2020 Nissan Titan XD

The outstanding Cummins V8 diesel powertrain is the best of the two engine options. Even so, the less powerful 5.6L V8 is not that far behind either. It still has a towing capacity no American pickup can match up to. Although, its heavy size does hinder its agility, the ride quality of the Titan is surprisingly good. It might not look really appealing by modern standards nor does it have an upscale cabin. But when you have to cover long distances hauling cargo, the Nissan Titan XD excels at the job gracefully.

With Ford, GMC, and Chevrolet previously having a solid a dependable balance in the business, it'd be a tough errand to go amiss the American clients from their staple. The Japanese offer good payload and towing capacity, which will surely be the tipping point of the decision-making process. Regardless of its capabilities, the fewer number of advanced features put the 2020 Nissan Titan XD at a disadvantage from its more modern competitors.

Available in 5 trim levels, 2 engine options, 2WD or 4WD and 3 Cab styles, Nissan has made sure to make a Titan XD that can be tailored to your needs. Only the base trims S and SV come standard with 2WD, with 4WD optional extra. The off-roading specialist, Pro-4X is limited to a Crew Cab style. For better quality interiors and more infotainment features, we recommend the higher SL and Platinum Reserve variants. Do keep in mind that scaling up the trim ladder escalates the price rather quickly. Checking most of the boxes when going for the Platinum reserve would easily burn a hole of more than $60,000 in your pocket.

Trim	S	SV	Pro-4X	SL	Platinum Reserve
MSRP	$31,590	$35,490	$45,440	$48,960	$54,330
Key Features	Push-Button ignition	Chrome exterior trim	Electronically controlled locking rear differential	20 alloy wheels	Chrome-clad 20-inch alloy wheels
	Bluetooth connectivity	Powered heated mirrors	Bilstein off-road shocks	Bed-mounted channel	In-bed storage boxes
	Cruise control	Advanced Drive-Assist	All-terrain tires	Heated leather seating	Premium 2-tone leather seating
	Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Smartphone Compatibility		Hill descent control		Surround View Camera
	7-inch LCD Touchscreen

We Recommend

While the Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve is the most luxurious of the lot, its $60,000 price tag makes you question if it's really worth it. The best option is to go for the SV trim that gets most of the boxes ticked. The interior can be upgraded with heated/cooled power-adjustable seats, a 12-speaker Fender audio system, and premium upholstery.

"The Titan XD is an easy everyday machine, provided you don’t have to park frequently in tight parking lots. It’s quieter than you might expect, and even the available 5.0-liter turbodiesel V8 is sometimes tough to hear with the windows down." -Kelley Blue Book

Engine and Transmission

You can either buy the Japanese pickup with 5.6-Liter gasoline V8 mated to a 7-speed gearbox or the iconic Cummins turbo-diesel 5.0-Liter V8 with a 6-speed. You can feel the Cummins pushing hard at lower RPMs, but that fades out rather quickly when cruising on the highway. The engine, however, has enough juice to tug heavy loads up steep inclines.

Unfortunately, the transmission is rather disconcerting, the gearshifts are clunky and unrefined. The Base models come standard with a 2-wheel drive. The optional 4-wheel drive can be actuated with a flick of a switch, which engages the 2-speed transfer case.

Models	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
MSRP	$31,590	$36,145	$37,425	$35,485
Engine	5.6-Liter V8	5.7-Liter V8	6.2-Liter V8	6.0-Liter V8
Transmission	7-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	390 hp @ 5800 rpm	383 hp @ 5600 rpm	385 hp @ 5750 rpm	360 hp @ 5400 rpm
Torque	394 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm	400 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm	430 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm	380 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm

Acceleration

The gas-powered truck painstakingly reaches 60mph in 7.4 seconds, while the turbo-diesel gets there 2 seconds slower. However, the Cummins provides good low-end torque for heavy towing.

