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Here are 5 things we expect to see when the 2016 Nissan Titan is unveiled.
1. New Powertrain Options and the Cummins Diesel
The current-generation Nissan Titan has failed to gain a significant amount of market share in the full-size truck market. A big reason for this is the lack of engine options. For the new Titan, one of the chief items to improve is their engine lineup. With only one gas-guzzling engine, a 5.6L V-8, Nissan has a huge opportunity.
We already know Nissan will offer a Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel engine. This engine has/will create a lot of buzz and should help Nissan grab market share from others. Why? Truck buyers have been clamoring for a Cummins diesel in a half-ton for years. Nissan will be the first to offer such an engine in this class.
Nissan ultimately needs more options for truck and fleet buyers who don’t necessarily need the large V-8 engine. With this thought in mind, we won’t be surprised if Nissan offers a smaller V-6 powered engine. Other truck manufacture offers a V-6 engine. This engine offers better fuel economy with a lower price while sacrificing some of the towing capability of the larger V-8 engine. This is a good tradeoff for truck/fleet buyers who don’t plan to tow with the truck.
2. Better Fuel Economy - dismal fuel economy from the current truck will change with new engine technology improvements
When the Titan was unveiled back in 2003 (see the unveil date of the 2016 Nissan Titan), the full-size truck market was all about towing and capability. Now, it is much more about fuel economy. With the new engines, Nissan will need to really improve their fuel economy numbers. A hot topic among truck buyers, fuel economy has vaulted from the bottom of their wish lists to the top. Nissan must realize this and get it right to become more relevant among truck buyers.
We expect their new engines to offer improved fuel economy somewhere in the mid to late 20s mpg hwy. Currently the Titan gets 13/18 city/hwy MPG.
3. New Interior - upgraded materials, new gauge cluster, better ergonomics
Another key truck category which has changed immensely since 2003 are truck interiors. They used to be rudimentary in nature, focused more on work than pleasure. This is simply not the case any longer. Truck interiors have vastly improved and are more “Cadillac” like than the truck interiors of yesteryear. This is one of the big areas Nissan needs to improve on. For the new Titan, we expect:
• New gauge cluster with a large TFT informational screen between the tachometer and speedometer.
• Larger infotainment screen with built-in back up camera and a wider assortment of apps
• Redundant controls on the screen, steering wheel and in the center console
• Additional storage throughout the cab
• Improved seat, dash and steering wheel materials
• Fully adjustable driver seat with improved ergonomics to reach the center console
These improved interiors will likely be tiered to different trim levels. This should mean Nissan’s SV Premium trim level will be radically improved to offer near Infiniti-like comfort and material quality.
4. Larger truck – wider and taller exterior dimensions
Parking a Titan next to any other competitor truck, it is obvious how much smaller the Titan is to them. The current-generation feels more like a 7/8 scale pickup like the older Toyota Tundra pickups were. Being the smallest full-size truck might seem great to a certain segment of buyers, it just isn’t good from a competitive standpoint. Much like the 2007 Toyota Tundra, the Nissan Titan needs to grow substantially and we expect it will. This will allow it to improve its hauling capacity and appeal to fleet buyers, farmers and construction workers.
5. More bells and Whistles
Nissan needs an edge with the new Titan. With this goal, they will try to incorporate more bells and whistles throughout the truck. Many of these additions will likely be safety related in the form of:
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane departure assist
• Additional airbags
• Adaptive Cruise Control
We could also see Nissan offering a keyless entry and ignition system. This is a nice feature on their sedans and the keyless options are making their way into trucks. By offering a keyless ignition, they can also assure themselves of avoiding an ignition switch failure debacle like GM is currently dealing with.
Other ideas center on the bed cargo area and better utilizing this space. Other truck makers like Ram and Ford have focused quite a bit of attention on this area. Nissan already has a creative storage idea in the rear quarter panel. They should keep this innovation going with new storage ideas throughout the bed. This area is an easy way to help your truck stand out versus the competition.
