2016 Nissan Titan XD: Fitting In With The Big Boys
Nissan just presented its new Titan to the automotive press. Actually, it isn’t the Titan, but rather a separate model called the 2016 Titan XD. The regular Titan will be unveiled next year, probably as a 2017 model.
The folks at Nissan are well aware that their current pickup represents a negligible portion of truck sales in North America. In order to create a buzz around the new Titan XD, Nissan won’t market it as a rival to the F-150 or the F-250, but they say it slots in between these two models in terms of size and towing capacity. Apparently, that’s what customers are looking for: a pickup that can pull more than 9,000 lbs. but that isn’t as big as an F-Series Super Duty.
Like other pickup trucks, the Titan XD will be offered in several variants, although in this case, the line-up is much simpler than with other brands. Four trim levels will be available, depending on the level of luxury and features the customer wants: S, SV, SL and Platinum Reserve. An off-road version called the PRO-4X will also be offered, but it’s not as well equipped as the Platinum Reserve.
One engine, at least for now
Eventually, the Titan XD will be available with a gasoline-powered 5.0-litre V8. However, for now, Nissan relied on Cummins for its first engine here. The 5.0-litre turbo-diesel V8 sends its power to all four wheels through an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission, and develops 310 horsepower as well as 555 lb-ft of torque. Depending on cab choice, the Titan XD can tow up to 12,000 lbs. and haul up to 2,000 lbs. in its bed.
This drivetrain was clearly developed for work purposes. Under normal driving, the 555 pounds of twist aren’t entirely felt. For comparative purposes, the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 that growls under the hood of the Ram 1500 feels livelier, despite the truck being a little slower and serving up less torque at 420 lb-ft.
12,000 pounds? No sweat!
The advantage is that when the truck is loaded up or hooked up to a heavy trailer, the XD’s powertrain acts as if there wasn’t anything to haul or pull in back. Even with a 12,000-plus-lb trailer rigged to it, the Titan XD accelerates impeccably, and safely, too; when merging onto a highway, being able to quickly get up to speed is crucial.
Empty or loaded up, the Titan XD is the most comfortable pickup I’ve driven so far, despite not having an air suspension like the Ram 1500. While towing, the truck never complained, serving up all the flexibility we expect from a work truck.
The chassis feels rock-solid and its off-road capabilities are noticeably good, too. The PRO-4X is handles the trails so well that we can easily forget just how big the truck is.
Unloaded, our testing resulted in an average of 15 L/100 km in the Titan XD. However, during its work-related duties, the average climbed to 26 L/100 km, which are good numbers compared to heavy-duty pickups. Nissan hasn’t yet announced official fuel economy ratings.
Big truck, small screen
Compared to the dominant pickups on the market, the Titan XD’s cockpit lacks refinement. For example, its infotainment screen is too small. It can barely display the navigation system map, so there’s no extra room to indicate what band and song you’re listening to, the directions to take and the messages you’ve just received. Since the Titan XD is equipped with a bunch of cameras to facilitate parking and hooking up a trailer, all this info deserves a bigger-sized screen. In two or three years, this truck could receive a mid-cycle refresh, and at that time, let’s hope the dashboard will also be revised.
Nissan equipped the Titan XD with “zero gravity” seats that are among the most comfortable in the industry. While they don’t offer extraordinary lateral support, we’ll likely never feel tired after driving. They are perfect for long-distance drives.
Quite a challenge
Launching its own vehicle segment and trying to set itself apart is a risky move, but Nissan seems to have developed the right truck to complete that challenge. This new Nissan is a competent and smart choice. For the daily grind, its dimensions can be intimidating, but on the flipside, it’s a very comfortable truck.
As for pricing, it hasn’t been announced yet. The Titan XD being bigger and more work-related than the F-150, we should expect it to cost more.
- The Nissan Titan XD Triple Nickel tries to break a land speed record
- A video of the Nissan Titan XD that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show
| Test drive report | |
| Test model | N/A |
|---|---|
| Trim level | XD 4x4 King Cab |
| Price range | $58,000 |
| Price as tested | 60 000 $ |
| Warranty (basic) | 3 years/60,000 km |
| Warranty (powertrain) | 5 years/100,000 km |
| Fuel economy (city/highway/observed) | 24,0 / 12,0 / 15,0 L/100km |
| Options | N/A |
| Competitive models | N/A |
| Strong points |
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| Weak points |
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| Editor's rating | |
| Fuel economy | This Cummins engine was designed for work, not for fuel economy. That’s the compromise |
| Comfort | The “zero gravity” seats and a particularly supple suspension provides the Titan XD with a superior ride |
| Performance | Capable in working situations, we’d like to feel the 555 lb-ft of torque more in normal driving |
| Infotainment | A small screen spoils the experience, although the system includes several interesting features |
| Driving | The steering feels a little heavy at slower speeds |
| Overall | A pickup in its own segment, but objectively, a good truck |