REVIEW: 2016 Nissan Titan XD SL 4X4
Recently, I was given a chance to live with a 2016 Nissan Titan XD, the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2015 “Truck of Texas,” for a week. I was also given a notice. The window sticker I received stated my tester was a prototype vehicle that would provide an impression of what a production Titan XD would be like, but wouldn’t be fully representative of a drive-off-the-lot truck.
WHAT I HAD
My 4X4 review vehicle arrived covered in Deep Blue Pearl paint and outfitted with the features of the upscale SL trim line. Those included leather seats, plenty of chrome exterior touches, such as the auto-dimming mirrors, grille, door handles, and bumpers, as well as front and rear parking sensors, a 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate Premium sound system, and remote engine start. The 6.5-foot bed was equipped with a spray-in liner, the Utili-track cargo channel system and four moveable tie-down cleats, LED lighting, and a 110-volt outlet.
I was ready to pull a trailer with manually extending and folding tow mirrors, a Trailer Brake Controller, and the Trailer Light Check function.
That hardware, in addition to optional $200 carpet floor mats and a $1,195 destination and handling charge, contributed to my review truck’s $56,425 as-tested price.
THE OUTSIDE
Given that the Titan XD is positioned as what I call a “‘tweener truck” between pickups such as the Ram 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, I wasn’t expecting it to appear as large as it did when I first saw it parked in front of my apartment complex. It looked more heavy- than light-duty thanks to its 12.6 feet of wheelbase, overall length in excess of 20 feet, and overall width of 6.6 feet – which was also approximately how tall the Titan XD was. Its massive chrome mesh grille and four full-size doors added to that impression.
THE INSIDE
Inside, the Titan XD was similarly large. I’m 5’10” and I had plenty of headroom in the first and second rows. The seven-inch touchscreen and the buttons flanking it were oddly small given the dimensions of the truck around them. To my pleasant surprise, the center console storage compartment was spacious enough to hold my Canon EOS camera and the bag I carry it in.
Legroom in the back was also abundant. Flipping the bottoms of the rear seats up revealed storage compartments with lids that could be folded out to form a useful flat surface.
The Titan’s HVAC setup was a sign of my truck being less than showroom-grade. There were times when I had the AC on and the air coming out of the vents felt heated. Changing the temperature by as little as one degree occasionally made the difference between pleasant and uncomfortable.
UNDER THE HOOD
Nissan installed a 5.0-liter Cummins turbo diesel V8 under the Titan XD’s enormous hood. The Holset M2 two-stage turbo didn’t exactly feel lag-free at low speeds, but once it spooled up, the Titan took off as if shot from a giant Roman candle with the thrust of 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque. Combined with a heavy-duty AISIN six-speed automatic, the Cummins was good for 15.7 mpg in my time using it, which involved more city than highway driving.
ON THE ROAD
Being behind the Titan XD’s wheel made me feel as if I were driving a smaller truck.
It surely wasn’t because of the Titan’s size. Like all huge trucks, its far-flung extremities and giant, horizon-touching hood made it a pain to park easily – at least going forward. I found it took much less time to place the Titan within the confines of a spot using the backup camera and its grid lines.
It was the XD’s steering that made it feel smaller than it was. The front tires actually felt connected to the steering wheel, which is not something I’ve been able to say for certain other trucks.
The ride quality also shrunk the XD. I was expecting it to shimmy, shake, and nauseate me when I took it over rough pavement or joints in the freeway. It didn’t.
Unfortunately, the trailer I had access to was not prepared to help me put my particular Titan XD’s 11,638-pound towing capacity to the test. Make sure you update your plates, people!
On the plus side, I did get a chance to haul some 4X4s between two building projects in the same neighborhood – after breaking the tailgate latch in. Like the HVAC system, it felt more developmental than dealership-ready. I had to unlock it with the key while pulling up on the release multiple times to finally get it to lower. Even after that, the tailgate seemed to be a little too sticky. It didn’t open as effortlessly as it should have as often as it should have: 100 percent of the time.
I didn’t need the useful cleats in the cargo box, but the Rear Bumper Step Assist (available as an accessory) would’ve come in handy.
While my 2016 Nissan Titan XD SL 4X4 pre-production truck may not have been totally ready for consumers, it did offer features, such as a powerful diesel engine, a roomy cabin, useful in-bed carrying solutions, and a pleasant ride quality, that many pickup buyers can appreciate – whether they’re in Texas or not.
via [NissanNews.com]
Nissan Titan XD SL Window Sticker
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