New 2012 Nissan Armada SUV Review

The 2011 Nissan Armada is a large-sized SUV with a robust engine that translates into a powerful vehicle with an impressive towing capacity. The exterior exudes strength with a menacing front fascia and bulging bumpers and fenders. The rugged body-on-frame construction makes for a pleasant and spacious interior loaded with numerous storage areas.

The Nissan Armada is offered in three trim levels: SE, SL and Platinum, all of which seat eight people. Features on the base SE include 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, climate control with two zones, rear seat air-conditioning, second and third row seats that fold flat, rear parking sensors, a tilt-steering wheel and six standard air-bags. The SL trim model of the Nissan Armada adds 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a towing package, leather upholstery, roof rack, chrome grille, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, keyless entry and ignition system, front seats with four power adjustments, a powered third row and a Bose audio system with satellite radio and eleven speakers. The Platinum model adds 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum alloy wheels, front parking sensors, sunroof, power lift gate, front seats and steering wheel that are heated, memory for the driver’s seating position, an entertainment system with DVD, 9.3 Gigabytes for storage of music and a navigations system with real-time traffic.

Specs:

The engine in the Nissan Armada is a 5.6 liter V8 that can produce 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is available for all models and the transmission is a five speed automatic. With the proper equipment, the vehicle can tow 9,100 pounds.

Fuel economy for the Nissan Armada is based on the type of drive with two-wheel drive rated at 13 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway and the four-wheel drive rated at12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

The interior of the Nissan Armada is a pleasing design with materials that are soft to the touch and of a higher quality than would be expected of models in this class. Touchscreen controls and high-mounted buttons make it easy to control most functions of the vehicle. The second row of seats can be replaced by captain’s chairs and the third row of seats is easy to fold flat, allowing for various configurations of people and cargo. The maximum capacity for cargo, with the second and third row seats down, is 97 cubic feet.

Safety features in the Nissan Armada include stability control, disc brakes that are antilock, front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active head restraints. In frontal-impact crash tests run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicle scored five stars for protection of the driver and four stars for protection of the passengers.

The ride of the 2011 Nissan Armada is comfortable, although there is some perception in the seats when the vehicle goes over bumps and ruts. Steering can be somewhat cumbersome when parking but strong and weighty at higher speeds. Like other full-size vehicles, this one can be hard to maneuver in tight spots yet the compensation is off-road performance that is rather impressive.

The 2011 Nissan Xterra is a five passenger crossover SUV

The 2011 Nissan Xterra is a five passenger crossover SUV that offers both suburban comfort as well as capable off-road handling. With its sturdy body-on-frame construction, the vehicle has a tough guy appearance with tall ground clearance and available four-wheel drive that can easily handle those road conditions where the concrete and asphalt end.

The Nissan Xterra is available in three trim levels: the X, S and Pro-V, which is only available with four-wheel drive. Standard features on the X include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, remote keyless entry, tubular roof rack with air dam, power windows, door locks and mirrors air-conditioning privacy glass, tilt steering wheel, six standard air bags and an audio system with six speakers and a CD player.

The S version of the Nissan Xterra adds 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with off-road tires, a cargo organization system, driver’s seat that can be manually adjusted eight ways with lumbar control and a first aid kit. The four-wheel drive model adds a roof rack with rail crossbars and a gear basket, a front tow hook and splash guards.

The Pro-4X model of the Nissan Xterra adds 16-inch machined-finished aluminum alloy wheels with upgraded off-road tires, hill start assist and hill descent control, electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, cloth upholstery, a passenger seat that folds flat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, an audio system with nine speakers, satellite radio and six-disc CD changer, white-face gauges, Bluetooth connectivity and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass. There is an additional package for the Pro-4V that gas leather upholstery and a passenger seat back pocket but removes the ability for the passenger seat to fold flat.

Specs:

The Nissan Xterra has a 4.0 liter dual overhead cam 24-valve V6 engine that can produce 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. All models except the Pro-4X come standard with rear-wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission but there is a choice between the automatic transmission and a six-speed manual transmission on the four-wheel drive S and Pro-4X. The four-wheel drive system on the Pro-4X features low-range gearing.

Fuel economy for the Nissan Xterra is based on transmission and type of drive. The rear-wheel drive version with an automatic transmission is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The four-wheel drive version with an automatic transmission is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Four-wheel drive vehicles with a manual transmission are rated at 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

The interior of the Nissan Xterra is somewhat dull in design due to the predominance of hard plastics found in many other of-road SUVs of the same nature. Cargo space is 35 cubic feet with the rear seats up and expands to 66 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The cargo area has some innovative features such as a system built into the floor for securing bikes and gear, space for a one-gallon water jug and sturdy utility hooks mounted on the sides of the floor and ceiling.

The 2011 Nissan Xterra not only offers impressive off-road capabilities but handles well on the road with precise steering and minimal body roll. The powerful V6 engine provides performance that is sure to satisfy many drivers.