In the end, Nissan has a tough challenge ahead of it. Not only do they need to radically update their current truck, they also need to increase market share to pay for the r&d it takes to make these changes. Throw in the uber-competitive full-size truck market where each truck churns out big profits and the stakes are high. Will the new Titan meet all these goals? We will find out.
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Comments
that's all well and good but
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that's all well and good but they should do something about the rear end in the titan ,I have a 2011 and I,m going thru my third rear end I,m lucky because I got the extended warrenty when I purchased the truck if I didn,t it would have cost me about 4000.00dollars each time it was replaced, but I guess it,s like any other dealer after they get your money they don,t care.
New Titan wish list:
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New Titan wish list:
Passive entry/push-button start--- Ram has had this since the 2013 model year, and Ford will have it in their new 2015 F-150 on sale later this year. Nissan already has this on their other vehicles, it's a very convenient feature that is a must have in my next vehicle! It would be nice if it followed their other vehicles as far as options with the S,SV, SL trim levels.
Better fuel economy--- Ram ecodiesel at 28mpg, Ford 2.7 ecoboost will be around 28mpg as well likely.
More engine options--- V6, V8, V8 cummins turbodiesel (already confirmed)
Better exterior styling--- This design has been around for over 10 years...it's way overdue for a fresh style. The new Chevys and Fords look great. Nissan needs to add some LED lighting and Xenon options for the front/rear/interior lighting. A bolder front end would look good I think.
Better interior electronics and ergonomics--- telescoping steering wheel is needed, a comfortable soft touch area for the driver to rest both elbows while driving on the driver's side door and center console. Get rid of the captains chairs and go with a large comfortable center console like Ford has done on the 2015 F-150. The speedometer/tachometer cluster lighting needed updated. Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Ram all have nice easy to read displays. A standard rear camera on a nice high-definition multimedia screen 8 inches or so on the dash would be nice.
My ideal Titan would have the following build options---
2016 Nissan Titan Crew Cab SV 4x4 with a fuel-efficient V6 engine, passive key/push-button start, rear camera, ipod/aux/sd card center console plugins, heated front seats, rear air ducts in center console, power sliding rear window (like the current one), rear window defrost, dual-zone auto temperature control, power heated exterior side mirrors, utilitrack (or similar truck bed cargo management system), spray-in bed liner, tow package 4 and 7 pin, at least 7,000-7,500lb tow rating, color multimedia driver cluster gauge, probably around an 8-inch center multimedia screen, XM radio, HD radio. This truck I'd for sure be buying and I don't think any of the options I'm asking for in an SV model is unrealistic. Come on Nissan, made this truck and compete with Ford, Chevy, Ram, Toyota......you know there is a big market for a truck like I've described, build it and they will come!!
I hace a titan crew cab sv
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I hace a titan crew cab sv 2011nice truck people always said,yes update the interior and of course the motor.
First, I bought my 04 Titan
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First, I bought my 04 Titan Crew used 3 years ago with only 60k miles... and I love this truck! Living in an area of ice and snow 5 months a year, I bought it as a winter truck for the 4x4 capability/safety and can drive as confidently (or aggressively) as I want. The power is awesome- easily getting into / out of traffic! I love the design of the steering wheel controls, cabin light switch and wiper control so that I don't have to take my gloves off when it's -20 degrees out (or inside before warmed up)! The back is also so much more roomy than my full sized Suburban's, or wife's Denali's, second row seating. The kids haven't said anything bad about the back seats comfort level on several 4 hour trips. Love the double side mirror configuration! My uncle has a decked out 02 Silverado, and I wouldn't trade with him.
