A year ago I brought you the review of the all-new Titan XD pickup from Nissan. This truck is placed in between light- and heavy-duty models on the market with the truck maker calling it “Every-Duty.” At the time of release it was only available as a crew cab model, but now the Titan XD lineup has expanded.
2017 Nissan Titan XD Single Cab/Images by David Goodspeed
We recently tested the new 2017 single cab configuration that arrived with the long cargo box. This is the work truck of the model line, a configuration sure to be sought by fleet managers everywhere seeking a diesel-powered alternative to the “big three” of Detroit. Nissan does now offer its 5.6-liter gasoline V-8 in all XD trucks but the workhorse is this Cummins 5.0-liter V-8 turbo diesel that cranks out 310 horsepower and 555 lb. ft. torque. Properly equipped, this translates to 2,420 pounds of payload capacity or 12,640 pounds max towing capability.
While most single cab pickups these days are bare boned when it comes to comfort and amenities, this Titan XD in SV trim was a pleasant driving experience. It is quiet, roomy, comfortable, and offers an impressive array of features including a host of technology. Our tester also arrived with shift-on-the-fly 4WD with two-speed electronic transfer case truly making it a workhorse no matter the weather or road (or lack thereof) conditions.
The truck rides very stably, but as one would expect can be just a little bumpy when unloaded thanks to the beefy suspension. I found it to be quite smooth for its class while my wife thought it slightly rough on harsh terrain. Springing the truck is a double-wishbone front suspension with rigid axle/leaf spring setup under the rear with twin-tube shock absorbers. Braking is very capable thanks to large ventilated discs front and rear, and the Titan XD rides standard on 17-inch wheels and tires with our tester being upgraded to 20s. Nissan provides factory integrated brake controller, rear view monitor with trailer guides, and trailer sway control. There is also standard integrated gooseneck hitch as well as tow/haul mode with downhill speed control, hill descent control, hill start assist, and active brake limited slip differential with available electronic locking rear differential.
A comfort and convenience package added Nissan intelligent key, front and rear parking sensors, around view monitor with moving object detection, blind spot warning with rear cross traffic alert, side running boards, and fog lamps. One feature conspicuously absent in this truck is automatic locking tailgate; this is a feature that every new truck manufacturer is now including on their vehicles, given the rampant rise of tailgate thefts and this is a feature that should be standard equipment along with the locking doors. The Titan XD has a lock on the tailgate, but it must be done manually by disassembling the keyfob to access the hidden key. At the very least, Nissan should have included this feature in the SV utility package that adds amenities to the cargo box such as Utili-Trak channel system, under rail bed lighting, and spray-on bed liner.
This 2017 Titan XD single cab truck is intended for the working class and seats up to three across thanks to folding center armrest, but two will find it most comfortable. It is quite roomy for occupants, but the space behind the seats is limited, so trips to the store need to be done in fair weather unless you opt for a cargo cover. Nissan did also release a new King Cab variant this year with the single cab truck to give buyers more options in the showroom and all XD models offer the choice of gas or diesel engines. Nissan is also boasting the best truck warranty of bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5-years/100,000-miles.
Pricing for the new 2017 Titan XD single cab begins at $31,090 for the base S model in 4×2 running gear with gas engine. Our 4WD turbo diesel SV tester came with a final window sticker of $47,155. Fuel economy is not rated for these vehicles, but we found our mileage to be better than in the crew cab model last year. We experienced around 13 mpg in town and 15 mpg on the highway, about average for heavy-duty trucks similarly equipped.
As Nissan rolls out its full complement of Titan and Titan XD trucks, it is proving it wants to compete with the “big dogs”, but the consumer will be the ultimate judge to determine if they accomplish that feat. During my time with the Nissan trucks I have tested over the past year, I have found many truck owners willing to give their opinion on the Titans but few stating they would actually swap their keys for a set from Nissan. Titan’s lead guy, Fred Diaz, is no stranger to trucks as he was the point man at Ram before coming over to turn things around here, so if anyone is going to make this happen, it would certainly be him.
