2020 Nissan Titan Review

　　

2020 Nissan Titan Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2020 Nissan Titan isn't fully redesigned, but it gains a variety of minor improvements. Notable changes include a new nine-speed automatic transmission that replaces the previous seven-speed transmission and refreshed exterior styling. The standard V8 engine, the only available engine for the Titan, gets a small power bump for 2020 and now makes 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Nissan Titan S 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) 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

　　$203/mo  for Titan S

　　Titan S

　　S 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $36,190 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $38,890 MSRPS 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $39,390 MSRPS 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $41,990 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $39,990 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $42,310 MSRPSV 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $43,190 MSRPSV 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $45,410 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr King Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $47,590 MSRPPRO-4X 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) (Most Popular) - $49,790 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $53,990 MSRPSL 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $57,190 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $55,490 MSRPPlatinum Reserve 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (5.6L 8cyl 9A) - $58,690 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　Nissan's suite of driver assistance aids, known as Safety Shield 360, is standard on the new model and brings traffic-adaptive cruise control to the Titan for the first time. The Titan also gets a revised interior with an improved control layout and a bigger touchscreen. But in many ways the changes don't go far enough to make the Titan a truly compelling pick for a light-duty pickup. Read our Expert Rating below to learn more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Titan drive? You get a standard V8 engine in the Titan. That's fine if you like V8s but other trucks give you a lot more choice. The Titan we tested accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is unremarkable for a light-duty pickup with a V8. But the V8, paired with the nine-speed automatic, puts the power to the ground smoothly.

　　We didn't expect the Titan to raise any eyebrows dynamically. But the steering is surprisingly heavy and cumbersome in a way that hinders maneuverability at low speed. You have to press hard on the brakes for full stopping power, and you feel the weight of this 3-ton truck on winding roads.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Titan? The Titan rides smoothly over even pavement and handles cracks and bumps in the road without upsetting the cabin. It's a comfortable ride made better by the front seats that are cushy and supportive.

　　The automatic climate control springs into action quickly. But the fans are awfully loud and contribute to high levels of ambient noise that always seems present in the cabin. At speed, there is noticeable wind noise, and you need to speak louder to hold a conversation on the highway.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? This is a familiar truck interior, with a traditional column-mounted shift lever and clearly labeled large buttons well within reach. Inside there's a lot of hard plastic, but Nissan does a good job of dressing up higher trims with soft materials and wood accents. Space for passengers is good in the front and acceptable in the rear, though many rivals in the class are more impressive.

　　The door handles are huge, and it's easy to climb in and out. There's a high, commanding view of the road — taller drivers may actually wish the seat lowered a bit more — and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel helps with finding a comfortable position. Front visibility is fine over the hood, but the blind spots are huge, even with large convex sideview mirrors. Thank goodness for the blind-spot monitoring system.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The upgraded 9-inch touchscreen provides crisp and clear graphics, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Unfortunately, parts of the screen wash out if you're wearing polarized sunglasses. Also, the rearview camera's resolution is poor and looks particularly pixelated and low-tech on such a high-definition screen. Even the Fender stereo system is only so-so.

　　Nissan deserves kudos for making Safety Shield 360, its suite of advanced assist features, standard on the 2020 Titan. The adaptive cruise control is especially effective, managing changes in speed smoothly even when other vehicles drift in and out of your lane. We also like the NissanConnect app services including a live on-call concierge who can troubleshoot tech problems or send directions straight into your vehicle.

　　

Towing and Storage

7.5/10

　　How are the towing and storage? There is a lot of storage space inside the Titan, but Nissan hasn't made it as clever or configurable as what you find in other trucks. For example, there's a handy soft smartphone grip in the Titan, but it's located in such a way that it takes away from accessible center storage space. The Ram 1500 has a similar smartphone grip, but it is tucked out of the way, pressed against a wireless charging pad.

