2015 Nissan Titan Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　

What’s new

　　Nissan has eliminated the long-wheelbase version of the Titan full-size pickup for 2015, meaning that the four-door Crew Cab is no longer available with a long 7-foot-3-inch bed and comes only with a 5-foot-7-inch bed. The 2015 Titan also sees some content revision for several equipment packages and upgraded interior door trim, while models with captain's chairs get power lumbar adjustment for the driver seat.

　　

zzdcar says

　　Although the 2015 Nissan Titan will likely meet your basic requirements for a full-size truck, it lags behind newer rivals in key areas, including fuel economy, interior quality and equipment availability.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2015 Nissan Titan S 4dr King Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$249/mo  for Titan S

　　Titan S

　　S 4dr King Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $29,640 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $32,060 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $32,490 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $34,910 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $31,940 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) (Most Popular) - $34,140 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $34,790 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $36,990 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $38,170 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $40,370 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $41,160 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 5A) - $43,860 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　

Vehicle overview

　　If the fundamentals that comprise a full-size pickup truck are what matter most to you, the 2015 Nissan Titan has you covered. Buying a Titan is a pretty simple matter, as there are just two body styles -- King Cab (with rear-hinged back doors) and Crew Cab -- and for 2015 each comes with just one bed length. Nissan figures there's no reason to complicate the underhood arrangements, fitting all 2015 Titan models with a single grunty V8 engine and an automatic transmission. Compared with rival full-size pickups, a 2015 Titan is laughably straightforward to configure.

　　For many people, though, full-size trucks are family vehicles that wear a multitude of hats, so the Nissan Titan's comparatively narrow model range may limit its appeal. For example, unlike most other large pickups, the Titan doesn't offer a less expensive regular cab body style or a more fuel-efficient V6 engine option. Further, most full-size competitors now offer a wide range of advanced safety aids, technology features and premium amenities, and many of these desirable items are not available for the 2015 Titan.

　　For now, the 2015 Nissan Titan is a solid option if you're seeking a relatively affordable work truck. There's no question, though, that other full-size pickups offer more opportunity to get a truck that's set up exactly the way you want it. Chrysler's Ram 1500 is notable for its fuel-efficient diesel engine option, loads of clever features and superb ride and handling. Ram 1500 is all-new for 2015 with a rust-proof all-aluminum body that shaves off hundreds of pounds of unnecessary weight, markedly boosting payload and towing capacities and enhancing everyday fuel economy to boot. GM's Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 have excellent engines and proven durability, while Ram 1500 has a studiously engineered ruggedness backed by Toyota's reputation for exceptional reliability.

　　In the end, it's all about what you need. The 2015 Titan is just as capable as these trucks for worksite use, but if you're buying a pickup to do more than tow and haul, you'll likely find its newer, better-equipped competitors difficult to resist.

　　

Performance & mpg

　　The 2015 Nissan Titan is available with just one engine: a 5.6-liter V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. It's connected to a standard five-speed automatic transmission that includes a tow/haul mode. Every Titan body style and trim is available with two-wheel drive or a part-time four-wheel-drive system, except the Pro-4X, which is exclusively four-wheel drive.

　　Properly equipped, a 2015 Titan King Cab can tow up to 9,500 pounds, while the Crew Cab version tops out at 9,400 pounds.

　　The EPA's estimated fuel economy for two-wheel-drive Titans is 15 mpg combined (13 city/18 highway). Go for four-wheel drive and the Titan is rated at 14 mpg combined (12 city/17 highway). These fuel economy numbers are below average for a full-size truck with a V8 of this size. The Titan's continued use of a five-speed automatic transmission likely hurts it in this regard, given that most competitors have switched to six- or even eight-speed automatics to enhance highway fuel efficiency.

　　

Safety

　　Standard safety features on the 2015 Nissan Titan include antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are available on all trims except the base S.

　　The Titan earned the highest possible rating of "Good" in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety moderate-overlap frontal-offset crash testing. It rated "Acceptable" (second-highest on a scale of four) in the Institute's roof-strength test, while its seat/head restraint design was rated "Good" for whiplash protection in rear impacts.

　　

Driving

　　The 5.6-liter V8 under the hood of every 2015 Nissan Titan isn't as powerful on paper as most rival eight-cylinders, but you wouldn't know it from the driving experience. The truck accelerates aggressively with even a small prod of the gas pedal, and the V8 shows few signs of strain when there's a full load of passengers or heavy cargo in the bed.

　　This rewarding performance is balanced by the Titan's bottom-of-the-pack fuel economy ratings, though. The Titan's five-speed automatic goes about its job without fuss, but the six- and eight-speed transmissions in other full-size pickups allow for reduced engine speeds during highway cruising, which not only makes road trips more economical but also quieter and more relaxed.

　　Everyday suburban driving in the Titan won't beat you up, but competitors like the Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 treat occupants to a noticeably superior ride. The Titan's brakes and steering responses are sharp, though, and performance is on par with just about any other full-size pickup. The specialized Pro-4X model delivers extra off-road capability for those who want it and are willing to sacrifice ride comfort.

