2018 Nissan Titan Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Nissan’s appropriately-named Titan full-size pickup first came out in 2003, and it was redesigned for 2016. As changes have been slow for...

Nissan’s appropriately-named Titan full-size pickup first came out in 2003, and it was redesigned for 2016. As changes have been slow for the Titan in the past, and it continues into 2018 largely the same as last year, with the exception of a new Midnight Appearance package distinguished by darker-colored exterior accents. The 2018 Nissan Titan is offered in single cab, extended cab, or four-door crew cab body styles, and trims include S, SV, Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve. The equipment and features vary wildly— as does the price. A relatively sparse Base S model starts at little over $30,000, while a loaded Titan Platinum Reserve can run over $60,000.

Engine options for the Titan are limited to one gas 8-cylinder and one turbodiesel 8-cylinder. The gas engine is a 5.6-liter unit rated at 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque driving either the rear or all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic. The turbodiesel is a 5.0-liter unit by American manufacturer Cummins, and it makes 310 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque shifting through a 6-speed automatic. That kind of heft allows the turbodiesel to tow up to 12,640 pounds— enough for the majority of users. The gas 8-cylinder will do most jobs with its 9,730 pounds of towing capacity (11,270 pounds in XD trim). As for payload, the Titan can carry about a ton in standard form or nearly 2,600 pounds in the XD trim. Big 8-cylinder pickups are thirsty, and the 5.6-liter gasoline Titan does just 15 mpg city, 21 highway, and 18 combined or 15, 20, and 17 in the Pro-4X configuration. Heavy-duty trucks like the Titan XD turbodiesel are not rated by the EPA.

In between the wheels, the Titan has a fairly conventional suspension setup for a large utilitarian truck with wishbones up front and leaf springs in the back. The Titan XD is a beefier platform thanks to a reinforced chassis, reinforced suspension, and an available locking differential. The XD also has a longer wheelbase and is two inches taller.

Buyers have five trims, three body styles, and two powertrains to choose from with the 2018 Titan, in addition to rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). Single cab Titans have an 8-foot bed, while crew cabs have either a 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed, four doors, and more convenience features. All of the beds have the requisite tie-down points. Base model Titans don’t offer much on the inside and have cloth seats, but stepping up to the SV model adds a few additional features and opens up more optional extras like spray-in bed liner or navigation. The off-road-oriented Pro-4X model adds skid plates as well as dual-zone automatic climate control, sliding rear window, and power outlets. The Titan SL gets a better stereo, power front seats, leather upholstery, remote ignition, and parking sensors. At the very top of the range is the Platinum Reserve, which rivals luxury cars in both interior appointments and price. It gets extra leather, wood trim, and brightwork on the inside—plus heated and cooled seats up front, heated seats in the back, a surround-view camera, and an available rear seat entertainment system with screens fitted to the back of the front seats. As for safety, the Titan has gotten four out of five stars in crash testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and mostly top Good scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Active safety features include a reversing camera, and certain models can be had with blind-spot monitors, parking sensors, or a surround-view camera.