Models	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
0-60 MPH	7.4 sec	8.2 sec	6.9 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter mile	15.8 sec @ 88mph	16.3 sec @ 85mph	19 sec @ 90mph	15 sec @ 91mph
Engine	5.6-Liter V8	5.7-Liter V8	6.2-Liter V8	6.0-Liter V8
Emission(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/year)	8.4	N/A	N/A	8.5

In comparison, the GMC Sierra 2500HD reaches 60mph much quicker than the XD, despite being a full-size heavy hauler. Primarily due to the slow upshifts and the ungainly throttle response, it is safe to say that acceleration is not the Titan XD's strong suit.

Ride and Handling

Although Nissan claims 'capability of a heavy-duty hauler and drivability of a light-duty, the drivability isn't what Nissan had intended. The truck is slow and unresponsive, typically expected from a three-quarter-ton hauler. It's a nightmare to maneuver around a city and parking is quite a task in itself.

The ride quality is comfortable and civilized, courtesy of the reinforced double-wishbones. But being nimble and agile is not the pickup's forte. The stabilizer bar also restricts excessive body-roll through corners.

Braking

If you thought the light-footed Titan XD would stop faster than the much heavier competition, you were wrong. Even the 6000lb Ram 2500 stops in 202ft from 70mph. The brake feel is as unresponsive as the steering, and the pedal feels mushy and underwhelming.

Model	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
Brake Front (in.)	14.2	14.2	14.3	13.9
Brake Rear (in.)	14.4	14.1	14.3	14.2
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5170	5941	5683	5741
70-0 MPH (ft.)	204	202	202	210

On the other hand, Ford has a sharp and lively brake feel which inspires confidence while driving such a large vehicle.

Off-Roading Capability

Nissan has made a Pro-4X variant that is the Titan XD designed to take on all kinds of terrains, featuring an electronically controlled locking rear differential, Bilstein off-road shocks, all-terrain tires, hill descent control, and skid plates.

Its ground clearance has been raised to 10.6 inches along with removing the side boards, which make it quite a feat to climb in. Be it deep mud or slippery gravel, the Titan XD Pro-4X can take on any obstacle it encounters.

Towing Capacity

The sheer amount that the Titan XD can pull is remarkable. With a tow rating of 12,000 lbs, the Titan can haul a regular 6000 lbs uphill at a steady pace. The specially designed transmission tow mode can maintain low RPMs for constant power while hauling. You can digitally control the amount of trailer brake intervention, which is really effective for reducing trailer sway and braking. Equipping the Tow package adds a receiver hitch, in-bed hitch, and tow mirrors.

Model	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
Towing Capacity (lbs.)	12,010	11,880	13,300	13,900

The American brethren seem to outshine the Japanse's towing prowess on this front and they have a lot of catching up to do on this front. This section can make or break for a truck because what good is a truck that can't lug what you want to lug but only looks as good as you do.

Heavy-duty trucks are not rated by EPA for fuel economy. Thus, it is vey difficult to determine just how far you can go with a full tank of gas in a 2020 Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab.

"Although the 2020 Titan XD is a tough and rugged truck, it has available features sure to please the most spoiled pickup buyer." -Kelley Blue Book

Seating and Comfort

In the second-gen Titan XD, Nissan has made quite an improvement in the interior fit and finish of the pickup. The optional 'Zero-Gravity memory foam seats, as well as, dual-tone leather upholstery, heated and cooled seats in the Platinum Reserve trim deserve more recognition than they get.

