2019 Nissan Titan Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What's new

New 7-inch infotainment system with NissanConnect, Apple CarPlay and Android AutoNew Fender audio system is standard on Crew Cab SL, SL Midnight Edition and Platinum Reserve trimsRear door alert, to remind drivers to check the back seat after exiting, is standard on King Cab and Crew CabPart of the second Titan generation introduced for 2016

　　The 2019 Nissan Titan meets the requirements for a full-size truck. It's powerful, versatile, and available in a number of configurations. And, for 2019, the Titan gets a few upgrades including the addition of an optional premium stereo and a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. But in today's full-size truck market, just meeting requirements isn't enough.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Nissan Titan S 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) 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

　　$215/mo  for Titan S

　　Titan S

　　S 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $30,690 MSRPS 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $33,960 MSRPS 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $34,090 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $36,680 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $37,100 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $39,830 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $34,320 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $37,390 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $37,470 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $39,870 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $40,540 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) (Most Popular) - $43,020 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $44,880 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $47,110 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $48,740 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $51,940 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $54,630 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $57,840 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　In the Titan's favor is its standard 5.6-liter V8 engine that's paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It's a solid powertrain that's capable of towing more than 9,000 pounds. But if you want something else, you're out of luck. In contrast, nearly every full-size truck competitor has a range of available engines. Inside, the Titan is spacious and well-equipped, but rivals are a bit more comfortable, offering better ride and interior quality.

　　Overall, we think the 2019 Nissan Titan is a decent pick for an all-around rig. It comes with a long list of standard equipment and respectable utilitarian credentials. But before you decide on one, we recommend taking a closer look at the trucks we like more, such as the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Nissan Titan Platinum Reserve Crew Cab (5.6L V8 | 7-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.9 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	6.0

　　

Driving

7.0

　　The Titan isn't as refined or swift as its lighter, more powerful, more recently redesigned rivals, but it certainly isn't a penalty box. The accurate steering, strong motor and confident, powerful brakes make the Titan a solid truck you can enjoy driving daily.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　The direct-injected 5.6-liter V8 (the only engine offered) delivers a strong feeling of acceleration, with good throttle response. That said, the numbers it produces at wide-open run are merely average for the class: 0-60 mph takes 7 seconds, which is respectable but not as quick as the Ram or the Ford.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brake pedal feels a little soft initially, but despite that the brakes are easy to control. They're never grabby and have generous stopping power. At our test track, the Titan simulated a panic stop from 60 mph in 129 feet, which is about average for the truck segment.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering wheel feels solid in your hands. But the Titan feels big and cumbersome at parking lot speeds where steering effort is high and the U-turn radius is big. That feeling lightens somewhat at highway speeds and becomes quite agreeable, and it even manages to transmit road feel and surface grip conditions to the driver fairly well.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　The Titan is a comparatively heavy truck in its class, and that weight translates into a ponderous feel when the road gets twisty. The steering is accurate and body control is reasonably good, but the tires and suspension prefer gentle curves and interstates that don't test their relatively low grip limits.

　　

Drivability

6.5

　　The V8 makes good power low in the rev range that gets things rolling smoothly, but the transmission calibration, not to mention a tall third gear, gets in the way of good around-town drivability. The transmission can be very reluctant to downshift too, but at least a manual override is available. Tow mode helps greatly, including engine braking on long downhill grades.

　　

Off-road

7.5

　　Four-wheel drive and low range are both easy to engage with a rotary switch. Approach and departure angles and ground clearance are quite good, but the Titan Platinum Reserve doesn't have the best off-road tires, and the step bars hang down low. Those who prioritize off-road potential are better served by the Pro-4X package, which brings knobbier tires, a bit more clearance and a lockable rear differential.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The Titan would be excused for being noisy and riding rough, but it is, in fact, just the opposite. The cabin is quiet, and the ride is good over most smooth surfaces. Larger bumps do upset the ride quality and jostle the cabin a bit more than average, but it's not bad enough to be a deal-breaker.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　You certainly can't call the front seats uncomfortable, but they don't have much in the way of lateral support for your upper or lower body. The rear seats seem a bit too basic, lacking any real comfort or leg support even though there's enough space to make them better.

