2021 Nissan Titan XD Review

Bridging the gap between light- and heavy-duty trucks, the 2021 Nissan Titan XD is an alternative for those who need more capability than a standard full-size truck, yet not all the fortified burliness of a workhorse commercial truck. The Titan XD's most obvious appeal is for drivers who plan to tow heavy toys, a role in which it excels. And its expansive cabin space gives passengers room to spread out along the way.

Nissan refreshed the Titan XD last year with a new grille, more driver safety tech, upgraded infotainment and slightly enhanced power, so the XD carries into 2021 with no changes. While there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the XD, its rivals haven't stopped improving in the five years since it was introduced, and they now offer features and capabilities that make the big Nissan a questionable value.

The heavy-duty trucks from Chevrolet, Ford and Ram all now tow more than the Titan XD yet the XD is priced like a heavy-duty. Even light-duty trucks like the standard Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado are more capable today, and all of them except for the Toyota Tundra and the regular Titan can tow more than the Titan XD.

The 2021 Nissan Titan XD is a full-size pickup with five available trim levels: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. All come in a single crew-cab configuration with a 6.5-foot bed. A 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine (400 horsepower, 413 lb-ft of torque) pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. Feature highlights include: