WASHINGTON — Trucks are a big money-maker, and Nissan has been making them for decades, but recently they haven’t been as popular as they could be. Nissan’s last light-duty truck, the Titan, was behind the sales leaders from the big three and Toyota, so Nissan did something new with this one to get back in the game.
For the redesign, Nissan introduced an XD model that slots between popular light-duty trucks such as the Ford F-150 and the HD trucks. There will also be a regular Titan. The larger XD has two V8 engines, one gas and a Cummins turbo diesel. I spent a week with the diesel SL trim level, which is priced at $56,500 — less than some light duty trucks I’ve tested.
The diesel engine has 310 hp and 555 foot-pounds of torque, but it doesn’t seem as fast as the GMC HD I drove a few years back. It has no problem hauling a bed full of tree limbs or the whole family, though. That turbo diesel sounds and feels good. The six-speed automatic was caught in the wrong gear once or twice, but for the most part it was smooth.
Much of that empty-bed bounce is kept in check, but there is a little over bigger bumps. When it’s loaded, the ride is very smooth over all surfaces. This is a large truck, so think a little smaller than a heavy-duty truck. You take up most of a lane, and parking in smaller spaces is mostly out of the question. Its long length means it’s also not the easiest to park in garages. There are large mirrors, though, and after a few miles you get used to the size.
The interior is an improvement for Nissan with better-looking and -feeling materials. The SL trim level comes with heated leather captain’s chairs, and the rear bench seat is large and wide with no problem fitting three adults. The seats have good comfort and there’s a lot of storage; the rear seat cushion folds up and there are locked storage areas under the floor. I wished for a flat floor in the rear to make loading larger things easier.
The voice recognition NAV works well. Even if you don’t use the voice controls, the manual ones are pretty easy to use, too. I like that it has an integrated goose neck hitch as well the usual rear hitch. It makes it easy to tow a variety of trailers, and the brake controller is a nice standard feature.
Outside, the Nissan Titan XD looks more like a tough truck than before. There’s lots of chrome; a large chrome grill stands out. The headlights and turn signal housing are also large and help break up the look of the grill. Stylish 20-inch wheels help fill out the wheel wells while big doors and long running boards help the entrance into the cab. The running boards extend to the bed to aid in loading — a nice touch. Some features of the bed include a power outlet, adjustable tie-downs and LED under-rail lighting.
The 2016 Nissan Titan XD is a solid redo and a bit of an innovation, with a nice size slot between light and heavy duty and with prices that won’t break the bank. With the choice of a diesel or gas engine, this large truck might just help Nissan gain some new truck buyers.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
