Nissan Titan Review

2010 Nissan Titan PRO-4X 4dr King Cab Pickup Shown

Full-size pickup trucks are about as all-American as baseball and apple pie. And traditionally, consumers interested in purchasing a full-size pickup were limited to the offerings from the domestic Big Three automakers. But in the past few years additional choices have become available. One of these is the Nissan Titan.

The Titan, introduced for 2004, was the first Japanese pickup to truly possess the attributes that buyers typically expect from a full-size truck. Manufactured at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant, it boasts dimensions and capabilities that are very similar to those of domestic full-size pickups. Though it hasn't sold as well as its rivals, the Nissan Titan can still meet the needs of many truck shoppers.

Current Nissan Titan

The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck. In terms of size, it's very similar to the trucks offered by domestic automakers, which means it provides competitive amounts of cargo and interior room. There's a fully boxed frame underneath for maximum rigidity and strength, as well as a traditional solid rear axle with leaf-spring support.

Nissan currently offers the Titan in extended-cab (King Cab) and crew-cab styles, with two bed lengths each. Buyers may also choose between standard- and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter adding 20 inches in length. The King Cab is offered with either a 6.5- or 8-foot bed, while those on the crew cab are each 1 foot shorter. The King Cab's rear-hinged doors open extra wide to aid cargo loading or a passenger's entry to the rear seats. The crew cab has four traditional doors and a larger rear seating area with more available rear legroom than the extended cab.

Each Nissan Titan body style is available in four trim levels. Similar to other Nissan products, there's the entry-level XE, the midgrade SE, off-road-focused PRO-4X and the luxury-oriented LE. The XE has a front bench seat; captain's chairs with a flow-through console are standard on the SE, PRO-4X and LE. Notable options, depending on trim, include upgraded audio systems, a navigation system, front-seat side and side curtain airbags, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and utility-enhancing cargo bed features. For those who anticipate pulling trailers, the Max Utility tow package is also available.

The PRO-4X trim level adds equipment for serious off-roaders that include Rancho shocks, a lower final-drive ratio, underbody skid plates, an electronic locking differential and 18-inch off-road wheels with aggressive off-road tires. Unique exterior and interior styling cues to differentiate the PRO-4X from the other Titan models are also included.

For power, Nissan offers only one powertrain combination: a 5.6-liter V8 connected to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V8 is rated at 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. The transmission features a tow/haul mode for when the truck is used for pulling or carrying heavy loads. For every body style and trim combination, two- or four-wheel drive is available.

In Nissan Titan reviews, our editors have found it to be powerful and capable both on- and off-road. Downsides include a lack of additional powertrain choices and the absence of a heavy-duty model. The Titan has also been outclassed by newer competitors in terms of comfort and overall design. Still, we think Nissan's Titan is worth a look.

Used Nissan Titan Models

The Titan debuted for 2004, and these earlier trucks could be a good choice for a shopper searching for a used late-model pickup. Its first couple of years, in particular, were noteworthy in that it outclassed domestic pickups in many ways. The most notable changes for the Nissan Titan came for the 2008 model year -- they included the addition of a long-wheelbase model, exterior and interior styling refreshes and new features. Models built for 2007 and earlier were available in one wheelbase length only, lacked the two different bed lengths for each body style and also had a reduced maximum payload.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.