But after three years of ownership and only 14k miles... I have had to replace both front hubs, a ball joint, and brakes (second set) and shocks/struts around; and I'm not driving it hard or off-roading (at 74k miles). They don't use salt on the road because we drain directly into Lake Superior, but brake cable rusted and froze with brake locked- had to have it cut. While in my 06 Suburban, I did brakes and tires around 85k (tells you how I drive), and only 1 major issue by 135k miles... and in my experience, Chevy being much more dependable.
I am looking to get a new vehicle/consolidating a year from now, came across this review and became excited about a new model. Some improvements I'd like to see-
1. Larger capacity fuel tank (27-29 gal, because of the mpg/less fill-ups)
2. Improved turn radius- my long Suburban turns easier. I almost always look for parking to back into so I can get out of parking lots easier... By comparison, the slightly shorter Denali turns like a bicycle.
3. Rear and front camera (low speeds) with 8 to 10" screen would really help with parking near small vehicles or obstacles (or in the event I feel the need to go off road), as well as lining up to my trailer. Agree with touch-screen Navigation and radio inclusions. (The radio I have with 6 CD fills my needs)
4. Improved gas mileage. A V6 or 8 with turbo, or V8 that shuts cylinders down when not needed (at constant speed or by economy switch), or diesel would be helpful.
5. Slightly longer bed (maybe 1 foot)- as mentioned, have to put bikes in the bed diagonally and tie down. maybe shorten back bumper with indented corner foot steps
6. Could consider locking drawers under front seats that don't obstruct rear vents.
7. Improve heat and A/C to back compartment (through ceiling frame?)
8. Not sure if power front window attachments have been addressed. When front windows freeze, pulls from window motor tracks, often self-corrects when window button pushed up, but one time window released and damaged the window motor (fortunately right after purchase and dealer repaired- $500)
9. Would be nice for side rails of bed to have storage like Avalanche, and could contain the fold-up poles for a frame to carry objects (canoes, ladders, long lumber, etc...) above the bed, rather than buying aftermarket or hanging out of tailgate.
Has anyone looked at a front light sensor array that would detect oncoming cars and dim your vehicles beams towards them but still provide driver side and front right visibility? With so many cars and trucks using halogens, gets harder to see what you need to on back country highways with seldom oncoming traffic- would be nice if everyone had them to better observe the road for obstacles (water ice animals)!
tow capacity doesn't matter. for the few tons I do tow- what I have is great, barely even notice it's there
body size is already perfect, great match of stability, height/ground clearance, ease of entrance and interior room. I'm 6' 7", 260 lbs, am comfortable and have head room! though I do look through the front window tint to the horizon or have to slouch slightly
I have a tri-fold hard cover, bed liner, bed extender and tie downs which are great, but could improve with LED lighting of the bed from along the inside the bed/tailgate
love the ability to put the back seats up for ample floor space
we have 6 in our family, so the front bench seat with fold down counsel (good mix of storage and comfort)- is critical.
Too late for 2015, but maybe for 16? I am REALLY looking forward to what is unveiled! And I hope it's reliable.
I have a 2008 Titan 4x4 and
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I have a 2008 Titan 4x4 and drive it every day. So far so good. The back up beeper in the dash failed but no other failures. The overall size is big enough..seems bigger then some others I park next to. Any bigger then it would be difficult on some of the narrow dirt / gravel roads. The interior is just fine..I'd rather spend the money on reliability / technology improvements then pretty plastic and leather. The chrome bumper has numerous rust spots. Really didn't want chrome in a work 4x4 but it came with the SE trim package. The HVAC / defrost TCU require engine restart to shut off otherwise it keeps cycling in the "off" mode. Seems rather primitive. Off should mean "off". Oil filter seems too small for the V8 and air filter is expensive for a consumable / disposable part. Radio / CD player should have better tone control range..has way too much bass even when the bass is turned down. Should have a amp meter in the gauge cluster instead of a "volt" meter. Night time illumination in the center console / control could be better. Would I buy another Titan?? Yes..but still enjoy driving / using the one I have.