2019 Nissan Titan XD Review: A pony dressed as a draft horse
The Titan XD tries hard to be Nissan's heavy-duty pickup option, and it certainly looks and sounds the part. However, even with 555 lb-ft of torque available on the optional top-end Cummins V8 turbodiesel engine, the XD simply can't compete with rivals who focus on more than just looks. Straddling the line between lightweight trucks and true heavyweights like the Ford F-250 and Ram 2500, the Nissan offers great ride quality and comfort thanks to its Zero Gravity seats; sadly, its towing capacity is absolutely dwarfed in comparison to core rivals. The starting price of $32,990 is no lower than most others in this segment, making the Nissan a pretty expensive showpiece. The truck tries to be more than it is, and in so doing, it loses what little credibility it had to begin with.
What's the Price of the 2019 Nissan Titan XD?
The Single Cab range offers the cheapest models, with the S trim priced from $32,990 in its standard, petrol-powered, 4x2 guise. At the entry point to the range, the Titan XD is no cheaper than other heavy-duty pickups. The base SV will cost you $37,090 while choosing the diesel engine elevates the price to $38,620 on the base S trim and $43,230 on the SV. Should you want either of the above in 4x4, you will need to fork out an additional $3,140.
For the King Cab line-up, the S and SV trims $2,000 and $2,500 more respectively, nearing - and surpassing - the $40,000 mark when adding 4x4 capabilities. The Pro-4X is available from this trim level and up and is exclusively available as a four-wheel-drive; its starting price is $47,210 for the gas engine, and $52,340 for the diesel version.
The Crew Cab trim level has the same S, SV and Pro-4X sub-trims, ranging in price from $41,430 to $49,490 as standard gas-engine variants. Models in the Crew Cab trim level are all exclusively equipped as 4x4. It is only at this point that the top-end SL and Platinum Reserve editions become available, and will set you back $54,200 and $60,080, respectively, for the gas-powered versions. The most expensive model available is the diesel 4x4 Platinum, and it will cost you a whopping $65,410 before adding any packages. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and Nissan's $1,395 destination charge.
Best Deals on 2019 Nissan Titan XD
Handling and Driving Impressions
Despite the amount of power available to the Titan XD, the pickup is far from being athletic on the road. It can tow six tons, but it feels sluggish on the road for the most part. Merging and passing on the highway is a trial of patience, making you feel somewhat foolish in a car that looks so much stronger than it is. When you do manage to get it up to speed, you can rely on the powerful brakes to stop you in a controlled manner, but the pedal is too soft to inspire any real confidence.
The steering is not particularly talkative, and it feels on the slow and heavy side. Nevertheless, the truck responds to instructions as well as you would expect from a heavy-duty truck, despite the Titan feeling more like an overweight light-duty truck, if we are honest. At least it's well-mannered on the road, delivering a smoother ride than many of the more rugged heavy pickups. Still, light-duty contemporaries offer a better ride, yet again showing how confused the XD is when it comes to finding its place in the segment.
Ride comfort and noise control are quite a bit better than most heavy-duty pickups. The Zero Gravity seats are supremely comfortable, even over long rides, and the cabin dampens unwanted sounds. The Titan's engine is not as boisterous as rivals', so it's naturally not as loud, either.
Verdict: Is the 2019 Nissan Titan XD A Good Truck?
The Titan XD is somewhat difficult to classify, seeing as it sits on the fence between being a large lightweight truck and a true heavy-duty laborer. As such, it is hard to say if it's good compared to anything else since there are no clear cut rivals. But, to be honest, even in a class of one, it wouldn't stand out.
The truck delivers truly mediocre performance with an engine that feels horribly underpowered for the size of the vehicle. The steering is responsive enough, but it's far from talkative, and the truck has an enormous turning circle. Towing capacity is nothing to brag about, being only slightly better than much cheaper light-duty trucks and paling in comparison to the real heavyweights like the Ford F-250 or Ram 2500. The only redeeming quality that the Nissan can lay claim to is that it offers a comfortable ride and a pleasant, well-dampened interior. But even then, so many rivals can make the same claim that it loses any genuine value.
For what you are expected to pay, this wannabe heavy-duty truck simply doesn't deliver on the promises that it's rugged design is making. If you want to look the part, you may as well play it too, considering you can pick up many better-performing trucks for roughly the same price. We cannot in good conscience recommend the Titan XD when the rivals mentioned above simply do everything it does, and they do it much, much better.
What Nissan Titan XD Model Should I Buy?
The model you choose to buy will depend largely on how you plan to use the Titan XD. If you want optimum towing capacity, then the base Single Cab S trim in 4x2 guise with the V8 turbodiesel engine will get you the best results - although the much cheaper gasoline engine offers almost comparable towing capacity for $5,630 less.
For any off-roading applications, the Pro-4X equipped with the same diesel V8 will offer the best performance; however, you will be sacrificing cargo capacity as the King and Crew Cabs come with a shorter bed. If you want a more pleasurable driving experience, but still a modicum of cargo hauling/towing capacity, then the SL or Platinum Reserve will suit you best. The V8 gas engine will provide a more quiet and comfortable ride if you don't mind the further reduced towing capacity, and will max out your budget at $60,080 for the 4X4 Platinum Reserve before any packages are added.
2019 Nissan Titan XD Comparisons
2019 Nissan Titan XD vs Nissan Titan
Comparing the Titan to the Titan XD is like comparing apples and pears - similar, but still different. The Titan is classified as a large truck while the XD is the heavy-duty variant, but the differences are not as big as this classification would imply. The Titan only tows about 3,000 lbs less than the so-called heavy-duty XD, and it offers a smoother ride thanks to its smaller dimensions and lower weight. The interiors of both trucks are almost identical, with available features varying only slightly. The Titan lacks the optional turbo diesel engine, however, and the better fuel economy that goes with it, although the gasoline fuel tank is cheaper to refill. With a slightly lower starting price and comparable performance, it's hard to choose the more expensive XD over its smaller sibling, unless you truly need that extra 3,000 lbs of towing capacity. But to be honest, if towing is your primary concern, you'd be better off with a different HD truck altogether.
2019 Nissan Titan XD vs Ford F-250 Super Duty
With a significantly more powerful 6.7-liter turbo diesel V8 supplying 450 hp and 935 lb-ft, at its disposal, the Ford is in a whole other class compared to the mediocre Titan XD. The overall performance is noticeably better, with this monstrous truck accelerating a lot faster than you'd expect, despite the initial delay before the turbo kicks in. What's more, this true workhorse can tow more than double the Titan's maximum capacity. With comparably comfortable seats, and surprisingly good road manners, as well as an array of optional safety and tech features that makes the Titan look naked in comparison, it's pretty clear which truck comes out on top. And with almost identical price tags, it is obvious which is the better deal. There's a reason Ford trucks continually rank at the top of the sales charts.