Full-size-pickup shoppers who have the self-confidence to show up at a job site in a Japanese truck ought to consider the Titan, but so far there aren't a lot of Titans in hard-hat zones. Instead, Titan appeals to suburban buyers who use their trucks for light chores, towing boats, and as a general family vehicle. Since this is a true full-size truck, it has all the disadvantages attendant to that role: It's heavy, it's bulky, it's difficult to park, it guzzles gasoline, and it's tall, so you have to climb up into it. That said, its abundant convenience features, spacious interior, capable handing, and eager powerplant make it quite a livable daily commuter. Titan is offered with a three-year/36,000-mile overall warranty, plus a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. As with most pickup families, there's significant variation in value among configurations, with the King Cab XE 2WD standing as an Excellent value. Be sure to check the IntelliChoice Ownership Cost Value Ratings on other iterations to ensure you make an informed purchase decision.
Watch out, Detroit, Nissan offers a truly competitive full-size pickup with the power, refinement, and features to gain traction in the segment long-dominated by the Big 3.
What's Hot
Strong, standard V-8 engineRoomy, well-designed cabinsInnovative cargo-bed featuresWhat's Not
Still faces image problemsNo heavy-duty or V-6 modelSome interior materials are flimsyLaunched for the 2004 model year, the Titan for 2005 has only a few changes. The Crew Cab model now has a standard power-operated up/down rear window with defroster. The tailgate now has a damping effect that makes it easier to open and close; the front seats have whiplash-prevention active head restraints; and there is a new exterior color --Red Alert-- and one new interior shade--Steel.
The factory-installed, spray-in bedliner is a must for anyone who uses his or her truck like a truck, and to have a Titan without the Utili-track cargo-tie-down system would seem a shame.