Big is not a word Nissan is afraid to explore.
While most vehicles aim at shedding weight and gaining fuel economy these days, Nissan is among the automakers still pushing things on the other end -- for customers who want big, bad machines who can get them where they need to go in a powerful way and maybe even tow some heavy loads on top of that.
I recently spent time in a couple big Nissan rides; first a Titan 4x4 Pro-4X full-size pickup truck, then their full-sized SUV offering -- the Nissan Armada, which are built off the same platform.
I’m back with an analysis of what I thought of these two Nissan rides and how they stack up to their respective competition.

Nissan Titan
Nissan can be very to the point with its vehicle names. The Titan is its big truck, hence the name of course.
If you’re looking for a big, roomy pickup, the Titan is aimed squarely at you.
It’s not as popular a name as some other pickups and won’t dominate truck sales, but its performance makes it worth a test drive for anyone considering a new pickup (and if you care, it’s made in America).

LOOKS
For a truck, the Titan’s cabin is pretty large, with comfy seats and plenty of room in front and back.
There is a unique positioning of door handles (lower down) that will be confusing at first, but I got used to it after a few days. I did not have a sidestep on my test vehicle, which was a little annoying.
Nissan’s inside setup is a little more basic and plasticky than some of its truck rivals. Controls are easy to find and to use, but they’re just not as fancy in terms of the materials used.
Several bed lengths are offered, depending on your needs.

ENGINE
As expected with a big truck, the engine is powerful. Your only option is a 5.6-liter V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission, which offers 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. You can choose either two- or four-wheel drive at all the trim levels.
One downside is that there is no V6 option to which you can downgrade and try to improve your fuel economy. It’s go big or go home in the engine department.
Handling was impressive overall -- even in the snow, to a point. You still had to be careful or it could get squirrelly (we’ve all seen overanxious truck drivers in a ditch in our time).
The Titan can tow up to 9,500 pounds depending on configuration. Not the
best out there, but respectable.

MPG
I averaged 13 miles per gallon -- in other words, not very good (official numbers are 12 city/17 highway and 14 combined).
But it is a big pickup truck with a powerful engine so it’s no big surprise that this is the case. The downside for Nissan here is that their truck rivals have improved in this area and have them beaten in fuel economy.

TECH, SAFETY FEATURES
Among the tech features that are offered on the Titan are upgraded audio systems, navigation system, and rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
It comes standard with front and side airbags, plus stability control, traction control, and antilock disc brakes. All but the base model offer the option of rear parking sensors and a rearview camera.

TRIM LEVELS, PRICE
There are multiple trim levels on the Titan, starting with S (base), SV (mid-level), PRO-4X (off-road focus), and SL (luxury).
The PRO-4X includes some features and tires aimed more at off-roading, and probably isn’t needed for folks who’ll be staying in the city.
Prices on the base model start as low as $29,270, but my PRO-4X test truck with a load of features came it at $45,555. The SL can go even higher if you add all available options/packages.

BOTTOM LINE
You’ll get a powerful and spacey full-size pickup that is fun to drive if you opt for the Nissan Titan, but due to its mpg numbers and lack of distinguishing features, the Titan has a tough battle if it wants to compete with the American trucks that dominate the pickup market, most of which have gotten upgrades in recent years. An upgrade is planned for 2015's model to help the Titan catch up.

Nissan Armada

Armada is a fitting name for this vehicle. It’s not just big, it’s almost tank-like; so the military imagery is merited.
I drove this vehicle during the worst Michigan winter in decades, but wasn’t afraid of what the roads held for me when I left the house each day.

LOOKS
To call the Armada “roomy” doesn’t do it justice. This is built off the same platform as the Titan, just get rid of that truck bed and add a whole bunch more seating and cargo space.
Inside, you’ll get lots of room above your head, on your sides and everywhere inbetween.
You get three rows of seating, can comfortably fit 8 people (though the back row is tight for grownups -- so save it for the kids). This is one of those large SUVs that is great for big families (and the seemingly endless parade of overhead storage bins can help reduce your clutter in the car).
One thing worth noting is that, when fully occupied, there is less storage space in back than some other large SUVs offer. But if that back row isn’t occupied you can expand the available space. There are minor quirks, like the unique door handle position (also on the Titan) that takes getting used to. This vehicle, however, does have a sidestep to help you get in.
Be careful finding a parking spot though. With something this large, you won’t fit everywhere.

ENGINE
The 5.6-liter, V8 engine was the same one the Titan had -- offering 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. It can also tow 9,100 pounds, so if you need to bring a boat or something else hefty on vacation it can handle it.
During my time in the Armada, the vehicle handled very well in the snow, as long as you weren’t overly aggressive. Handlingwise, it’s not the best ride I’ve had in a large SUV, but it wasn’t overly bumpy or uncomfortable.
You have the option of rear wheel drive or four-wheel drive versions of the Armada, but it’s wise to go the four-wheel route, as it definitely came in handy during rough weather.

MPG
I was not expecting this to be a good number, and it lived up to those meager expectations, getting a pretty terrible 13 miles per gallon during my time with the car (well, to be fair, 13.1). The official numbers are 12 city/18 highway and 14 combined.
This is nothing to be exciting about and will definitely drain your wallet. But it comes with the territory with a vehicle this large and an engine this powerful. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, but the cost of gas will definitely scare off some potential buyers, as there are other SUVs of this size that get a little better mpg numbers.

TECH
There are a whole lot of buttons on the front console of the Armada -- probably too many -- but after a little while in the vehicle it’s easy for a tech-savvy person to figure out what does what, and much of it can be done via voice commands anyway (and that’s a safer way to go).
Bluetooth connectivity is standard. Navigation and heated seats are optional. You also get USB connections if you want to keep your electronics plugged in.
Among safety features are antilock brakes, traction and stability control, a full complement of airbags, and you get standard rear parking sensors. Rearview camera is optional on base model, but standard if you upgrade past the base.

PRICE
You have several price levels on the Armada, depending on trim levels.
The base SV version begins at $37,240; this model includes sidesteps, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors.
A bump up to the SL trim level has a starting price of $42,330; which upgrades to 20-inch wheels, auto-leveling rear suspension, and adds a tow package, heated front seats and leather seats
Finally, the Platinum level (which I tested) starts at $49,610 and features front parking sensors, a sunroof, power-folding mirrors, heated rear seats and steering wheel, driver memory functions, a DVD entertainment system and a navigation system with music storage.
My test vehicle, a Platinum model with upgrades, came it at $53,595.

BOTTOM LINE
The cost of gas and the overall price will cause many people to avoid taking home something like the Armada, even if they need a large SUV.
But if you’re not focused on those concerns, and instead are on the hunt for a large vehicle to haul a large brood around and do so with large amounts of power under the hood, the Armada is a vehicle you’ll find to your liking.
If you don’t need all the power and towing capacity the Armada provides, you have a lot of crossover SUV options that are smaller and better on gas mileage (including Nissan’s own Pathfinder).