AUTO ; Nissan Launches the 2007 Armada LE

The 2007 Nissan Armada LE 4x4 sport utility vehicle certainly lives up to its name, offering a driving experience more akin to invading enemy territory than to merely tooling down the road.

Pulling the tank-like Armada into my driveway during a recent test drive, Motor Moter blithely rolled over a patch of snow that would have left lesser vehicles stuck in place. Patton's armies should have had it so easy.

From the outside, the mammoth Armada LE 4x4 (base price: $43,050) certainly looks combat ready.

A massive hood, bumper and grille lead past beefy doors and 18- inch alloy to a large power hatchback with a big rear wiper. Front tow hooks and a rear tow hitch come standard (the Armada can tow as much as 9,000 pounds).

This SUV's cabin is so high off of the ground that pretty much anyone this side of Robert Parish will need the vehicle's convenience running boards to step aboard.

Inside, the model offers a spacious, rugged-looking interior.

The Armada's cabin has the rectangular, no-nonsense look of a military vehicle.

But the driver's and front passenger's heated leather seats offer excellent head-room, legroom and hiproom, thanks to electric seat adjusters (eight positions for the driver and six for the passenger).

The model's dashboard features seven gauges that measure oil pressure, transmission-fluid temperature - heck, pretty much everything except how much change you've dropped between the seats.

Motor Mouth's test vehicle also came with an optional 7-inch LCD screen, part of a $4,250 "Technology Package."

This LCD controls the model's standard AM/FM/MP3/6-CD Bose stereo and dual-zone climate system. (The Technology Package adds a navigational system, XM satellite radio, a power sunroof and other upgrades.)

The Armada's 10-speaker audio system is relatively easy to operate, although the climate system's five big knobs could have better labeling showing what they do. During the Hub's recent cold snap, Moter Mouth simply pushed knobs randomly until the cabin began heating up.

In back, the Armada's second row of fold-down captain's seats offers great headroom, legroom and hiproom for two passengers, with a removable center console for stowing drinks.

Further back, the model's third-row, 60/40 split fold-down seating offers OK sideroom for two adult passengers, but cramped headroom and legroom. That said, these seats comfortably accommodate two children - perhaps three if the kids are small.

As for cargo space, the Armada can handle two medium-sizeds suitcases with all three rows of seating in use. But you can also completely fold down both the second- and third-row seats and expand cargo capacity to a massive 97 cubic feet. If THAT'S not enough space, the Armada also comes with a standard roof rack.

Nice standard Armada features include a digital compass and an electric defogger for the rear side windows. There are also 17 storage bins of various shapes and sizes, as well as eight cupholders.

On the road, the Armada's 317-horsepower V-8 engine combines with a five-speed automatic transmission and on-demand four-wheel drive to provide all of the power you'll ever need.

Braking and cornering are good, while the Armada's huge windshield and massive size provide a great "high-up" road view.

Parking is easier than expected given the Armada's large girth, thanks to the model's crisp steering and relatively aerodynamic design. The model also comes with a standard backup assistant that beeps if you're about to hit something. (Additionally, Motor Mouth's test model had an optional rearview camera, part of the $4,250 technology package.)

Acceleration is about what you'd expect in a four-wheel-drive SUV: great in the snow or ice, but a bit sluggish on dry pavement.

You can switch on the fly between two different four-wheel-drive settings ("normal" and "low"), or even to rear-wheel drive. However, Motor Mouth noticed little real difference between the different configurations.

That said, I found few real flaws with the Armada during a week- long test drive.

Other than its less-than-intuitive climate controls, the SUV's only real drawback is its huge size, which makes accessing the cabin and cargo area challenging. Of course, anyone shopping for a massive SUV will expect that.

Likewise, the Armada's big sticker price and low fuel economy won't come as a shock, either.

The EPA rates the LE 4x4 at a paltry 13 mpg/city and 18 mpg/ city. During a week of test drives, Motor Motor logged a combined 12.7 mpg city/highway mileage.

As for cost, the Armada's $43,050 base price is higher than a comparably equipped Ford Expedition Limited 4WD (which lists for about $38,715) or Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD (roughly $42,460).

However, the model is cheaper than a comparably equipped Toyota Sequoia Limited 4WD, which carries approximately a $45,660 sticker.

BOX: Test drive; Information about the 2007 Nissan Armada LE 4x4:

** Base price: $43,050

** As tested: $49,945

** Type: four-wheel drive seven-passenger SUV

** Engine: 5.6-liter V-8 engine (317 horsepower)

** Transmission: five-speed automatic

** Mileage: 13 mpg/city, 18 mpg/highway

** Built in: United States

(c) 2007 Boston Herald. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.