2020 Nissan Titan XD

A mid-life refresh keeps the first-generation 2020 Nissan Titan XD, the brand's heavyweight pickup truck, in the running as it continues to do battle with highly capable and wildly successful competitors such as the Ford F-250 and Ram 2500. Nissan has built a good-looking off-road pickup, but sales figures of the Nissan Titan XD have been disappointing, to say the least. The Titan XD is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, but this is not enough to stick with its American competitors, who offer more towing capacity and overall performance. The Titan XD is, however, a comfortable daily driver, is competent off-road, and won't cost you an arm or a leg. The question remains; are these few highlights enough to make US customers buy one over vastly more capable heavy-duty rivals?

The 2020 Nissan Titan XD is available with a single engine option. Under the hood, you'll find a 5.6-liter DOHC V8 gasoline engine that sends power to the tires via a 9-speed automatic transmission and consumes a hefty amount of fuel in the process. Power is rated at 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque and is sent to all four wheels, with no 2WD variant available. The loss of last year's turbo-diesel engine means that the Nissan Titan XD now has a towing capacity of only 10,880 lbs, or 11,040 with a gooseneck hitch, which pales in comparison to the 37,000 lbs towing capacity of the Ford F-250 Super Duty.

Nissan finds itself in an awkward position with the Titan XD: it is advertised as a heavy-duty truck, but looking at the specifications reveals a pickup that is barely more capable than some lightweight offerings. Its total towing capacity falls shamefully short of its competitors, partly because Nissan dropped the turbo-diesel powertrain for 2020. Furthermore, the Titan XD lacks the contemporary interior design and feel offered by pickups such as the Ford F-250 Super Duty, and its infotainment system is woefully outdated. It's not all doom and gloom, however; the Titan XD is one of the more comfortable cars in its class and has a quiet and well-insulated cabin. There's some good standard safety tech on board, and the overall build quality and reliability are impressive. Unfortunately, the price of the 2020 Nissan Titan XD truck is too close to its main rivals who offer better performance in this size category. Better luck next time, Nissan.

As you might have seen in our previous reviews of the 2020 Nissan Titan XD, this isn't exactly a luxury vehicle, so most will want to look at the lower configurations where the most value for money can be found. The S or SV are good options if you're looking for a workhorse, with the SV offering a few more standard features to make the workday a bit more bearable. For those who don't mind spending a bit more money, the SL provides leather seats, or why not go for the Platinum Reserve, which includes features such as captain's chairs and power front seats. Those who are in it purely for the off-road capability need not look further than the Pro-4X, which includes Bilstein off-road suspension and a rear-locking differential.