Tougher and more Refined
Recently, Nissan cobbled together a sampling of its 2008 four-wheel-drive (4WD) brutes for the press to look over and tire kick. Showing no reticence, Nissan boldly chose a mix of on-and-off road stints to allow the attendant journalists plenty of terrain diversity in assessing the three examples of V8-powered 4WD Nissans.
Titan
For 2008, the skookum Titan pickup acquires a revised instrument panel and new, higher-grade interior materials and finishes. Under-the-hood installations remain the same for '08, however larger rear disc brakes and a recalibrated suspension setup nets an increased payload capacity.
Augmenting the Titan lineup for 2008 is the PRO-4X King Cab model, which is oriented toward off-road sport. The vehicle sports a body-coloured grille and body-coloured accent trim along with black, protective wheel arches. An electronic, locking rear differential strengthens the truck's off-road ability.
Not being one to go small, I grabbed the biggest of the Titans--a long wheelbase, long box, Crew Cab--for a run through the off-road portion of the test route. At 2,210 mm (87") in length, this unit's bed is the longest in the crew cab segment but you wouldn't know it behind the wheel.
The 6,204 mm (244.3") overall length of the big rig was easily maneuvered through the constrictive run among the trees and dirt that had been mapped out. The Titan's off-road course was the more challenging of the two courses through the bush. Of particular interest was the ability of the hulking rig to tackle an extremely steep, heavily-rutted hillclimb mid-point in the loop.
With great trepidation, I aimed the Titan's hood for the sky and laid into the 317 horsepower of the 5.6-litre, 32-valve DOHC V8 burbling beneath the hood. With no hesitation and little bucking, the Titan scratched and clawed its way to the top, without excessive jarring or bottoming-out. Throughout, the Titan proved to be a solid, gutsy, highly-refined 4WD big-boy truck.
Armada
The Armada is Nissan's full-size SUV, equipped with third-row seating. It of course is V8-powered, using the same drivetrain as the Titan. In addition to its splendid level of passenger comfort and top-of-the-line refinement, the Armada is also an accomplished workhorse. Its maximum towing capacity of 4,082 kg (9,000 lbs) secures it first place among those in the full-size SUV segment.
Recently, Nissan cobbled together a sampling of its 2008 four-wheel-drive (4WD) brutes for the press to look over and tire kick. Showing no reticence, Nissan boldly chose a mix of on-and-off road stints to allow the attendant journalists plenty of terrain diversity in assessing the three examples of V8-powered 4WD Nissans.
 |
| 2008 Nissan Titan gets the extra-long treatment. |
Titan
For 2008, the skookum Titan pickup acquires a revised instrument panel and new, higher-grade interior materials and finishes. Under-the-hood installations remain the same for '08, however larger rear disc brakes and a recalibrated suspension setup nets an increased payload capacity.
Augmenting the Titan lineup for 2008 is the PRO-4X King Cab model, which is oriented toward off-road sport. The vehicle sports a body-coloured grille and body-coloured accent trim along with black, protective wheel arches. An electronic, locking rear differential strengthens the truck's off-road ability.
Not being one to go small, I grabbed the biggest of the Titans--a long wheelbase, long box, Crew Cab--for a run through the off-road portion of the test route. At 2,210 mm (87") in length, this unit's bed is the longest in the crew cab segment but you wouldn't know it behind the wheel.
The 6,204 mm (244.3") overall length of the big rig was easily maneuvered through the constrictive run among the trees and dirt that had been mapped out. The Titan's off-road course was the more challenging of the two courses through the bush. Of particular interest was the ability of the hulking rig to tackle an extremely steep, heavily-rutted hillclimb mid-point in the loop.
With great trepidation, I aimed the Titan's hood for the sky and laid into the 317 horsepower of the 5.6-litre, 32-valve DOHC V8 burbling beneath the hood. With no hesitation and little bucking, the Titan scratched and clawed its way to the top, without excessive jarring or bottoming-out. Throughout, the Titan proved to be a solid, gutsy, highly-refined 4WD big-boy truck.
Armada
The Armada is Nissan's full-size SUV, equipped with third-row seating. It of course is V8-powered, using the same drivetrain as the Titan. In addition to its splendid level of passenger comfort and top-of-the-line refinement, the Armada is also an accomplished workhorse. Its maximum towing capacity of 4,082 kg (9,000 lbs) secures it first place among those in the full-size SUV segment.
 |
| 2008 Nissan Armada gets more interior attention than exterior. |