Nissan’s Titan may be worth a look

• April
• 15

8:29 am Trucks

Truck buyers have given the Nissan Titan a lukewarm response since its introduction in late 2003, in part because of the limited model range: The Titan offered no V-6 or single-cab configuration, and its bed maxed out at just 6.5 feet long. For 2008, buyers finally have the option of an 8-foot bed, which most other pickups offer. Unfortunately, a V-6 and single cab version are still MIA, which means the cheapest trim level costs some $8,000 more than a base Chevrolet Silverado or Ford F-150. Throw in a spotty reliability record, and the Titan doesn’t seem headed for widespread appeal anytime soon.

All Titans have a standard V-8 and automatic transmission, and the only cab styles available are an extended King Cab and a four-door Crew Cab. The interior comes in five- or six-seat layouts, and beds range from 5.6 to 8.2 feet. Most trims can have rear- or four-wheel drive. I drove a four-wheel-drive, six-seat King Cab LE.

Nissan’s stout 5.6-liter V-8 generates 317 horsepower and 385 lbs.-feet of torque. I didn’t have a chance to drive with a fully loaded bed, but with one passenger and about 200 pounds of lumber, the drivetrain still made easy work of uphill onramps.

The five-speed automatic lags a bit in kick-down response, and its shifts are on the slow side. Fortunately there’s enough power that the laziness rarely detracts from the driving experience. Without any downshifts, I was able to comfortably pass on the highway, scooting from 60 to 70 mph in fifth gear at just 1,900 rpm. With proper equipment, the Titan can tow up to 9,500 pounds. That beats the Dodge Ram 1500 (9,100 pounds), but falls short of other full-size pickups.