2016 Nissan Titan XD bets big on Cummins diesel (pictures)
Nissan's second-generation Titan XD may be a full-size gamble since it doesn't fit neatly into half- or three-quarter-ton categories, but it's an intriguing, intelligent bet.
The Titan XD's bold grille is said to have been inspired by the masks of Roman warriors.
Nissan's Titan XD will eventually be a full model line with a half-ton variant, gas engine, as well as three cab and bed configurations.
This four-door-cab configuration is expected to be the Titan's most popular body style.
This is the 2016 Titan XD's most luxurious trim, Platinum Reserve.
Nissan had to lift the hood height of its Titan design to accommodate the 5.0-liter Cummins V-8.
That big chrome garnish on the back of the Titan XD Platinum Reserve ought to make for a nifty high-beam deterrent for trailing motorists.
This particular Titan features a 6.5-foot bed.
Higher-end Titan XD models feature LED daytime running lamps LED main beams.
Note the way the taillamps project out from the bedsides.
Nissan designers say that tools inspired the design of the Titan's wheels.
This chrome fender vent isn't a functional vent at all -- it's just an excuse to show off the Titan's Cummins engine.
There's nothing subtle about the Titan's badging.
Those big, extendable tow mirrors have smaller integrated blind-spot mirrors, as well as cameras underneath for Nissan's Around View Monitor 360-degree visibility system.
Note how craftily the forward-facing camera is integrated in the grille emblem.
Nissan doesn't normally print model names on the front of its vehicles, let alone in such big letters. Designers felt this touch was so important that they had to fight to convince executives in Japan to let them.
The Titan's cabin is well organized, and in Platinum Reserve trim, rather posh.
The Cummins V-8 is the 310-horsepower, 555-pound-feet heart of the Titan XD.
Two-tone leather clad's Nissan's comfy power-adjusted Zero Gravity seats on the Platinum Reserve. The passenger-side seat could use more modes of adjustment, however.
Traditional round analogue gauges and a multi-function screen make up the heart of the Titan's gauge cluster.
Heavy-duty trucks aren't subject to the EPA's fuel-economy testing.
Keyless entry and push-button start are standard, even on the base S Titan XD.
Models with navigation are fitted with an easy-to-use 7-inch touchscreen, but lesser models make do with a 5-inch display.
Nissan's first-generation Titan pioneered center-console-based automatic shifters in modern pickups, but for its successor, it went column shift to free up more room for storage and cupholders between the seats.
Under the split-fold rear bench is a lockable, reconfigurable storage area. That Titan-branded bag holds the gooseneck tow ball.
The under-seat storage bins can also be folded out to create a flat-loading floor without a driveline hump.
The rear seats in the Titan XD Crew cab are somewhat upright, but still comfortable, and leg- and headroom is plentiful.
Note the stitching and wood inlays.
Note the knobs for the cooled and heated seats ahead of the storage bin, as well as the integrated trailer brake controller next to the USB inputs and power plug.
The Titan's navigation interface will be familiar to anyone who has used a recent Nissan product with GPS.
Sirius provides traffic data for the Titan's navigation system, and NissanConnect Apps integrates features like emergency crash notification, stolen vehicle locator, remote unlocking and more.
Nissan says they tuned both the stereo and exhaust for more low-end response (read: bass) than is typical for Nissan automobiles, because that's what truck buyers prefer.
Nissan arranged for journalists to drive the Titan XD with 750 pounds strapped in the bed.
Nissan provided competitor HD trucks for comparison on a rough dirt road closed course including washboard surfaces and surfaces comprised of large rocks. It displayed a superior ride to both Ford and GM products.
A 9,000-pound, 24-foot double-axle trailer provided a suitable towing test for the Titan XD.
Branding is everywhere, even on the running boards.
This Titan XD is fitted with Nissan's lockable, drainable, removable in-bed storage system. Note the capped cleat runners in the bed for the tie-down system, as well as the round plugs that cover the hole for the gooseneck hitch and chain mounts.
Even with the in-bed storage in place, the bed can accommodate a 4x8 sheet of plywood and also have a topper cap or rack placed on top. Under-rail LED lights illuminate the storage bins at night, as well as whatever else is in the bed.