Nissan Armada

How it looks when you see on the street: The sweeping proportions of the Nissan Armada are formidable. It is a vehicle named for a fleet of Spanish warships — and it lives up to its hulking name, which is a dramatic way of saying this full size SUV has truck-like qualities. This generation of the Armada fam SUV has been in production since 2017 with minor tweaks here and there.

How it makes you feel when you get in: We drove the Armada in early spring in the Northeast, that time of year where an oversized vehicle feels most cozy, as the roads are slick and messy. Inside the Armada, we felt protected and isolated from the outside world. Its not a stretch that a hefty percentage of Armada driver are probably driving kids around in this full-size SUV — which means standard safety features such as automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are appreciated. The 2023 model year adds in Amazon Alexa as a Built-in feature on most models, as well as standard Apple CarPlay capable of wireless use, and Android Auto.

How it drives: Its a smooth operator —while the V8 engine isn’t ultra powerful, its strong and sturdy in keeping with the times and the paradoxes around large SUV where gas is trying to do the most for the least. For the fuel conscious, Armada’s space and affordable price much be reconciled with the combined city and highway toll of 15 mpg.

Space for people and things: The roomy cabin is appreciated for folks that want elbow room between siblings. The small third row is suited for a family with smaller kids in row three. In fact, the kids gave this ride high marks.

What you should compare it to: Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Jeep Wagoneer.

How much does it cost: The Nissan Armada starts at $50,400 — among the most affordably priced of its class and offers a range that includes the SL Trim that starts at about $58k, and the top-of-the-line Platinum model at $66,720.