　　

Ride comfort

6.5

　　Small bumps and road irregularities are absorbed by the suspension fairly well. But the Titan definitely rides like an old-school full-size truck with four-wheel drive, so there's no getting away from a firm-trending ride. Larger bumps and potholes tend to create sharp disturbances in the ride quality.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　The cabin is quiet and well-isolated and feels solid. It was free of rattles or squeaks, but the passenger seat did shake quite a bit over rough roads. Some wind noise is noticeable around the windshield, windshield pillars and rearview mirrors, but the noise level is similar in other large trucks.

　　

Climate control

6.5

　　The dual climate control works as expected and airflow is fairly good. The buttons and temperature knobs, however, seem needlessly small for such a vast cabin. The display can also be a bit difficult to see in direct sunlight, and its appearance doesn't match the rest of the readouts elsewhere in the cabin.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　Most full-size trucks carry their tougher-than-nails persona into the cabin, but Nissan has opted for a much friendlier, almost crossover SUV-like interior space. Combine that friendly look with a smallish steering wheel and good ergonomics, and the Titan is a truck you don't mind spending time in.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　The friendly and spacious cabin might make you think you're in a crossover instead of a truck, but it also comes across as a bit dated. For all the space, many of the buttons and knobs can prove difficult to use because they're simply too small. The instrumentation, however, is attractive and easy to read at a glance.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　Thanks to the large side steps, generous door openings and windshield pillar grab handles, getting into the front seat of the Titan is relatively easy for people of all heights. The wide-opening rear doors mean the back seats are also easily accessible.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　The low dashboard, small, thin-rimmed steering wheel, and high seating position give you the impression of sitting in a crossover rather than a full-size truck. The power seat and tilt-and-telescoping wheel help you to find a comfortable position quickly, but power-adjustable pedals are not an option.

　　

Roominess

6.5

　　There's a lot of legroom, shoulder room and headroom up front, but the Titan's newer, larger competitors offer a lot more space. Rivals such as the F-150 and Silverado have 2 to 3 more inches of front legroom and 5 inches of rear legroom, while the Ram beats it by nearly 7 inches in the back seat.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　Forward visibility is OK, but navigating bends takes a bit of faith because of the massive windshield pillar base. The exterior side mirrors could stand to be larger, as could the inset convex spotter mirrors. Nissan's 360-degree camera system gives confidence when moving in tight spaces.

　　

Quality

6.5

　　The Titan feels solid and the interior is well-assembled, but almost every surface has a dated look and feel. Many materials that fall readily to hand have a soft touch, but there are lots of hard plastics on the center console and some cheap-feeling steering wheel buttons, too.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The Titan is capable, sure, and it works like a truck should, but it's outclassed by its three main rivals that have all been more recently redesigned. It comes up short in its payload/towing capability with its single engine option, which puts it midpack.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Top rivals such as the Ram and the Ford have better center console storage, but overall the Titan still has lots of space. There's a multitude of cupholders and small storage compartments, and there's even enough space for a laptop. Unfortunately, most of the storage has hard plastic sides, so smaller objects tend to rattle around.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　The crew cab's standard 5.5-foot bed is average for the segment, but top rivals have it beat by a few inches. The optional in-bed storage boxes are a nice concept, but they take up a lot of space and can't be opened when you've got a bed full of cargo because they hinge inward. A retractable cargo bed step is available on the driver's side, but it's a bolt-on accessory that isn't well-integrated and finicky to deploy.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

　　The outboard rear seats have car seat anchors that are easily accessible. Rival crew cabs offer more space, but there's enough room that most front-seat occupants won't be affected if a large rear-facing child seat is in back. The main drawback is how the height of the Titan affects seat installation and access — this is more of an issue than with any other such truck.

　　

Towing

6.5

　　The Titan is rated to tow just over 9,200 pounds. While that's an admirable standard tow rating, some of its rivals offer more powerful engine and axle gearing options that can handily out-tow the Titan's 5.6-liter V8, in some cases by nearly 3,000 pounds.

　　

Hauling

7.0

　　With four-wheel drive, the maximum payload is 1,620 pounds — below average for the segment but respectable. The bed offers plenty of cargo tie-down options, including an optional track system and good optional LED lights for after-hours loading and unloading.

　　

Technology

6.0

　　Technology might well be the Titan's Achilles' heel. It has some respectable features on paper, but their performance disappoints and feels years behind. Rivals offer several safety options that the Titan doesn't. To add to the problem, the Titan's 7-inch display looks small and has dated graphics and small buttons.

