Road Test: Chevrolet Tahoe LT vs. Dodge Durango vs. Ford Expedition vs. Nissan Armada vs. Toyota Sequoia
We also question the design and placement of the Dodge's running boards, which aren't really needed. Using them only muddies your pant leg and makes ingress/egress more difficult. With its step-in height of 21.8 inches, most passengers can easily get in or out without assistance. Looking outward, the A-pillar obstructs a good portion of the front three-quarter view, and taller drivers complained about the B-pillar placed in the driver's direct side vista. Rearward visibility is good with large potter mirrors, and a fairly clear panorama can be seen out the aft port hole.
Engineering Spaces
After years of driving buzzy four-bangers and revvy V-6s, hearing a throaty rumble emanating from the cowl of a Nissan is unusual, but welcome. Credit the Nissan engineers who did their homework: This is one V-8 that pulls long and hard throughout the entire powerband, making it the best engine in this segment.
During our day of track testing, we expected the Durango to leave the competition in its wake, especially with its 30 extra ponies over the Armada. But the nearly 200-pound-heavier Nissan throttled a 7.1-second pull to 60 mph and took the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 88.6 mph, beating the Dodge by nearly a second to 60, and was a half second and 1 mph faster in the quarter mile. In our acceleration trials, the Armada effectively smoked the competition.
Nissan Armada Engine
Nissan Armada Interior
We were also impressed with Nissan's five-speed automatic transmission; It's a smooth operator around town, yet shifts with precision when the throttle is used aggressively. We liked the quick response time between gear-shifter selection and transmission engagement, something anyone will appreciate while descending a grade with a trailer attached to the stern.
Although the Armada may have been captain of the acceleration wars, the Durango is certainly the first mate, and its low-pitched growl lets the world know it means business. With a 0-to-60 time of 8.0 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 15.8 seconds at 87.7 mph, our chief tester noted the Durango sounded faster than it felt through the traps. Like its predecessor, this Hemi has a nice high-performance feel (and sound) at idle. Dodge's Hemi comes at an added cost, especially at the fuel pumps. It posted the worst fuel economy of the test with a 12.0 mpg average on the preferred midgrade fuel. Dodge notes regular is acceptable.
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