[redzed]

It's hard to argue with the sub-$28,000 MSRP of the Pathfinder XE 4X4 (unless you're looking at Nissan's own Titan) but it strikes me that pricier Pathfinder SE Offroad and LE models fall too close to the pricing of the industry leading pricing of the Armada SE.

Having said that, I can honestly say that the Pathfinder has leapfrogged Toyota's 4Runner and the rest of the mid-sized SUV class.

 

[Big O]

I think they should of gave the Nissan Path more HP and TQ Or delete it out of the system, and Give different engine options and trims to the Pathfinder Armada to lower the price. The X-tera could be the lead Mid-size suv for Nissan.

But i think the name Pathfinder and what it stand for is what keeps it alive, you say Armada and they say what is that and who makes it.

 

[adjmcloon]

I Like it

I think they pretty much hit the mark. The styling is very cool, and it still looks like a pathfinder. Most power in it's class, and that smooth Nissan tranny. I'd say it's win/win!

 

[A1ex]

Pathfinder isn't really any slower than the 'Mada.

divide the weight by the lbs ft of torque, and then do the same calculation for hp for both vehicles. tells you how many pounds there are for every hp and lb-ft of torque. Which is a pretty reliable indication of performance to compare any vehicle against.

Pathfinder comes ahead on HP, Mada on torque. Which tells you they're pretty evenly matched - you'd just have to use the revs a little more on the Pathfinder to keep up. 'Mada has a little more low end grunt, but runs out of breath a little most in the higher revs.

Mada is 1000 lbs heavier than the Pathfinder - almost 1/3rd heaver, so the fact that the weight cancels out the extra power shouldn't come as a big surprise.

 

[GUAM PATH]

Pathfinders rule

Last week just for fun i raced a Titan and won. I think the Pathfinders are faster and nicer than the Armada for that we would have to see. I chose the pathfinder over the Armada cuz for size and i felt it could better suffice my needs. So far it has by far. People always mistake my Pathfinder for an Armada at first. Most agree that its nicer too. But thats a matter of opinion. I also sounded off my Path agains an Armada running 12 JLW7 with the same amp as mine. Mine sounded better and im only running 2 12" JL W6. See the pathfinder even sounds better.
lol
Much love Armada owners

 

[Mike Up]

Pathfinder isn't really any slower than the 'Mada.

divide the weight by the lbs ft of torque, and then do the same calculation for hp for both vehicles. tells you how many pounds there are for every hp and lb-ft of torque. Which is a pretty reliable indication of performance to compare any vehicle against.

Pathfinder comes ahead on HP, Mada on torque. Which tells you they're pretty evenly matched - you'd just have to use the revs a little more on the Pathfinder to keep up. 'Mada has a little more low end grunt, but runs out of breath a little most in the higher revs.

Mada is 1000 lbs heavier than the Pathfinder - almost 1/3rd heaver, so the fact that the weight cancels out the extra power shouldn't come as a big surprise.

I was just going to respond to that with the same answer, thanks for copying my thought.

BTW, here's a post I made with this thought in mind with the Titan vs. Frontier at TitanTalk.com

Going by Car and Drivers Titan and Pathfinder performance, My Titan would be as slow as Pathfinder because I added ~150 lbs of accessories as hitch, tonneau cover, and side steps. Without those, Car and Driver's test was 7.3 sec. to 60 mph and 15.7 sec. to the 1/4 mile. The Pathfinder was 7.5 sec. to 60 mph and 15.9 sec. to the 1/4 mile. Like I said, add the additional weight I had to the Titan and they're about the same performance. Now the Armada is actually 350 lbs heavier than the Titan so it's obvious it'll be slower than the Pathfinder even though it will have a better torque output.

As far as the looks, I really disliked the Armada. It looked like 2 vehicles slapped together. I did however love the looks of the Titan.

The Pathfinder to me, looks more tough. It looks more of an Off Roader where the Armada looks more of a tow vehicle. I love the masculine design of the Pathfinder. If they would had kept the Armada with straight lines as the Titan, I would had liked it as well.


Have a good one.

 

[92TripleBlack]

I think it is what it should be. A performance option would be nice, like the SRT Grand Cherokee, but isn't necessary. Nissan is a business after all.

 

[MCmada]

I personally think the Pathfinder's exterior is far too conservative. Nissan should have made its roofline and rear more like the Armada's so it would stand out more. The engine is just OK with 270 HP. Maybe a new engine that is a bit bigger and stronger would benefit it. Other than that I like it. The interior is nice but, I find it too cramped.

