Power and capability in a full-size pickup.
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By G.R. Whale of NewCarTestDrive.com
The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup with lots of power, ample capabilities and a level of refinement for price that adds to its appeal. There are two body styles: The King Cab has rearward-opening rear doors. The Crew Cab is a conventional four-door configuration and offers a choice of short or long cargo beds. The only engine is a very powerful 5.6-liter V8 that makes 317 horsepower; it is matched to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Titan is available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive and has a maximum towing capacity of 9,500 pounds.
On the outside the Titan has a rugged, purposeful look. Inside, you’ll find an attractive, user-friendly interior. There’s room for a family of five or four burly fishermen. Titans range from utilitarian models with crank windows to leather-lined cabs befitting a luxury SUV.
The strong V8 engine gets the job done. Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 13/18 mpg City/Highway with two-wheel drive. The Titan has the robustness and ability to deal with tough jobs and heavy loads, such as pulling a toy hauler full of dirt bikes and sand buggies.
If you need a full-size pickup with power to perform and deal with heavy loads, and with plenty of room inside, and you’d also like the comfort and convenience of the Titan’s level of refinement, then it definitely should be on your shopping list.
Everything about the appearance of the Nissan Titan is big and bold, from the expanse of chrome on the bumper and grille to the creased fenders. It fills up its space on the road and you won’t mistake it for something else. This is a big, brawny pickup and looks it.
King Cab versions have a cargo bed that measures 79.1 inches long (almost seven feet). Crew Cab models offer a shorter cargo bed, due to their longer body length, of 67.3 inches, which is a little less than six feet. The Crew Cab SV trim level is the only one available with a choice of a longer cargo bed that measures 87.0 inches, which is slightly over seven feet. However, the longer cargo bed comes with a wheelbase that is also about 20 inches longer, at 159.5 inches compared to 139.8 inches for the Crew Cab with the shorter bed, and that longer wheelbase could definitely hinder maneuverability in tighter spots.
The Nissan Titan has been recognized for its stout drivetrain. It comes standard with a 5.6-liter V8 and 5-speed automatic transmission. Although it doesn’t have as much horsepower as others larger V8 choices or Dodge’s Hemi, it’s great on torque. We think a Titan will outrun many pickups and deliver competitive mileage to similar configurations; only the Tundra’s 5.7-liter/6-speed automatic, Ford’s 6.2 or twin-turbo 3.5/6-speed automatic and GM’s 6.2-liter/6-speed automatic combinations challenge it. The exhaust keeps the V8 rumble so adored by truck buyers while eliminating the drone that could wear on long highway trips.
We found the transmission responds smoothly and crisply as conditions dictate. A proper gated floor shift allows direct access to any gear without pressing any buttons, and a comfortable grip and good location adjacent to the driver’s leg encourages one to use it.
Pickup trucks aren’t held in high regard for ride comfort or handling prowess yet they have made strides in both. The longer wheelbase only betters cruising comfort but even the short-wheelbase Titans will generate no complaints, at least not from anyone who knows what a ton of payload means. Off-road biased suspension tuning with lots of travel, Rancho shocks built specifically for it, and large tires on the PRO-4X contribute to ride softness without giving up control, while the 20-inch wheel/tire combo on SL models offers crisper turn-in for cornering but transmits bumps more.
The 2011 Nissan Titan boasts a robust powertrain with responsive acceleration, good brakes, a comfortable cabin and plenty of feature choices. But pickups are all about carrying or towing stuff and the Titan will get those jobs done, with payload ratings that reach above 2,000 pounds, and good towing performance.