The 2011 Nissan Juke SUV Review

The 2011 Nissan Juke is a subcompact four-door hatchback that is a new model for 2011. It has been described as a bionic frog yet with a powerful four cylinder engine, it is quick on the road with entertaining handling combined with excellent gas mileage. It comes equipped with many high end standard features that are packed into this small vehicle.

The Nissan Juke is available in three trim levels: the base S, the SV and the SL. Standard features on the S include full power accessories, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, power windows and door locks, keyless remote entry, air conditioning, cruise control, interface for the iPod, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, tilt steering wheel, an audio system with six speakers and CD player, controls mounted on the steering wheel and six standard air bags. The SV model adds satellite radio, upgraded upholstery with premium suede cloth seat trim, sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, automatic climate control, and three control settings of normal, sport and economy for steering, throttle and transmission response. The SL model of the Nissan Juke adds fog lamps, a navigation system with real-time traffic and a rearview monitor, leather upholstery, front seats that are heated, an audio system with six upgraded speakers with subwoofer and USB port, and automatic on/off head lights and fog lamps. Optional packages include a Sports package with unique wheels and a rear spoiler, a package with chrome door handles, mirrors and side molding and an Interior Illumination package with accent lighting.

The engine in the Nissan Juke is a turbocharged 1.6 liter inline four cylinder engine that produces 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission on the S trim is a continuously variable transmission while the SV and SL models have the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or the continuously variable transmission. There is a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for all trim levels, although all-wheel drive requires the continuously variable transmission.

Fuel economy for the Nissan Juke is dependent on drive and transmission. Front wheel drive with a manual transmission is rated at 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway while front wheel drive with the continuously variable transmission is rated at 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. An all-wheel drive Nissan Juke with a continuously variable transmission is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The interior of the Nissan Juke is not as flashy as the exterior and simply designed. The use of hard plastic is abundant but silver accents serve to soften and brighten the rough finish. Both the front and rear seats have ample head and legroom but passengers in the back seat may feel somewhat cramped due to the sloping roof. There is 10 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are up and this expands to 36 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.

The drive of the Nissan Juke is quick and peppy, providing crisp response and sure tracking through the corners. If you are in the market for a smaller vehicle with a comfortable ride that handles the road well, then the Nissan Juke is worth investigating.

 

 

 

The 2011 Nissan Murano styling and attractive driving dynamics

The 2011 Nissan Murano is a midsized crossover SUV with concept-car styling and attractive driving dynamics that surpass the typical capabilities of a crossover vehicle. The Nissan Murano delivers sophistication and clever engineering with a sporty yet compliant suspension that handles the curves as well as it does the road. Its spacious interior displays premium materials, fine craftsmanship and a comfortable ride.

As a vehicle that can seat five passengers, the Nissan Murano is available in four trim levels: the S, SV, SL and LE. Basic features of the S include rear tinted glass, keyless entry and ignition, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, automatic climate control with two zones, power window and door locks, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel and audio system with six speakers and six-disc CD-changer with MP3 capabilities and auxiliary audio jack, cloth upholstery, driver’s seat with six manual adjustments and manual lumbar support, cruise control, six standard air bags and a reclining rear seat.

The SV model of the Nissan Murano adds fog lights, roof rails, sunroof, 7-inch color display screen, satellite radio, rearview camera, power front seats with eight controls for the driver and passenger, steering wheel wrapped in leather with audio controls, and iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. The SL model adds automatic wipers, heated front seats and steering wheel, an upgraded audio system with nine speakers and 800 Megabytes for music storage, leather upholstery, memory adjustments for the driver side and a power liftgate. The most luxurious model in the Nissan Murano line, the LE, includes 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, heated rear seats, bi-xenon headlights, interior wood-tone trim, and power tilt and telescopic steering wheel with memory for its position.

Specs:

The engine in the Nissan Murano is a 3.5 liter dual overhead cam 24-valve V6 that can produce 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a continuously variable transmission. All trim levels have the option of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the Nissan Murano is the same whether it is a front-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle and is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined.

The interior of the Nissan Murano is high quality with superior materials and fine design and finish. The second row is spacious and offers reclining seatbacks. Cargo space behind the second row of seats is 31.6 cubic feet and expands to 64 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. Towing capacity for the vehicle is 3,500 pounds. Its in-car technology is very user friendly with optional navigation and rear-entertainment systems.

Safety features in the Nissan Murano include stability and traction control, antilock brakes, active front head restraints, front-side airbags and side curtain airbags. In both the front-offset and side crash tests of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Nissan Murano had the highest rating of “Good”.

The 2011 Nissan Murano is an outstanding vehicle in its class given its finely-tuned suspension and responsive steering that make for a pleasant and comfortable ride, seemingly immune from bumps and potholes and able to handle almost any kind of terrain.