Model	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
Passenger capacity	4	4	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	41/63.3/41.8	39.9/66/41	40.8/66.7/43.9	42.8/66.03/45.27
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.8/65.6/40.2	39.8/65.6/40.2	40.4/65.9/43.6	40.5/64.3/40.9

Infotainment System

A new 7.0-inch touchscreen that runs on the NissanConnect infotainment system is now standard across the board. The Nissan Titan also welcomes all the toys new with the kids these days, and now supports smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 6-speaker audio system comes as standard. However, audiophiles would gladly appreciate the optional Fender 12-speaker surround sound system. Some additional infotainment features include:

• Bluetooth Audio Streaming
• AM/FM/HD Radio
• AUX Cable Input
• CD/DVD Player
• Audible Text Message Readouts
• 2 USB Ports

Cargo Volume

The Single Cab style offers a huge 8-foot cargo bed, but it is only available with the S and SV trims. The Crew Cab in the Pro-4X and Platinum reserve trims come with a 5.5-footbed. The cargo bed is easy to load stuff into and there are plenty of anchors to tie. The Utility package adds an in-bed liner, 110V power outlet, and in-bed lighting.

Model	Nissan Titan XD	Ram 2500	Ford F-250	GMC Sierra 2500HD
Cargo Volume in rear bed (ft.3)	59	58	65	61

Interior Features

• Zero-Gravity memory foam seats
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• Heated and Cooled seats
• Rear seat delete option
• 4G-LTE and WiFi connectivity

"A variety of packages add convenience and luxury features to lower trim levels, and the Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve come standard with LED headlights and halogen fog lights." - MotorTrend

Dimensions and Weight

Sharing the same boxed ladder frame from Nissan's Commercial Vans, the Heavy Duty Pickup is made to challenge the American pickups which dominate the market. The XD is wider, taller and has a longer wheelbase and bed compared to the regular Nissan Titan. You can configure your Titan XD with either a Single Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed or a Crew Cab with an exclusive 5.5-foot bed.

Model	Nissan Titan XD	Ford F250	GMC Sierra 2500HD	Ram 2500
curb weight(lbs)	6006	4913	5247	6986
Length(in)	230.5	243.7	239.6	237.9
Width(in)	79.5	79.9	80.0	79.4
Height(in)	78	77.3	73.7	76.8
Ground clearance(in)	8.7	9.3	8.5	8.6
Wheelbase(in)	151.6	156.8	153.0	149.5

The class leader in this segment the Nissan seems to edge pass the Americans when it comes to sizes. And when you're talking about pickup truck size does matter.

Exterior Features

• Skid plates
• Chrome front grille
• Extending side mirrors
• Watertight cargo bed
• Lockable storage boxes

With only a few active safety features, the pickup is behind the times, as the competition have equipped their vehicles with much more features, especially the Ford Super Duty. The features which you would find are:

• Blind spot monitor
• Front parking sensors
• Rear Parking sensors
• Rear Cross-Traffic Monitor

Nissan Titan XD vs Ram 2500

The Ram is the only other pickup to house a similar Cummins turbo-diesel. The three-quarter ton pickup has a smoother transmission, but the accelerator pedal feels equally unresponsive in the Ram 2500. The interior has a better quality of materials and the infotainment system is up-to-date. Moving from The Nissan to the Ram definitely feels like an upgrade.

Nissan Titan XD vs Ford F-250

The feature-loaded Ford feels like a truck of the future, and the sales figures show it. Premium safety and entertainment features, which are not even available in the highest trims, come standard in the Ford. With a bigger bed and a bigger engine, the Ford outranks the Nissan by a mile.

Nissan Titan XD vs GMC Sierra 2500HD

One of General motor's trusted pickups, the Sierra 2500HD has a bigger and more powerful engine than any of the others. The engine just pulls and pulls, the throttle response is immediate and the transmission is adequate. For a 6.0-Liter diesel engine, the mileage is as good as it gets. The comfortable interiors and functional infotainment is the icing on the cake.

The Nissan still has far to go before it can get up to speed to the American Pickups. Regardless of the overhaul for the second era, the Nissan feels collectible and dreary. Going for the Cummins Turbo-diesel was a decent decision, however that couldn't convert into execution. The Towing limit is amazing to the least. We prescribe you to go for the American Pickups like the Ford or GMC rather, which may appear to be expensive at an ice look, yet offer much better motors just as inside highlights.