2016 Nissan Titan XD PRO-4X 4WD Crew Cab Review

Somewhere between the half-ton pickup segment and the three-quarter ton market is an area that up until now has never been addressed. Enter the Nissan Titan XD Series pickup. This new truck from Nissan looks to make a name for itself in the previously untapped middle ground between these two trucks. We’ll check out the 5.6-liter gas model and see how it performs in the high-altitude of Colorado.

What’s new for 2016?

The 2016 Nissan Titan XD is an all-new model. The gasoline V8 has just been introduced.

Features and options

Titan XD Pro-4X 4WD ($45,970) comes with dark-finished 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, off-road-tuned Bilstein shocks, a lockable rear differential, skid plates, hill descent control and special cloth-and-vinyl upholstery. The Pro-4X also features LED headlights, spray-in bedliner, and a towing package.

The optional Pro-4X Convenience package ($3,310) is upgraded with remote engine start, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, unique leather upholstery with contrast stitching, a four-way power passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel and driver memory settings.

The Pro-4X Utility and Audio package ($1,100) that combines the SV Utility package with a Rockford Fosgate audio system featuring 12 amplified speakers and a subwoofer. And then there's the PRO4-X Luxury package ($1,510) that includes ventilated front seats, Around view monitor and and Reverse auto-tilt side mirrors. Total MSRP as tested including destination: $53,085.

Interior highlights

Climbing up into the Titan XD, lets you know this is a full-size pickup that is ready to handle some tough jobs. Don’t let the leather-covered heated/cooled front seats with PRO 4-X logos fool you. It may be cushy on the inside, but it’s a truck ready to do some heavy hauling if needed.

We appreciated the back-up camera in this long truck this week. It also comes with the standard blind spot warning that kept us from scraping the side. It’s got plenty of warning signals to let you know when you get too close to an object in the front, back and sides. The PRO 4-X also comes with large folding side mirrors that made it easy to navigate through heavy city traffic.

This truck is comfortable and roomy inside. There’s lots of storage options up front as the large console opens up to reveal a cavernous area to store just about anything you will want to bring on a long trip. The 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use and offers the latest technology to stay connected. The back seat is big enough for three tall adults and the seat lowers flat for more cargo carrying ability if you need it.

Engine and fuel mileage specs

The 2016 Nissan Titan XD is powered by a standard gasoline 5.6-liter gasoline V8 with 390 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels on this 4WD tester. EPA fuel-mileage ratings are not required on this vehicle. In our week of testing we got around 14 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. And we pushed it hard up the mountain all week.

Driving dynamics

We recently test drove the Titan XD Cummins Diesel model and think the 5.6-liter gasoline V8 combined with the seven-speed combination feels stronger and more responsive than the diesel variant. At least empty, the gas XD 4WD offers quicker acceleration from a start, and also faster kick-down response when we mashed down the pedal as we entered I-70 and merged into traffic. Of course there’s not as much torque as the diesel (555 lb ft), so towing a heavy trailer is going to be better left for the 5.0-liter turbocharged Cummins powerplant.

The 5.6-liter gas engine comes with 80 more horsepower than the diesel, giving it a different set of job skills over the diesel. The gas XD is also 700 pounds lighter than the diesel because of its all-aluminum construction and you can feel it under heavy acceleration. We took it into the high altitude environment west of Denver and the V8 had power to spare in the rarified air at 9000 feet. We had no trouble passing slower cars who were struggling to get up the steep incline near Georgetown. At least when empty, the 5.6-liter V8 had plenty of grunt.

If you are looking for payload capacity, the gas variant XD will haul as much as 2,594 pounds, or about 500 pounds more than its diesel stablemate. On the open road, the ride feels less harsh than other heavy-duty trucks on the market. The long wheelbase offers a smooth ride and the cabin is quiet and comfortable.

Conclusion

Nissan has developed the Titan XD to tap into the middle ground between half ton and three-quarter ton pickups. They succeeded in building an attractive offering in the gas V8 variant that is capable of handling substantial loads, features a beefier frame and running gear than half-ton trucks and the ride isn’t as harsh as most heavy-duty trucks. The interior is upscale with the convenience package and there’s plenty of technology and safety equipment to keep you connected and out of harms way. If you need to tow heavier loads, check out the 5.0-liter Cummins turbo diesel model.