 

[razzlee]

Now the Armada is actually 350 lbs heavier than the Titan so it's obvious it'll be slower than the Pathfinder even though it will have a better torque output.

As far as the looks, I really disliked the Armada. It looked like 2 vehicles slapped together. I did however love the looks of the Titan.

1) correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the stock Armada quicker than the stock Titan? Also, I think I read one of the uprev posts that mentioned that the Armada was tuned more aggressively than the Titan, at the factory, to balance out the weight dif.

2) which two vehicles? the Titan and...? They were released at the same time so I don't think the Armada was an after thought. I'm cool with you not liking the looks of the mada, I'm just curious about this comment.

3) I think the looks of the pathfinder are right on the money. I don't look at it and think conservative. I look at the entire jeep line-up and think conservative. Nissan has got it goin' on and I'm always supprised that the rest of the world doesn't see it. It keeps the prices low I guess, so that's cool.

 

[Mike Up]

1) correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the stock Armada quicker than the stock Titan? Also, I think I read one of the uprev posts that mentioned that the Armada was tuned more aggressively than the Titan, at the factory, to balance out the weight dif.

2) which two vehicles? the Titan and...? They were released at the same time so I don't think the Armada was an after thought. I'm cool with you not liking the looks of the mada, I'm just curious about this comment.

3) I think the looks of the pathfinder are right on the money. I don't look at it and think conservative. I look at the entire jeep line-up and think conservative. Nissan has got it goin' on and I'm always supprised that the rest of the world doesn't see it. It keeps the prices low I guess, so that's cool.

The Armada is the same tuning. The Armada is significantly heavier. Nissan re-rated their performance as the new standard came out and the Titan and Armada are rated the same.

Several publications have rated the Pathy a few tenths of a second slower than the Titan in stock form. The trouble for the Titan is that it lacks in stock form compared to the Pathy. It lacks side steps, receiver hitch, bedliner, and bed cover (tonneau/lid/topper). The Pathy doesn't need anything more to be fully functional compared to the Titan I had. When the weight is added to the additions, it equals the performance.

Now having had both, the Pathy does better performance wise from a highway or town road speed than the Titan. It's power is tuned better for road way speeds. The Titan is tuned better for grunt off the starting line. The Titan has better torque ratio but it just doesn't get up and go once going like the Pathy. The Pathy had good torque for towing with it's 4.0L engine but has better HP ratio than Torque where the opposite is true for the Titan. The Titan and Armada are geared more for heavier loads.

I've only read of one test with the Armada and it was timed faster than the Titan but that was only one test compared to the several I've read for the Titan and Pathy. Since the Armada doesn't need any additional items as the Titan does for functionality, I'd have to believe it offers the same performance as the Pathy but strong in off line performance and weaker with road performance as I found with the Titan and Pathy.

Regardless, they all offer great performance.

What I really didn't like in design on the Armada was the arc in the roofline. I still am in disbelief that they went so radical on that design. I simply don't like it. It looks to pieced together and the lines don't flow for a simplistic, and natural look. Some like this unorthodox design, I hate it. It wouldn't keep me from buying it as nothing is designed perfect as individual tastes are different. The Pathy is as perfect to a design as I like. I also like the old 4Runners and not so much the newer ones. Loved my 2000 Xterra but have mixed feeling on the looks of the new Xterra. Still love the look of the Titan if only they'd let it grow up and get at least a 6.5' bed on the crew cab. 8' bed would be excellent and have it compete with the 1/2 ton 1500 Dodge Ram Crew Cab, 8' bed version.

Have a good one.

 

[Toadazzoffa]

What I really didn't like in design on the Armada was the arc in the roofline. I still am in disbelief that they went so radical on that design. I simply don't like it. It looks to pieced together and the lines don't flow for a simplistic, and natural look. Some like this unorthodox design, I hate it. It wouldn't keep me from buying it as nothing is designed perfect as individual tastes are different. The Pathy is as perfect to a design as I like. I also like the old 4Runners and not so much the newer ones. Loved my 2000 Xterra but have mixed feeling on the looks of the new Xterra. Still love the look of the Titan if only they'd let it grow up and get at least a 6.5' bed on the crew cab. 8' bed would be excellent and have it compete with the 1/2 ton 1500 Dodge Ram Crew Cab, 8' bed version.

Have a good one.

That arc you speak of is one of the main reasons I love the Armada so much. That, and the "tapering" if you will, of the rear above the waiseline behind the C-pillars. It gives the affect that the rear is much smaller than it actually is. Couple that with the widened rear fenders gives it a "Bulldog" appearence (big head, little butt). After years of seeing shoe boxes with an engine compartment slapped on the front (suburban, yukon, blazer, expedition), I liked that departure from the norm. Not to mention, take away the arc and it's a bigger pathfinder with somewhat larger accents (grill, bumper). I don't think the Armada is all that much of a departure (definitely not "RADICAL") from the NEW Pathfinder - they even used the doorhandles on the C-pillar like the Pathfinder.

