- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr
Nissan Titan Pickup. Nissan Armada’s brother
The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup produced by Nissan since 2003. It can have a single, one and a half or double cab. The cargo platform can be short or long. Development of the Titan began in September 1999. The concept was presented in 2001, but production started only in 2003. The vehicle is based on the Nissan F-Alpha platform. The first generation Titan continued without a major redesign through 2015. The second generation is still available, but, to be honest, it does not enjoy much success due to the presence of such strong competitors as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra and others. Right now, a new Nissan Titan in the USA costs a minimum of $30,690.
The first generation
The majority of American buyers prefer pickups of domestic brands. But since there was already a big new platform that served as the basis for the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs, Nissan decided to build a pickup on it. All three related models were produced at the plant in Canton, Mississippi.
The first Titan was powered by a 5.6-liter VK56DE engine (305 or 317 hp after a 2004 restyling) paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle was built on a powerful ladder-type frame and was produced both with rear-wheel drive and with an all-wheel drive system with the ability to connect the front axle on the go.
There were versions with a standard (3.5 m) and a long wheelbase (4 m): King cab (longer cab) or Crew cab with a full rear seat. The first version was 2 meters long, whereas the second one was 1.7 meters long. In 2008, the King cab version grew to 2.51 meters and the Crew cab up to 2.21 meters. There were four trim levels, including luxury and off-road ones.
The second generation
It was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2015. In 2020, the pickup was restyled. It is possible that the current generation may be the last for the Nissan Titan. Nissan expected that its new vehicle would have a 5 percent market share or 100,000 annual sales in the United States, but the real numbers are not promising. Thus, in 2016, sales reached 21,880 vehicles; in 2017, almost 53 thousand vehicles were sold, and in 2020, only 26,439 vehicles found new owners. For 9 months of 2021, 22,772 vehicles were sold.
The engine of the new Titan is also ‘titanic’. This is a 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine that produces 390 hp and 534 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Moreover, there was also a 5-liter Cummins V8 turbocharged diesel engine with an output of 310 hp and a huge torque of 752 Nm (removed from the range at the end of 2019).
The new Nissan Titan comes in two versions: normal and XD. The XD version is built on a heavy-duty frame based on Nissan’s model range of commercial vehicles. There are three versions: 2-door regular cab, 4-door King cab and 4-door Crew cab. The basic equipment includes: Bluetooth function, air conditioning system, keyless entry, power pack, engine start button, rear view camera. The list of options includes touchscreen audio system with GPS navigation (standard since 2019), SiriusXM satellite radio, remote start, alloy wheels, leather interior, heated and ventilated seats, premium sound system, exterior chrome elements, etc.
2019 restyling
Nissan is trying hard to establish itself in the American full-size pickup market, but so far everything has been in vain. Even the ‘best warranty in the class’, high positions in reliability ratings and other marketing campaigns do not help. But, one way or another, the 2019/2020 Nissan Titan underwent a restyling, which resulted in a new exterior and a modernized interior. The pickup features new bumpers, three radiator grille options and LED taillights. Fully LED headlights are also available as an option. The engine has also been upgraded: the 5.6-liter gasoline V8 VK56VD engine has become even more powerful (406 hp, maximum torque 559 Nm). The 7-speed automatic transmission was replaced by a 9-speed one.
All the Titan and Titan XD versions come standard with a 7-inch dashboard and a new 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system. The system includes GPS navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and Android Auto. The top-end version boasts an Integrated Command Center with a 9-inch screen, a Wi-Fi transmitter for six devices and a premium audio system from Fender. Just like the Nissan Murano, the vehicle features Zero Gravity seats with optimal rigidity and body weight distribution. The Safety Shield 360 package comes standard and combines automatic braking systems, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring system, as well as an automatic high beam switching function.
