Buying an 8 seater SUV is a large decision with many variables to consider. There are many cars from many manufacturers that will get the job done depending on the features you require as well as your price range. Three great SUVs to consider when looking for an 8 passenger vehicle are the GMC Acadia, the Nissan Armada, and the Infiniti QX56, listed from least to most expensive. This review will focus on the Nissan Armada, which is a mid-priced SUV that is heavy in the feature department.

 

The Armada has a V8 Engine, which correlates to higher power and torque but worse gas mileage. It has an engine displacement value of 5.6L/339. It also features an impressive 317 horsepower at a 5200 RPM. This is slightly higher than the V6 GMC Acadia, which has 288 horsepower at 6300 RPM, but short of the Infiniti, which has 400 horsepower at 5800 RPM. The Nissan Armada’s torque also falls between the two cars, though it is closer to the Infiniti than the GMC this time.

 

The Nissan has an Electronic Fuel Injection system, which correlates to consistent fuel delivery and reduced emissions. This is standard for 2011 vehicles, which all feature fuel injection systems that are vast improvements over the carbureted cars of the past.

 

Very important today when purchasing a vehicle, especially an 8 seat SUV, is fuel economy. SUVs perform historically poor in this category and in this case the V8 engine does not help. The Nissan Armada gets 13 miles per gallon, which is somewhat pitiful even for an SUV. On the highway, it improves to 19, but that still puts it slightly below the V8 Infiniti QX56, and significantly below the V6 GMC Acadia. Where the Nissan does come out on top however, is in fuel capacity. The Nissan has a 28 gallon tank, putting it at 6 gallons over the GMC and 2 over the Infiniti.

 

The Nissan Armada comes with a manufacturer’s limited warranty on “Bumper-to-Bumper” damage for 36,000 miles. This policy is matched by GMC but surpassed by Infiniti with a 60,000 mile warranty. Nissan also offers a 60,000 mile warranty on powertrain/drivetrain failures, which is just below the corresponding Infiniti policy and barely half of the GMC policy. GMC and Infiniti also offer roadside assistance; Nissan does not offer this complimentary feature.

 

Looking inward, the Nissan has a state-of-the-art sound system, using Music Box technology, which is voice-activated and can accommodate 6 CDs though it has its own hard drive for holding music. In the realm of safety, Nissan offers its Rear Sonar System, which is helpful for navigating tight spaces and shows you the space around you in your blind spots. The Nissan can also save mirror/seat positions depending on the driver and set them accordingly; a neat feature if more than one person will be driving the car.

 

Also in the realm of customization, the Nissan allows you to set the temperature, not just for the whole car, but for each passenger. Starting at $38,490, this is not the cheapest SUV on the market, but it is a powerful, feature-packed 8 seater SUV and might just be exactly what you need.