　　

Audio & navigation

6.5

　　Functionality is adequate, but the Titan's display is far behind rivals. With the optional 12-speaker Fender audio system, you won't hear the tiny details on your favorite songs, but it gets loud enough. The navigation system also handles its duties well but is let down by ho-hum graphics.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard on the Titan, but connecting to either is weirdly more difficult than the usual plug-and-play. The USB connection must be managed in hard-to-navigate menus that need updating. Connecting via Bluetooth is as simple as it should be, and there are ample power points for charging devices.

　　

Driver aids

5.5

　　Features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane keeping assist are not available. The blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert and Nissan's Around View monitoring system take some of the fear and guesswork out of navigating such a big truck, but these are optional.

　　

Voice control

5.5

　　The voice control menu makes a good case for pressing the buttons you need to achieve the desired result. There is a complicated menu that requires specific commands to do anything. It's a cumbersome system that's better-suited to making calls than it is for controlling any of the Titan's other features.

　　

Which Titan does zzdcar recommend?

　　To maximize the value play of getting a Titan, we recommend the Titan SV. It comes with all the standard gear found on the base S trim, including this year's new 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a more substantial list of options you can't get on the S.

　　

2019 Nissan Titan models

　　The 2019 Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck available in five trims: S, SV, SL, Platinum Reserve and the off-road-oriented Pro-4X. Depending on your needs, you can get a Titan as a crew cab with a short (5-foot-7-inch) bed, a single cab with a long (8-foot) bed, or an extended cab (the King Cab) with a standard (6-foot-6.7-inch) bed. Every Titan comes with a 5.6-liter V8 engine (390 horsepower, 394 pound-feet of torque) paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is optional.

　　The base Titan S is available with any of the three cab configurations and comes standard with 18-inch steel wheels, cab-mounted LED bed lights, a lockable damped tailgate, remote locking and unlocking, manual exterior mirrors, push-button ignition, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, a vinyl floor, power windows and locks, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 40/20/40-split folding front bench seat, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, NissanConnect with Mobile Apps, a rearview camera, two USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system (four speakers in the single cab).

　　One step above the S is the SV, which includes all the base content plus alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, front tow hooks (4WD only), power-adjustable heated mirrors, a carpeted floor, cloth and vinyl upholstery, a driver information display, satellite radio and Nissan's Trailer Sway Control, which helps keep a trailer tracking straight when buffeted by crosswinds or while driving on poor-quality roads.

　　On top of the SV's equipment, the off-road-focused Pro-4X (4WD only) gets dark-finish wheels with all-terrain tires, off-road-tuned Bilstein shocks, a lockable rear differential, hill descent control, a receiver hitch, and a four- and seven-pin wiring harness connector, skid plates, automatic headlights, foglights, automatic wipers and a spray-in bedliner.

　　Also standard for the Pro-4X are LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, keyless entry and ignition, front bucket seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, voice controls (with Siri Eyes Free), a navigation system, a rear air vent, a 120-volt household-style power outlet and floor mats.

　　Next is the SL (available only in crew cab), which takes the Pro-4X's upgrades (minus the all-terrain tires and off-road mechanical upgrades) and adds 20-inch wheels, upgraded side mirrors, running boards, a power-sliding rear window, LED cargo box lighting, a 120-volt outlet inside the bed, and a Utili-Track bed rail system with four movable tie-down cleats.

　　The SL also has remote engine start, front and rear parking sensors, a power-adjustable steering wheel, driver-seat memory functions, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power passenger seat, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a Fender 12-speaker audio system, and NissanConnect communication services.

　　The range-topping Platinum Reserve builds upon the SL's features, adding unique wheels, dark chrome exterior trim, a 360-degree parking camera, upgraded leather upholstery, chrome and wood interior accents, a heated steering wheel with wood inserts, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.

　　Several option packages are available, many of which bring the luxury and utility features from higher trims to the lower trims. For the Platinum Reserve, you can order a Platinum Utility package (in-bed Titan Box storage bins, a remote-locking tailgate and a bed utility step), an Off-Road package (the Pro-4X's 18-inch alloys, all-terrain tires and Bilstein shocks) and a rear-seat entertainment system.

　　

2019 Titan Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabRegular CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XSLPlatinum ReserveS

　　

Base MSRP	$36,680
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$215/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	9,380 lbs.
Warranty	5 years / 100,000 miles