SL 4dr 4x4 Crew Cab 5.5 ft. box 139.8 in. WB
2019 Nissan Titan Review
2019 Titan New Car Test Drive
Introduction
The 2019 Nissan Titan full-size pickup has a lot of power and a roomy cab. Built in Mississippi, it comes as regular, extended, or crew cab configurations, with bed lengths of 8 feet, 6.5 feet, and 5.5 feet respectively. It's powered by a 5.6-liter V-8 making 390 horsepower, mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. It's rear-wheel drive with part-time four-wheel drive available.
Last redesigned in 2017, the only thing new for 2019 is a 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
There is also a Titan XD intended for towing. Using a heavier frame and available turbo diesel V-8 engine with 555 pound-feet of torque, and a 6-speed automatic, it can tow more than six tons.
The Titan with the V-8 is EPA-rated at 15 mpg city, 21 highway, 18 combined. The Titan XD with the turbodiesel isn't rated by the EPA because its weight classifies it as a commercial vehicle (nor has it been crash tested).
The crew-cab Titan achieved a top score of Good in its IIHS crash tests, although the headlights only got Marginal. Blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alerts are optional..
Lineup
The Titan comes five models: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve. The Titan XD has those same models.
The S is a typical work truck with its cloth and vinyl seats, power features, air conditioning, 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, USB port, and Bluetooth. It starts at about $31,000 as a standard cab, costs $34,000 for extended cab, and costs about $36,000 for the crew cab. Four-wheel drive adds $3,000.
The Titan SV adds chrome trim, alloy wheels, upgraded upholstery, and a few other features. Options include bucket front seats with center console, a power driver's seat, navigation, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A crew-cab 4×4 SV with a few popular options costs about $46,000.
The Pro-4X adds off-road equipment; the SL adds luxuries like leather, and the Platinum Reserve goes full dress, running the price to about $60,000.
The Titan XD models largely mirror those of the regular Titan. The base Titan XD costs about $33,000, while a Platinum Reserve with the Cummins turbo diesel and a few packages is priced at about $67,000.
All Titans have a 5-year, 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty..
Walkaround
Nissan takes the simple three-box pickup design and adds its own twists. The Titan wears an upright grille with a contemporary amount of chrome (except for the Midnight Edition package that blacks everything out).
The front fenders are prominent on all versions. The crew cab has four full doors and a 5.5-foot bed. The extended cab has a 6.5-foot bed with rear-hinged rear doors, while the regular cab gets an 8-foot bed. .
Interior
The new 7.0-inch touchscreen sits in the middle of a refreshed Titan cabin that is due for a reskin. The car-like touches in Nissan SUVs would be welcome here.
The standard bench seat is well-shaped and reasonably comfortable. An 8-way power seat is optional on the SV.
On the standard cab, there's no storage space behind the rear bench, just the bench itself. The extended-cab rear seat has enough room for small passengers. The crew cab offers plenty of space for six passengers, although the rear seat back sits upright. The optional front bucket seats on crew cabs have a wide center console with good storage bins..
Driving Impression
The 2019 Titan engine is beefy, throaty, and torquey. The 5.6-liter V-8 makes 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque, and works well with the smooth 7-speed automatic to provide strong acceleration at any time.
The Titan XD offers a turbo diesel made by Cummins, a 5.0-liter V-8 that makes 310 hp and 555 lb-ft. It offers the ability to tow up to 12,800 pounds. The base V-8 can tow up to 10,000 pounds, so it might be argued that the XD is only for extremes-but it's not about the extra 2,800 pounds, it's about the ease of towing any heavy load.
Rear-wheel drive is standard, with part-time four-wheel drive available. The system is engaged with a knob on the dashboard. It isn't for use on dry pavement like all-wheel-drive, but rather for extreme traction needs in mud and snow or off road.
The Pro-4X comes with off-road equipment like Bilstein shocks and locking rear differential. Even on lesser models the ride can be choppy, especially on the XD.
The steering is well-weighted and performs well at highway speeds for long-distance cruising, but around town the Titan is a big pickup truck, and it drives like one. .
Summary
The 2019 Nissan Titan has a big and capable turbodiesel in its lineup, and its stock gas V-8 has a crisp and throaty exhaust to go with its ample power. The Titan might be at its best when it's outfitted to tow or optioned for work duty. Finally, it sports something no other big truck does: An exceptionally long warranty..