..."Pathfinder-Armada"...

 

[ArmadaThunder]

Good discussion! I have owned a Toyota 4Runner and a Nissan Pathfinder and IMHO opinion there are many differences in the two. If you're looking at pure power and speed, the Pathfinder would get the nod. My wife and I loved our 4Runner and went to purchase another because we needed the 3rd row seat. We were all set to buy it until we saw the 3rd row seat. The 3rd row seat in the 4Runner hangs on the side of the roof and creates terrible blind spots and makes putting a stroller in the back near impossible. This was the ONLY reason that we purchased the Pathfinder.

The 4Runner is more refined, has a better build, and is more comfortable than the pathfinder. Not to mention that the engine is much quieter than the Pathfinder's is. Kids can actually reach the outside door handles on the 4Runner... don't even get me started on the outside door handles on the Pathfinder.

The interior in the 4Runner looks posh while the interior of the Pathfinder is quite bland without a lot of creativity put into it. As far as looks go, that is a matter of opinion, but both the wife and I preferred the 4Runner by a mile. I wish that Nissan would have had an interior design somewhere between the 4Runner & Highlander because those are both pretty cool designs.

When we traded away our 06 Pathfinder last week for the Armada, neither one of us shed a tear. That was not the case when we sold our 2000 4Runner! Don't get me wrong, the Pathfinder is a capable vehicle and had very few problems in the two years that we owned it. The Pathfinder was just a bland vehicle that you really never got excited about driving. It wasn't ugly, but it wasn't beautiful either. It was indeed one of the most uncomfortable vehicles that I've ever set in. It doesn't even compare in comfort to my Titan or the New Armada. We could never have taken it on a long drive or vacation. When we did... we always drove the Titan, which is a dream to drive long distances in, aside from the gas mileage which I found decent in a truck with type of power.

Quite frankly, I would not own another Pathfinder. But, if you're on a budget and need a mid-size SUV with a capable 3rd seat... it is OK. However, their are better choices IMHO, and if we would have had it to do over again, we would have purchased the Toyota Highlander. Hopefully, the Nissan Murano will one day compete with the Highlander and have an optional 3rd row seat!?

 

[JL1RYH]

Armada Thuder,

Do you feel any differences in driving performance between your new Armada and your 06 Pathfinder? I am just curious since both share F-Alpha platform.
When it comes to interior, noboy beats Toyota. Nissan has been struggling for more than half century. But Nissan is much more focused on fun to drive rather than sophisticated interior design.

 

[BlakSpyda]

You guys have really awakened the dead on this post!

Hahahahaha!​

 

[spta97]

I always prefered the old styling of the Pathfinder rather than the new - until I saw it done on the Armada.

IMO the Armada looks much meaner and tougher and it makes the Pathfinder look like a girly-man.

I get how Armada leveraged the Pathfinder name, but since we have dropped the Pathfinder and become "Armada" I think it is time to separate the vehicles designes as a well. The box look of the Armada works much better due to it's larger size so I say the Pathfinder should get a redesign.

 

[ArmadaThunder]

Armada Thuder,

Do you feel any differences in driving performance between your new Armada and your 06 Pathfinder? I am just curious since both share F-Alpha platform.
When it comes to interior, noboy beats Toyota. Nissan has been struggling for more than half century. But Nissan is much more focused on fun to drive rather than sophisticated interior design.

Well... I have only owned the Armada for a week but I test drove several of them over a two month span, so my answer is solely based on that, plus our Pathfinder had cloth seats and our Armada has the leather seats. so I'm sure that makes some difference as well.

The drive seems to be much tighter and the Armada seems to take rough roads slightly better. That might have to do with the tires more than anything though? Believe it or not, I find that the Mada handles better IMHO. The biggest difference to me is road and engine noise. They were very apparent on the Pathfinder and very subtle in the Mada. It makes a huge difference in your enjoyment of the vehicle.

 

[Pops]

Good info!!! I think the smothness over rough roads is more due to the heavier frame combined with a longer wheelbase kinda like comparing a Frontier to a Titan. When it starts to get bad in the Mada, it's time to replace the front shocks with something more durable like Bilstein.

 

[JL1RYH]

ArmadaThunder,

Thank you for your impression. Glad to hear that you feel better on Armada. Enjoy your ride.