Does the Nissan Titan have a Chip on its Shoulder?

The new Titan XD version is advertised as a truck that lives in the half-ton classification, but in reality this is a three-quarter ton truck. By using larger axles, bigger brakes and a thicker frame this truck is built to be stronger and more capable than most of the half-ton trucks on the market and now that the Titan can be had with a variety of cab configurations, bed sizes and engines the Nissan Titan has taken giant leaps forward for the brand. The problem is whether or not it should compete in the half-ton class or the three-quarter ton class, which is causing a bit of an image problem for this truck.

Of course that image problem is cause for us as consumers to celebrate. The Titan XD not only brings in the larger hardware under the body, but under the hood we see a massive 5.6-liter V8 engine that brings in 390 horsepower and 394 lb.-ft. of torque. This is attached to a seven-speed automatic transmission to give us smooth shifting and comes at a starting price of $35,975 to make this a truck anyone would want for their work truck or for the weekend warrior projects and some fun in the sun.

The unfortunate part of putting a chip on the shoulder of this truck is the fact that Nissan still hasn’t perfected what seems to be one of the most important factors for truck loves. When competitors can haul more behind the truck and in the bed that puts the Titan behind by a bit, but the towing capacity of 9,230 pounds and a payload of 1,610 in the bed are both nothing to sneeze at and this brute can get the job done in a big way.

Even though the towing is behind the competition the warranty is well ahead of them. The Titan brings you a five year/100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty because Nissan knows you’ll drive this truck wherever you need to go. Much of the competitors only give you three years/36,000 miles, which means those trucks are out of warranty before they every really get started doing the heavy lifting.

When you get behind the wheel of the new Titan you feel the power from the engine but also a smooth ride. You might even have to check to make sure this is a truck you’re driving because the hydraulically boosted steering and comfort driven suspension give you a ride that feels more like a sedan than a big truck. Make no mistake though, this truck can get to the power quickly, reaching peak torque at 4,000 rpm and the maximum horsepower at 5,800 rpm which is sooner than most of the competitors. Using the automatic rev matching this truck makes downshifts smoothly to give you an enjoyable ride when towing a trailer down a grade, this is a truck that has everything under control to give you everything you need in a great truck.

Even though the Titan is new the interior is familiar, especially if you’ve owned one previously. The look is smooth, attractive and even offers a bit of an upscale appearance that you might not expect. There are plenty of storage areas for small things and using a column shifter leaves the center console area for larger items rather than causing you to deal with storage dilemmas. In the crew cab models there is 38.5 inches of leg room to allow your passengers a great place to ride from.

In the bed you can quickly install a bed mounted rail system and low cleats make it easier for you to haul items such as a motorcycle or tall furniture which should be strapped down to the floor of the bed. There is even a 120-volt plug in the bed to give you a way to power your tools that you take with you or even run some lights when you have a tailgate party. There is actually a second plug inside the truck in case you need another one or turn your Titan into a mobile office and need a place to plug in your computer.

The new Nissan Titan checks of a vast majority of the boxes you want for a truck that can get the job done and give you the power you need. Is this the right truck for you? If you want a smooth ride in a new truck that offers you power and great equipment, it sure is.