Vehicles fashioned as wagons for the Nissan line of 2006 include five nameplates. There are truck-based SUVs in three sizes with king-size Armada, mid-size Pathfinder and the compact-class Xterra. Nissan's people-hauling minivan in stylish design is called Quest, while a crossover wagon with car-like ride quality carries the tag of Murano.

The big idea behind Nissan's full-size SUV is vast room in a huge vehicle with overwhelming power. The cabin has three rows of seats with fold-flat benches on tiers two and three or optional captain's chairs in the second row. Armada rides on a platform derived from the full-size Titan truck and uses Titan's dual-cam 5.6-liter V8, which delivers 305 hp and tall torque.

Nissan outfits the SUV with two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction for three trims-- Armada SE, SE Off-Road and luxurious LE. Standard equipment for all ranges from a floor-mounted shifter stick for the five-speed automatic to a dual-zone automatic air conditioning system. Optional gear includes factory-installed equipment for satellite radio service, a sunroof package for SE Off-Road and a leather package for SE with side air bags and a Bose premium audio.

Revisions to Nissan's fun-to-drive crossover wagon include a restyled grille and chrome bumper, new wheels and aluminum roof rails. Murano rides on the front-wheel-drive (FWD) chassis of a car with high-tech hardware aboard like vehicle dynamic control (VDC) with traction control system (TCS) and Nissan's all-wheel-drive (AWD) equipment. Powertrain is a juicy dual-cam 3.5-liter V6, which delivers 245 hp through an advanced continuously variable transmission (CVT) called Xtronic.

The cabin layout pitches a pair of bolstered buckets in front flanking a large console with covered recesses to stow gear as large as a purse or laptop computer. On the second row a bench for two will hold three. The seatback splits and reclines or folds down to expand the cargo area. Murano trims out as SL and SE, with a new LCD color display added to the dash of all 2006 models and a leather package available.

Nissan's five-door wagon for the compact class works as a pure SUV that's part cushy transportation vehicle for riders and part tool box for hauling lifestyle sports paraphernalia like a load of mountain bikes, gear for camping or rock climbing, skis or kayaks. Platform and powertrain come from the Frontier pickup with 2WD traction or a part-time 4WD device with 2WD/4WD-high/4WD-low modes. The 4.0-liter V6 in Xterra achieves 265 hp with a six-speed manual shifter or five-speed electronic automatic.

Revised trim designations apply with Xterra X as the new base grade. Xterra S stocks preferred equipment, Xterra OR stands for Off-Road and brings traction choices, while Xterra SE is the top trim with a Rockford Fosgate audio kit aboard. Xterra's cabin carries twin front bucket seats and a second-row bench with split/folding seatback. The rear cargo floor is flat and made of hard vinyl for easy cleaning.