　　

Interior

　　Inside the Titan, the focus is on durability at the expense of style. All the controls and gauges are placed to maximize utility and function, and Nissan has engineered a substantial heft into most of the buttons, switches and levers. The Titan's individual front seats are spacious but firm, and the center console seems overly wide, albeit with plenty of storage space and cubbies.

　　None of the Titan's interior materials are particularly special, though, and even upper-trim models don't approach the premium ambience you'll experience in rival pickups. The available touchscreen display, at not quite 6 inches diagonal, works acceptably but seems undersized compared to the ever-larger electronic interfaces available in other vehicles. Also absent from the Titan is anything in the way of electronic driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring or a lane-departure warning system.

　　The rear-hinged back doors of the Titan King Cab open up to a generous 180 degrees, but newer extended-cab trucks from other brands have switched to conventionally opening rear doors. Both the Titan King Cab and Crew Cab provide rear-seat occupants with a comfortable amount of headroom and legroom, though the extra 7 inches of rear-seat legroom (for a total of 40.4 inches) in the Crew Cab makes it a far better choice for buyers needing to transport the whole family.

　　

2015 Nissan Titan models

　　The 2015 Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck offered in two cab styles: King Cab and Crew Cab. The King Cab is an extended-cab pickup with rear-hinged back doors and a 6-foot-7-inch cargo bed. The Crew Cab has four conventional doors, a larger interior and a 5-foot-7-inch bed. Both cab configurations are available with either two- or four-wheel drive and in three of the Titan's four trims: S, SV and Pro-4X; the lineup-topping SL trim is offered only for the Titan Crew Cab.

　　The entry-level S model comes standard with 18-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, power windows, a 40/20/40-split front bench seat, a 60/40-split rear bench seat, a bunch of 12-volt power outlets and a CD stereo with six speakers. Crew Cabs also get power locks, a power-down rear window, full carpeting (instead of vinyl flooring) and two extra speakers. Springing for the Popular Equipment option package for the 2015 Titan S adds alloy wheels, cruise control, rear privacy glass, a sliding rear window (King Cab only), keyless entry (Crew Cab only), a trailer hitch and towing preparation.

　　Stepping up to the Titan SV gets you most of the Popular Equipment items (minus the tow hitch), chrome bumpers, power outside mirrors, side step rails, a lockable tailgate with assist, upgraded cloth upholstery and door trim, carpeted flooring (King Cabs) and an auxiliary audio jack.

　　Available for the Titan SV trim is the SV Value Truck package. It comprises 20-inch alloy wheels, foglights, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, the trailer hitch, a lockable bed storage compartment, front captain's chairs (with power lumbar adjustment for the driver), an eight-way power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a household-style 120-volt power outlet in the center console, satellite radio and a 5.8-inch touchscreen with navigation, Pandora Internet radio and hands-free text messaging via NissanConnect.

　　Also available for the 2015 Titan SV trim is the SV Utility option package with a spray-in bedliner, lockable bed storage, adjustable tie-down cleats, tailgate area lighting and a bed-mounted 120-volt AC power outlet. The SV Premium Utility package includes all that plus a lower rear-axle ratio, a heavy-duty battery, front tow hooks, power heated extendable towing mirrors, power-adjustable pedals, a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system and the navigation system.

　　The off-road-oriented Pro-4X trim includes all the standard equipment from the Titan S and SV models, as well as much of the content from the SV Value Truck and Utility packages. It also adds off-road-tuned Rancho shock absorbers, unique 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, special bumpers and exterior trim, a locking rear differential, a lower final-drive axle ratio, heavy-duty skid plates, a heavy-duty battery, automatic headlights, unique instrumentation, two-tone cloth upholstery, a USB input and a 5-inch color audio display with limited NissanConnect functionality.

　　Option packages for the Pro-4X include the Premium Utility package, which bundles the extras from the SV Premium Utility package and, on King Cabs only, incorporates the 5.8-inch touchscreen navigation system with voice-recognition functions. The Pro-4X Luxury package offers leather upholstery, heated front seats, four-way power passenger seat, memory settings for the driver seat and power-adjustable pedals and mirrors. On Crew Cabs, the Luxury package also includes navigation.

　　Available only on Crew Cabs, the top-of-the-line SL trim comes standard with all the equipment in the Value Truck, Utility and Luxury packages. It also comes with most of the Premium Utility package items, including Rockford Fosgate audio. Other standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, and heated and power-folding outside mirrors (with built-in turn signals and driver-side auto-dimming). Inside, the Titan SL has dual-zone automatic climate control and simulated wood trim. The SL Max Utility option package adds the lower axle ratio, a heavy-duty battery, front tow hooks and extendable towing mirrors.

　　There are a handful of stand-alone options available at various points in the 2015 Titan lineup, the most notable being a sunroof and a DVD rear entertainment system for the Pro-4X and SL Crew Cab models.

　　

2015 Titan Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XSLS

　　

Base MSRP	$32,060
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	15 MPG
Cost to Drive	$249/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	7,400 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles