2017 Nissan Armada: Car Seat Check
CARS.COM — Nissan’s full-size Armada SUV skipped model-year 2016 and is back for 2017 with features that should make this rugged truck appeal more to families, like a more inviting interior and additional safety features. However, the Armada is not without a few quirks. Although there’s plenty of legroom for car seats on the second-row bench, we had a little trouble with the top tether anchors, essential to use when installing forward-facing convertible seats.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two, but three might fit depending on the type of seat.
How many car seats fit in the third row? Two
What We Like
- The second row’s two sets of outboard lower Latch anchors sit within slits in the leather and were easy to use.
- After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible fit well in both the second and third rows.
- In the second row, the booster fit well after we removed the head restraint. Stable buckles should make it easier for kids to buckle up independently.
What We Don’t
- The second row does not slide.
- Although the lower Latch anchors are easy to use, we downgraded the Latch system to a B because of top tether anchor issues. The second row’s three-position bench seat has has three anchors stt far down the seatback, but the middle one is hidden under a flap. Although the other two are well marked, there’s not a lot of clearance around them and connection is tough. In the third row, there are no lower Latch anchors and the sole top tether anchor sits in the lip of the cargo area, blocking cargo space when it’s in use.
- In the second row, both the rear-facing convertible and infant seat installed easily and fit well. We did not have to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate either one.
- Although the second-row seats tumble forward with ease for third-row access, the step-in is high and will be challenging for smaller kids.
- In the third row, the booster fit well after we removed the head restraint, but the buckles are on floppy bases, which could make them more difficult for kids to grasp.
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: Plenty of room. One fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.
C: Marginal room. Two fit or connection issues. Difficult to access third row when available.
D: Insufficient room. Two or more fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. To learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks, go here.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
