2019 Nissan Titan XD 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 standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAdditional USB portsNew optional 12-speaker Fender stereoPart of the first Titan XD generation introduced for 2016

　　The Nissan Titan XD occupies a unique space in the pickup truck world. It's larger than common light-duty pickups such as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or the Toyota Tundra, but it's not as large or as robust as the heavy-duty pickups on the road. It's a bit of a tweener.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Nissan Titan XD 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 XD S

　　Titan XD S

　　S 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $32,990 MSRPS 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $34,990 MSRPS 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $36,140 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $38,140 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $38,270 MSRPS 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $38,620 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $41,430 MSRPS 4dr King Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $41,640 MSRPS 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $41,770 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $43,610 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $45,300 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $46,760 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $37,090 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $39,590 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $40,230 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $42,640 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $42,740 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $43,230 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $45,740 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $45,740 MSRPSV 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $46,380 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $47,510 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $48,380 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) (Most Popular) - $50,600 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $47,210 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $49,490 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $52,340 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $54,830 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $51,050 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $54,200 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $56,380 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $59,530 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $56,370 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $60,080 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $61,710 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.0L 8cyl Turbodiesel 6A) - $65,410 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　Given this reality, you might expect the 2019 Titan XD to be more capable than those light-duty trucks but less accommodating. But that's not necessarily the case. The Titan XD is a quiet and comfortable truck, and it has a well-built and attractive interior. Unfortunately for the Titan XD, trucks such as the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 are more powerful and more capable than ever. They can even tow more than the Titan XD, depending on their configurations.

　　Nissan's Titan XD is worth a look if you're looking for a lot of features for the money and respectable towing and hauling capability. But don't forget to test-drive some light-duty and heavy-duty rivals before you buy. They may also meet your needs and do it with a bit more modern refinement and available equipment.

　　

What's it like to live with?

zzdcar' editors tested a Titan XD nearly 25,000 miles over the course of a year. The good news is that the Titan is definitely tough, but we came away less enthused about the truck's finer points. Is it the right truck for you? Read our Titan XD yearlong test for a full evaluation. Note that while we tested a 2016 Titan XD, the 2019 truck is of the same generation and our observations still apply.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.7 / 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 XD Pro-4X Crew Cab (turbo 5.0L V8 diesel | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 6-foot-7-inch bed).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, the current Titan XD has received some revisions, including the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Titan XD, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.7 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　When equipped with the diesel V8, the Titan XD feels like a hearty draft horse. It's not particularly fast or nimble, but it can handle some serious heavy lifting. However, it doesn't translate into a stiff ride. The Titan XD remains compliant enough to drive every day.

　　

Acceleration

6.5

　　The diesel V8 has plenty of torque for towing and hauling, but it's not very quick. We measured a 0-60 mph time of 9.6 seconds, which is slower than most gas-powered V8 trucks. Passing slower traffic requires patience and planning.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The brakes are well up to the task of stopping this big, heavy truck. The pedal stroke is a little long, but that's typical for trucks. As powerful as the brakes are, they're easy to modulate. During panic stops at our test track, the Titan remained straight and controllable with minimal nosedive.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　Other than the wide turning radius, we like the steering for its solid overall feel. It can be heavy at times, but it's always responsive and predictable. When off-roading, vibrations and kickback are kept in check.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　For a truck with its level of towing and hauling capacity, the Titan XD has a very agreeable ride. Unlike many heavy-duty trucks that feel high-strung when empty, the XD remains compliant over bumpy roads and rarely transmits sharp impacts.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　The throttle response is gradual and predictable, and the six-speed automatic transmission keeps power on tap with smooth shifts. The transmission is especially helpful when towing and hauling up steep inclines.

　　

Off-road

8.5

　　The Titan's low-end torque makes it easy to crawl over boulders and up steep hills, two things the Pro-4X can do well thanks to its low-range gearing and all-terrain tires. The truck's physical size is its biggest limitation.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The Titan XD is quiet and has a smooth ride and comfortable seats, giving it an edge over true heavy-duty trucks. To maintain that ride quality, we recommend that shoppers stick with the 18-inch wheels rather than the optional 20-inch wheels and tires.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The seats are spacious and well-shaped, and they offer plenty of adjustment. The side bolstering is minimal, but that makes for easy entry and exit. Rear passengers get a surprising amount of room and a reasonably comfortable bench seat.

　　

Ride comfort

8.0

　　The ride is firm but not nearly as harsh as in other heavy-duty trucks. The Pro-4X model rides better than the high-end SL and Platinum Reserve trims because its 18-inch tires and shocks do a better job of filtering out the small stuff than the 20-inch wheels and tires.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　It has some of the typical diesel engine clatter, but the XD keeps the noise in check as well as or better than just about every other full-size diesel truck on the market. Even with the off-road tires found on the Pro-4X, the Titan is very civilized on the highway.

　　

Climate control

8.5

　　Operating the dual-zone climate control is easy thanks to large knobs and buttons. The system itself does a good job of maintaining the set temperature even when the driver and front passenger dial up very different temperatures. Rear vents are a plus for passengers in the back.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　Rival trucks offer more interior space on paper, but the Nissan Titan XD doesn't feel any smaller. The cabin is not only roomy, it's thoughtfully designed, and it features good materials for the class.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The smooth-acting column shifter opens up space for a simple cabin layout with large cupholders and plenty of storage space. Some switches and buttons, as well as the outdated infotainment system, feel small in this large cabin.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The seats are rather high, which is no surprise considering the XD is among the tallest trucks in the class. And there's no difference between the 4x2 and the 4x4 models. The front doors open wider than the rear ones, and all the doors have chunky grab handles.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　A telescoping steering column and an abundance of seat adjustments make it easy to find your preferred driving position.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　Headroom is plentiful, and there's ample legroom up front. Adults in the back seat have enough legroom, although some competitors offer a bit more room. On paper, the cabin is slightly narrower than the competition, but it doesn't feel that way when you're inside.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　The well-defined hood shows where the front end stops, and the view to the sides and back is reasonable. The outside mirrors are a bit small, and the windshield header masks some overhead traffic signals.

