It’s been a long time since Nissan has done anything with the , but it’s now coming on strong. Having introduced the oversized last year, it follows up for 2017 with a regular version.
The new truck arrives in a gradual roll-out, starting with the Crew Cab and its 5.6-litre V8 engine with four-wheel drive. Nissan expects that to be the volume seller,
The XD and regular Titan have the same size cabs, but the XD has a longer wheelbase and stouter frame. The bigger truck is intended to wedge between the half- and three-quarter-ton truck markets, especially since Japanese automakers don’t make true heavy-duty models. The two trucks share their gasoline V8 engine, but the XD can be ordered with a 5.0-L V8 Cummins diesel that’s unavailable in the regular Titan, and it can tow to a maximum of 12,010 pounds (5,447 kilograms).
The new Nissan Pickup Crew Cab 4×4 can pull up to 9,220 pounds (4,182 kg). That’s more than the Toyota Tundra, but less than similarly configured Detroit competitors, which can go as much as 2,500 pounds more. The Titan’s payload tops out at 1,610 pounds, or 730 kilograms.\
The gas V8 engine’s displacement is the same as the previous Titan, but this new version is stronger: 390 horsepower versus 317, and 394 lb.-ft. of torque over the old model’s 385 lb.-ft. Despite the higher output, there’s a considerable improvement in fuel economy, which was always the Titan’s weak spot. The old model rated 17.2 L/100 km in combined city/highway driving, while the new one is rated at 13.4, or 14.2 for the more rugged Pro-4X off-road model. Either way, it’s a considerable cut at the pumps.
The engine builds power gradually and, while acceleration isn’t sharp, it’s smooth and linear. A seven-speed automatic transmission replaces the previous five-speed, and is a considerable improvement. The part-time four-wheel drive system includes a standard locking rear differential on the Pro-4X, along with hill descent control.
The trailering-equipped Titan models do have a neat trick up their sleeve, though: You can check all your trailer’s lights and signals by yourself, using the key fob. The warranty is pretty impressive, too. Rivals cover their trucks for three years or 60,000 km bumper-to-bumper, with most adding five-year or 100,000-kilometre powertrain coverage (GM goes up to 160,000 kilometres). But Nissan covers the Titan for virtually everything for five years or 160,000 kilometres.
Overall, the Titan is handsome on the outside and, in my well-equipped tester, very luxurious on the inside, rivalling some high-end sport-utes both in design and quality feel. But it gets pricey, and while it’s never going to grab the lion’s share of the segment, I’m guessing there are buyers who would like to add work-related options by themselves to the lower trims. As much as I like this V8, I’m looking forward to the V6 and its expected lower price to see if Nissan can turn this Titan into a true worksite wonder as well as a luxury liner.
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