2018 Nissan Armada and Titan

Nissan’s Armada and Titan trucks are seriously tough customers.

by Isaac Bouchard

There ain’t no justice, abbreviated as “Tanj” by a group of sci-fi authors through the latter 20^th century, was meant to convey their characters’ belief in a cold, indifferent universe that took little notice of the good deeds, hard work or excellence of mere individuals. In some ways this concept could also be applied to the different perception that Nissan and Toyota trucks receive in the US market.

In many respects, the Nissan Titan is better than the Toyota Tundra, and the Armada is clearly superior to the Toyota Sequoia—and even the haloed Land Cruiser in some ways. Both Nissans are newer designs, with chassis that combine decent ride quality with good steering and handling in ways the Toyotas simply do not.

They also generally come equipped much better, cost less, appear to be built as well—or better—and based on what I have seen, hold together as well. This last point is especially important, since much of the incredible resale value the Toyotas exhibit is down to the perception that they never break.

But all vehicles have their issues as they age, and Toyotas are not immune, with certain endemic problems showing up on the Tundra and Sequoia as they reach higher mileage. And while the Armada and Titan aren’t indestructible either, they certainly are tough machines that make good long-term sense.

In particular, the Armada really is an incredible SUV, with a platform based on the Patrol, a vehicle that has shown its astonishing fitness in the rough and tumble of undeveloped countries across the globe, just as Toyota has with the Land Cruiser, a vehicle that sells for over $10,000 more yet isn’t as nice to drive or as practical in many ways.

Where the Nissan has a fold-flat third row, the ‘Cruiser has non-removable jump seats. Where the Nissan turns and stops with modern-day precision, both the Toyota fullsize SUVs feel like throwbacks to an earlier age of vehicle dynamics. When it comes to actual pickup truck usage, the Titan’s cargo bed is quite amazing, with all kinds of practical touches, such as the flexible Utili-track system, LED under-rail bed lighting, and the extendable bed step, which makes it much easier for those of us who are shorter of stature or old enough to be less flexible, to climb in and out.

The release of the KingCab version of the Titan meanwhile makes for a truck with all the bed length one could want without making urban parking a nightmare. And the cab is still commodious enough to be a good choice for many. That one can equip the offroad-oriented Pro-4X with such features as heated and ventilated seats with memory, which moves the driver’s seat and the powered steering wheel to the perfect position, is true luxury, and something not even offered in a Tundra.

On the tech front, Nissan pioneered many safety systems we now find throughout the automotive landscape, including birds’ eye view cameras and adaptive cruise control; while Toyota now offers such, the Nissan versions are more thoroughly sorted and work in a more harmonious manner.

Both Armada and Titan are powered by the terrific 5.6-liter “Endurance” V8 engine, whose 390 horses and stout 394lb-ft of torque are a good match for Toyota’s 5.7-liter engine. The Nissan’s seven-speed transmissions afford one more ratio than that in the Toyotas, too, meaning acceleration, towing (8,500lbs for the Armada and up to 9,400lbs for the Titan) and fuel usage are at least as good.

Braking power and fade-resistance are also excellent. One other item that bears mention is that you can get real, full-time all-wheel drive on the two Nissans, which makes dealing with mixed winter conditions on the Front Range much easier than what is afforded by the old fashioned, part-time only Toyota setup that is standard in the Sequoia and the only choice in the Tundra.

Both the Nissan trucks and the Toyotas lease well too—and for significantly less than what a Chevy or Ford does. As the pricing on pickups and SUVs climbs into the stratosphere, this becomes more and more important. Combining more comfort, better technology and superior driving dynamics with the legendary toughness of Toyota should help Nissan continue to increase their market percentage, and, perhaps some day in the not too far future, garner the kind of kudos and respect they deserve.

EPA ratings: Armada 13/18/15mpg; Titan 15/20/17mpg

0-60mph: Armada 5.9sec; Titan 6.4sec

Price as tested: Armada $66,835; Titan $50,720

Here is what Nissan has to say about the Armada and Titan.

4 Stars Armada

4 Stars Titan

Contact Isaac Bouchard for help saving time, money and hassle when buying or leasing one at [email protected]