2017 Nissan Titan XD Review

The Titan XD seats up to five or six passengers and comes in five trim levels: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. Feature highlights for the entry-level S work truck include a lockable tailgate, power windows, air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, a bench front seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, cloth and vinyl upholstery, and a 5-inch display for audio and mobile apps control.

The SV trim adds chrome exterior trim, an overhead console, upgraded instrumentation, carpeted floors, cloth upholstery, satellite radio, Siri Eyes Free and NissanConnect mobile-app integration.

The off-road-focused Pro-4X model steps up with standard four-wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, a two-speed transfer case, Bilstein shocks, a lockable rear differential, skid plates, hill descent control, LED headlights, a spray-in bedliner, a receiver hitch with a 4/7-pin wiring harness connector, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, unique cloth upholstery, dual front captain's chairs, storage space under the rear seats, a rearview camera, a 7-inch display with navigation and blind-spot monitoring.

The SL trim goes without the Pro-4X's off-road gear, building on the SV trim's feature list with 20-inch alloy wheels, running boards, a cargo-management rail system in the bed, a power-sliding rear window, parking sensors, remote ignition, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a premium audio system with expanded entertainment apps and NissanConnect emergency telematics.

At the top of the Titan XD lineup is the Platinum Reserve trim that goes all-in with a wealth of chrome trim, a trailer brake controller, premium leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a surround-view camera system.

Some features are available on supporting trims as options. The Platinum Reserve is eligible for a dual-screen rear entertainment system with two wireless headphones. The new Chrome and Texas Titan packages add a variety of cosmetic enhancements.

The diesel V8 has plenty of torque for towing and hauling, but it's not very quick. We measured a 0-to-60 mph time of 9.6 seconds, which is slower than most gas-powered V8 trucks. Passing slower traffic requires patience and planning.

The brakes are well up to the task of stopping this big, heavy truck. The pedal stroke is a little long, but that's typical for trucks. As powerful as the brakes are, they're easy to modulate. During panic stops at our test track, the Titan remained straight and controllable with minimal nosedive.

Other than the wide turning radius, we like the steering for its solid overall feel. It can be heavy at times, but it's always responsive and predictable. When off-roading, vibrations and kickback are kept in check.

For a truck with its level of towing and hauling capacity, the Titan XD has a very agreeable ride. Unlike many heavy-duty trucks that feel high-strung when empty, the XD remains compliant over bumpy roads and rarely transmits sharp impacts.

Throttle response is gradual and predictable, and the six-speed automatic transmission keeps power on tap with smooth shifts, which is especially helpful when towing and hauling up steep inclines.

The Pro-4X Titan is the only full-size off-road truck available with a diesel option. The low-end torque makes it easy to crawl over boulders and up steep hills, two things the Pro-4X can do well thanks to its low-range gearing and all-terrain tires. Its physical size is its biggest limitation.

The seats are spacious and well-shaped and offer plenty of adjustment. Side bolstering is minimal, but that makes for easy entry and exit. Rear passengers get a surprising amount of room and a reasonably comfortable bench seat.

The ride is firm but not nearly as harsh as in other heavy-duty trucks. The Pro-4X model rides better than the high-end SL and Platinum Reserve trims because its 18-inch tires and shocks do a better job of filtering out the small stuff than the 20-inch wheel and tire package.

It has some of the typical diesel engine clatter, but it's kept in check as well or better than just about every other full-size diesel truck on the market. Even with the off-road tires found on the Pro-4X, the Titan is very civilized on the highway.

Operating the dual-zone climate control is easy thanks to large knobs and buttons. The system itself does a good job of maintaining the set temperature even when the driver and front passenger dial up very different temperatures. Rear vents are a plus for passengers in back.

The smooth-acting column shifter opens up space for a simple cabin layout with large cupholders and plenty of storage space. Some switches and buttons feel small in this large cabin, as does the outdated infotainment system.

The seats are rather high, which is no surprise considering the XD is among the tallest trucks in the class. And there's no difference between the 4x2 and 4x4 models. Front doors open wider than the rear ones, and all doors have chunky grab handles.

An abundance of seat adjustments and a telescoping steering column make it easy to find your preferred driving position. The Pro-4X has standard eight-way power seats, and the optional Convenience package adds power telescoping and a driver-position memory function.

Headroom is plentiful, and there's plenty of legroom up front. There's enough legroom for adults in the backseat, although some competitors do offer a bit more room. On paper the cabin is slightly narrower than the competition, but it doesn't feel that way when you're inside.

The well-defined hood shows where the front end stops, and the view to the sides and back are reasonable. The backup camera is optional on SV models and standard on higher trims. Outside mirrors are a bit small, and the windshield header masks some overhead traffic signals, too.

Fit-and-finish is top notch, and Nissan has managed to make the Titan XD look strong without resorting to a cartoonishly overdone tough-truck theme. Exterior paint and trim are handsome on the Pro-4X and even better on the Platinum Reserve.

Flip-up rear seat cushions provide in-cab storage that is similar to that of Ram trucks. The huge center console bin with a big cubby up front also holds an adjustable cupholder insert. The glovebox and door pockets are on the small side, though.

The five-rail cargo tie-down system (optional on SV and Pro-4X; standard on SL and Platinum Reserve) is easily the best available, and it comes with a spray-in bedliner, 400-watt in-bed power outlet and LED under-rail bed lighting. Optional lockable bed boxes are also available.

The LATCH anchors for outboard rear seats are easily accessed, as are the top tether anchors behind the rear seatbacks, but it's still tricky to secure a front-facing seat. A bigger issue is the height of the cab itself; it's a reach.

Diesel versions can tow between 10,600 and 12,300 pounds, depending on trim level. By design, this is midway between light-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks. A brake controller, extendable mirrors and a gooseneck hitch are available as factory options.

The audio system sounds good and is fairly easy to operate. The touchscreen, however, is small and feels a generation behind due to its lower-resolution graphics and lack of detail in the navigation maps.

There's only one USB port and it takes awhile to initially index your music, but it's easy to search for tunes after that. NissanConnect supports some smartphone apps (Pandora, iHeart, etc.), but it's not as plug-and-play as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which aren't offered.

The Titan XD doesn't offer some of the more advanced features such as adaptive cruise control with forward collision mitigation. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available, which are very welcome on such a big truck.

Response times are quick, with audible prompts and on-screen menus to guide you, but the system had some difficulty recognizing some street names. Holding down the voice button activates the Siri voice interface via a paired iPhone and is standard on higher trims.