　　

Quality

8.5

　　Fit and finish is top-notch, and Nissan has managed to make the Titan XD look strong without resorting to a cartoonishly overdone tough-truck theme. The exterior paint and trim are handsome on the Pro-4X and even better on the Platinum Reserve.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　As long as you don't need outlandish towing and hauling ratings, the Titan XD is capable of handling the utility needs of most average truck owners. Plenty of interior storage and innovative exterior bed-storage options give the Titan XD a unique position in the market.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　The flip-up rear seat cushions provide in-cab storage that is similar to that of Ram trucks. The huge center console bin with a big cubby up front also holds an adjustable cupholder insert. But the glovebox and door pockets are on the small side.

　　

Cargo space

9.0

　　The five-rail cargo tie-down system (optional on the SV and Pro-4X; standard on the SL and Platinum Reserve) is easily the best available, and it comes with a spray-in bedliner, a 400-watt in-bed power outlet, and LED under-rail bed lighting. Optional lockable bed boxes are also available.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.0

　　The car seat anchors for the outboard rear seats are easily accessed, as are the top tether anchors behind the rear seatbacks. But it's still tricky to secure a front-facing seat. A bigger issue is the height of the cab itself; it's a reach.

　　

Towing

7.0

　　The Titan XD can tow up to 12,710 pounds with a traditional hitch, depending on the truck's configuration. By design, this tow capacity is midway between most light-duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks. Some of the latest light-duty trucks can tow more than the Titan, however. A brake controller, extendable mirrors and a gooseneck hitch are available as factory options.

　　

Hauling

7.0

　　With a max payload of 2,250 pounds, the XD lags behind a true heavy-duty truck. But the cargo tie-down system does make it convenient to secure items in the bed.

　　

Technology

　　The Titan XD uses a lot of carryover elements from the aging Nissan parts bin, making it feel older than it is. That's especially true of the infotainment system and its screen. Blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system are available, but more advanced safety features are not.

　　

Audio & navigation

　　The audio system sounds good and is fairly easy to operate. The touchscreen, however, is small and feels a generation behind due to its lower-resolution graphics and lack of detail in the navigation maps.

　　

Driver aids

　　v

　　

Which Titan XD does zzdcar recommend?

　　We recommend the Pro-4X trim level. It's the most off-road-capable Titan XD, and it also comes with a good amount of standard equipment such as dual-zone climate control, a spray-in bedliner and blind-spot monitoring. Staying with this middle ground trim level also helps maximize the Titan's value potential.

　　

2019 Nissan Titan XD models

　　The 2019 Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup that sits squarely between the light-duty and heavy-duty versions of its competitors. Five trims are available: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve.

　　The Titan XD comes in single-cab, extended-cab (Nissan calls it King Cab) and crew-cab four-door variants. The single cab has an 8-foot bed and is available in S and SV trims. The extended-cab variant is offered with the 6.5-foot bed in S, SV and Pro-4X trims. The crew cab is available in all five trim levels.

　　In all cases, shoppers can choose between a 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine (390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque) mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission or a turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 diesel (310 hp and 555 lb-ft) that uses a six-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive available as an option. (It's four-wheel-drive only on the Pro-4X model.)

　　The S is your basic no-frills work truck, but it's received some improvements this year, including a 7-inch touchscreen that is now standard with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Other standard features include 17-inch steel wheels, a black grille and black bumpers, a lockable tailgate, remote locking and unlocking, power windows and locks, a rearview camera, air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, a bench front seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, cloth-and-vinyl upholstery, a four-speaker audio system and two USB ports. King Cab and crew-cab models get a six-speaker audio system.

　　The SV trim adds chrome exterior trim, power-adjustable heated mirrors, a receiver hitch with a combo four-pin/seven-pin wiring harness connector, a trailer brake controller, an overhead console, upgraded instrumentation, carpeted floors, cloth upholstery and satellite radio. Four-wheel-drive models also add front tow hooks.

　　The off-road-focused Pro-4X model steps up with standard four-wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, a lockable rear differential, skid plates and hill descent control. It also comes with automatic headlights, foglights, a spray-in bedliner, automatic wipers, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, unique cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual front captain's chairs with adjustable lumbar support, storage space under the rear seats, a 120-volt outlet, navigation and blind-spot monitoring.

　　The SL trim does without the Pro-4X's off-road gear, building on the list of features with 20-inch alloy wheels, running boards, a cargo-management rail system and a 110-volt power outlet in the bed, LED bed lighting, a power-sliding rear window, auto-dimming mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, remote ignition, a power-adjustable steering wheel, heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a 12-speaker Fender audio system.

　　At the top of the Titan XD lineup is the Platinum Reserve trim that goes all in with an abundance of chrome trim, premium leather upholstery, wood trim, a heated steering wheel, cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a surround-view camera system.

　　Some features are available on supporting trims as options, and there are a few other available options such as the in-bed Titan Box storage system. The Chrome and Texas Titan packages add a variety of cosmetic enhancements to the SV and SL trims. The SV and the SL are also available with the Midnight Edition package, which adds black exterior and interior styling elements.

　　

2019 Titan XD Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabRegular CabDieselCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XSLPlatinum ReserveS

　　

Base MSRP	$38,270
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$215/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	11,680 lbs.
Warranty	5 years / 100,000 miles