Big and tall, tough and reliable, not to mention loaded with standard features, the 2010 Nissan Armada brings a lot to the table. This eight-passenger, five-door, full-size SUV is offered in three trim levels, the base SE, mid-level Titanium, and high-end Platinum. All three trims are available with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), and all three are equipped with a 5.6-liter V8, in either a standard-fuel or Flex-Fuel variation. Space is plentiful in the 2010 Armada, including 97 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded down.

The standard 5.6-liter V8, in both regular-gas and Flex-Fuel versions, is offered with a five-speed automatic transmission featuring a tow/haul mode, and this combination is capable of 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Able to tow up to 9,100 pounds and 9,000 pounds, RWD and 4WD respectively, each drivetrain delivers a wallet-thumping 12/18 mpg. Additionally, the 2010 Nissan Armada 4WD trims feature auto-locking hubs, electronic hi-lo gear selection, and a mechanical limited-slip center differential.

Standard appearance, comfort, and convenience features for the 2010 Nissan Armada base SE include a self-leveling suspension system, 18-inch alloy wheels, step-up running boards, a roof rack, cloth power front bucket seats, eight-passenger seating, a fold-flat passenger seat, split-folding rear seats, power doors, windows, and mirrors, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a Bose Premium Sound system offering a 6-CD changer, satellite radio, 265 watts, 10 GB of music storage, and eight speakers, and Bluetooth hands-free communications technology. The 2010 Armada Titanium trim level adds 20-inch wheels, leather upholstery and trim, and keyless ignition, while both the SE and Titanium trims offer available rear-seat DVD entertainment, a power moonroof, and a touch-screen, voice-activated DVD navigation system with real-time traffic alerts via HD satellite radio. These options are standard equipment on the 2010 Armada Platinum trim, with the Platinum also offering a rear back-up camera, power liftgate, and front seat/outside mirror/steering wheel memory settings.

Safety hasn’t been overlooked in the 2010 Nissan Armada, which includes such standard offerings as four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, dual front side-mounted airbags, front rear, and third-row head curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, a remote anti-theft alarm, front fog/driving lights, and dusk-sensing headlights, with the Platinum trim featuring outside-mirror-integrated turn-signal lights.

While a few issues plague owners of the 2009 Nissan Armada, such as poor gas mileage, cramped third-row seating, and its parking-garage-defying height, most agree that the Nissan Armada is a performance-oriented, powerful, comfortable, roomy, feature-laden SUV that’s long on value and reliability.