The first generation Nissan Armada appeared in showrooms in 2004 as a large sports utility vehicle. The Armada was based on the Titan pickup truck. The Armada was powered by a V8 engine with 305 horsepower and came with a five speed automatic transmission. The Armada seats up to eight passengers and has three rows of seats. The last two rows can fold flush to the floor. The Armada came in three models; the SE, the SE Off-Road, and the LE model. It came equipped with curtain airbags to cover passengers seated in all three rows, side airbags for passengers seated in the front, optional leather seats for the SE model but standard for the other models. The Armada came with either rear wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. The SE Off-Road came equipped with skid plates, special shock absorbers, and 17-inch tires. The SE and SE Off-Road models have second and third row bench seats with the capacity to seat eight passengers. A navigation system and a DVD entertainment system are options for the Armada. In 2005, a rear view camera was the only addition to the Armada. In 2007, the engine was increased to 317 horsepower.

In 2008, the Nissan Armada will come in two models; the SE and the LE. A 5.6-Liter V8 engine with 317 horsepower powers both models. They also are equipped with a five speed automatic transmission and available in either two or four-wheel drive. The SE model that is the base model can seat eight passengers. It is equipped with 18-inch tires and all accessories are fully powered as well as the driver's seat. The music system has a CD player with eight speakers and a jack to play MP3 music. The pedals are power adjustable and the rearview mirror dims the lights of traffic automatically. The LE model has keyless capability to start the engine as well as 20-inch tires. It is also equipped with a rearview monitor, leather seats, heated front seats, captain's chairs in the second row and a music system with 265-watt satellite radio with 10 speakers.