Few have dared to compete with the Detroit Three in the full-size pickup truck game. Nissan’s first generation of the Titan debuted in 2003 with the tried-and-proven recipe of having a large engine, multiple bed sizes, and a heavy-duty chassis for towing. The second-gen Titan, which was introduced in 2017, has the same ingredients, but with more of everything. With the significant changes that were made for last year, the Titan is a more appealing choice than ever.
What's New for 2018
Not much has changed for the 2018 Titan. The pickup receives a new Midnight Edition Package, which is available on the Crew Cab SV and SL trims. The package adds a body color front grille with a dark insert, a black fog lamp finisher, dark headlights, black mirrors, black exterior badges, black door handles, body color front and rear bumpers, 20-inch black wheels, black step rails, a charcoal interior trim, and “Midnight Edition” exterior badges.
Choosing Your Nissan Titan
Every Titan is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine that churns out 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission and sends power to the rear wheels or through a four-wheel-drive system.
The Titan is available in three different bed lengths: a standard 5.5-foot bed on Crew Cab models, a 6.5-foot bed on King Cab pickups, and an eight-foot bed on Single Cab trucks. Single Cab trucks are available in S and SV trims, while Crew Cab pickups are offered in S, SV, PRO-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trims. King Cab pickups have rear-hinged rear doors for access to the rear seats and come in S, SV, and PRO-4X trims.
When properly equipped, the Titan can tow up to 9,740 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,950 pounds. Those figures are considerably lower than full-size offerings from American automakers and are even slightly behind the Toyota Tundra’s as well.
The most fuel-efficient Titan is rated by the EPA to get 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Adding four-wheel drive to the pickup, which is a $3,030 option, brings the Titan’s fuel-economy figures on the highway down one to 20 mpg. Trucks with four-wheel drive can still get 15 mpg in the city.
The Titan is available in five different trims. Standard equipment varies slightly based on body style – the information below applies to the volume Crew Cab body.
Choosing a Titan is relatively simple, as the trims are clearly defined with different features. Consumers interested in off-roading will gravitate towards the PRO-4X trim, while those wanting luxury features will go with the Platinum Reserve. But the SV trim is the king here, with a price and packages that allow consumers to customize the pickup to their liking. The SV Tow, SV Convenience, and SV Utility Packages are worth exploring.