"More wagonlike, yet with generous passenger space" versus the SRX, says Jeff Bartlett. "Clear, easy-to-access controls flanked by faux wood and brushed-metal trim give a feature-rich, luxurious feel."
Nissan designed the Armada to be capacious, and the monster doesn't disappoint. "Forty-thousand dollars gets you a strong V-8, five forward gears, a huge back seat, and 0 to 60 in seven seconds," notes Brian Vance. Cargo volume is 19.5 cubic feet behind the third row; flip down both the second and third rows, and you have 96.9 cubic feet of hauling space. Several staffers liked the interior styling, with silver-on-gray colors in our tester. But others found it a bit stark for an estimated as-tested price in the low $40s.
"Unlike the Murano, it reverts to Nissan's practice of cutting cost out of the interior," says Todd Lassa.
The Murano impresses with its rich, optional leather upholstery and an interior design that matches the unusual look of the exterior. "Outstanding shapes, colors, and materials," Sessions says. "Modern, yet not jarring. Real aluminum. Parchment-color gauges."
Jack Keebler disagrees. "It has Halloween gauge faces," he says. "Not my taste." And several staffers criticize the oddly shaped rear-quarter window for diminishing outward visibility. Still, most agree the Murano has an Infiniti-like interior, but also for an Infiniti-size price.
As for the real Infiniti, the FX's interior will look familiar to anyone acquainted with its platformmate G35, with power seat controls mounted next to the driver's right leg. The contrasting colors are bolder compared with the relatively understated G35. Bimmerphiles will feel at home in the X3, with its shades of gray and muted leather grains and plastics. Two problems stand out, however: a strange dot pattern on the aluminum accent trim and a rather hard rear seat.