very smooth but kind of floaty on the freeway.

Same here. We had a new Armada (Platinum trim) (either a 2019 or 2020) as a loaner earlier this week while my wife's 2012 Highlander was in the shop.

Both the wife and I were underwhelmed. It got awful gas mileage (about 17mpg), acceleration was sluggish, and I agree with Russ59 that the drive was "floaty".

I was also surprised that it did not appear to have Apple Carplay.

I don't know if this is important to you but check to see if the Armada has the apple car play (or the andriod equivalent). My wife's 2018 Rogue has car play but my 2018 Pathfinder does not.

It took me a while to warm up to the Pathfinder but I've really liked it. Except for the interface with the smart phones.

The service advisor at the dealership I go to is outstanding. Shoot me an email if you want his name and number. I'm sure he can get the answer for you.

Had a thought - some middle seats will slide forward even with a car seat installed. Would that address your criteria for access to the third row? If yes, look at this VIDEO starting at 1:20.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
I had a new Armada as a rental a few weeks ago. It's very smooth but kind of floaty on the freeway.

Same here. We had a new Armada (Platinum trim) (either a 2019 or 2020) as a loaner earlier this week while my wife's 2012 Highlander was in the shop.

Both the wife and I were underwhelmed. It got awful gas mileage (about 17mpg), acceleration was sluggish, and I agree with Russ59 that the drive was "floaty".

I was also surprised that it did not appear to have Apple Carplay.

17 is a hoot my Expedition is lifted on 33s I get 14.
Conflicting reading but don’t think the Armada has CarPlay until 2020.

As far as gas mileage only the full size GMs get decent gas mileage.

quote:

Originally posted by SR:
Had a thought - some middle seats will slide forward even with a car seat installed. Would that address your criteria for access to the third row? If yes, look at this VIDEO starting at 1:20.

Not come across a full size that has this option.

One day we’ll actually get to go drive these things and she can make her decision.