　　The Titan's maximum towing capacity when properly equipped is 9,310 pounds. That's enough for a typical trailer but it's far from the best in the light-duty pickup class. Maximum payload capacity of 1,630 pounds is also a bit lightweight. But the bed is spacious, and it's easier to reach over the side than it is in other full-size pickups.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? A Titan with 4WD has an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined in city/highway driving. That's on par with rival V8s, but Nissan doesn't offer a more fuel-efficient engine option as competitors do. Our test Titan returned 18.6 mpg on our mixed-driving 115-mile evaluation route. Many vehicles we test on this route easily do better than their EPA estimate.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Titan a good value? Nissan should have an advantage over its rivals in this area, but the refreshed Titan has little to offer. Warranty coverage is average, and there's no way to save on gas with a more fuel-efficient engine. Plus, the Titan is not exactly cheap, which makes hard plastics in the cabin more of an eyesore. It's harder to justify the costs and trade-offs associated with this truck than it once was.

　　

Wildcard

6.0/10

　　There's nothing that's special about the Nissan Titan. It will get you and a whole lot of stuff where you need to go, but little stands out about the experience besides basic competency. Even the powerful V8 engine lacks character, and some clever touches (such as the smartphone grip) are overshadowed by their unintended consequences.

　　We typically wouldn't expect a ton of personality from a full-size truck. However, the Titan's competitors have largely figured out how to stand out from the crowd in some way, shape or form. That's an obstacle Nissan has yet to conquer.

　　

Which Titan does zzdcar recommend?

Unless you're looking for a relatively feature-free work truck, we suggest going with the midtier SV trim. It comes with features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, colored bumpers, a Wi-Fi hotspot and adaptive cruise control.

　　

2020 Nissan Titan models

Five trims are available for the 2020 Titan: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. Nissan no longer offers a regular-cab configuration, so you'll have to choose between double-cab (Nissan calls this the King Cab) and crew-cab models. Feature highlights include:

　　S

　　The base S starts off with:

　　5.6-liter V8 engine (400 horsepower, 413 lb-ft of torque) Nine-speed automatic transmission Two USB ports (one standard USB and one USB-C) 8-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationThe S also comes with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of driver aids. This includes:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) High-beam assist (automatically turns the high beams on and off) Trailer sway control (helps stabilize a towed trailer while driving)SV

　　The SV trim is similar to the S but has:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)You can also get the SV with the following packages:

　　SV Convenience package

　　Leather-wrapped steering wheel Automatic dual-zone climate control Remote engine start Keyless ignition and entry Front captain's chairs with a power-adjustable driver's seat Power-sliding rear window 9-inch touchscreen display with navigation Extra USB and power ports SV Tow package

　　Tow mirrors Trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab) Class IV receiver hitch and trailer wiring harness SV Utility package

　　Cargo tie-down system 120-volt power outlet in the bed Rear bumper step Electronically locking tailgatePro-4X

　　The off-road-focused Pro-4X features a number of upgrades that include:

　　Most features from the SV Convenience package Standard four-wheel drive Bilstein off-road shock absorbers Electronic locking rear differential Hill descent control Two-speed transfer case with 4-Hi and 4-Lo Radiator skid plate Spray-in bedliner LED headlightsThe Pro-4X's packages include:

　　Pro-4X Convenience package

　　Leather upholstery Surround-view parking camera system Power-adjustable front passenger seat Heated seats Power-adjustable heated steering wheel Driver-seat memory settingsPro-4X Utility package

　　Combines the SV Towing and Utility packagesSL

　　The Titan SL is only available in the crew-cab configuration. Mechanically, it's basically the same as the SV trim. As far as features go, it builds on the Pro-4X with:

　　Features from the Pro-4X Convenience package 20-inch chrome wheels Chrome exterior and interior trim 12-speaker premium Fender audio systemPlatinum Reserve

　　As with the SL trim, the Titan Platinum Reserve is only available as a crew-cab model. It adds to the SL trim with features such as:

　　Premium leather seating Wood trim on the dash, doors and steering wheel Leather-wrapped center console Heated and ventilated front seatsOther Titan options include:

　　Rear-seat entertainment system Panoramic sunroof

　　

2020 Titan Highlights

Type: Crew CabKing CabCrew Cab

　　Trim: SSVPRO-4XSLPlatinum ReserveS

　　

Base MSRP	$38,890
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	18 MPG
Cost to Drive	$203/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	9,350 lbs.
Warranty	5 years / 100,000 miles