Overview
The 2024 Nissan Titan XD attempts to provide a half-ton pickup’s comfort with a heavy-duty truck’s capability. It’s a worthy goal but, unfortunately, the resultant truck is compromised to the point of being mostly irrelevant. Sure, the beefier XD model can tow more than the regular Titan and it rides better than heavy-duty rivals. However, not only can some half-ton trucks pull more, but most have a smoother ride too. The Titan XD also doesn’t offer different cab-and-bed configurations; every model pairs a crew cab with a 6.5-foot bed. Whereas all heavy-duty trucks are available with a diesel powertrain, the Nissan only has a gas-fed 400-hp V-8. If you’re looking for a silver lining, the XD does have many desirable standard features, and its front seats are among the most comfortable in the biz. Too bad that’s not enough to steal customers away from domestic HD models. Ultimately, it’s the Titan XD’s tweener status and limited capabilities that fail to draw interest.
What’s New for 2024?
For 2024, the Titan XD lineup loses the base-level S trim, which means the SV becomes the entry point. That change also brings a higher base price, with the least expensive Titan XD now costing nearly $4000 more than before. This will also be the final model year for both the Titan XD and its half-ton counterpart, as the company plans to end production of both and build EV sedans at the Mississippi plant where the Titans have been assembled.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Considering the Titan XD’s status as an in-betweener, we’d suggest sticking with the low-end SV trim. This will maximize payload and towing capacity to help give the Titan XD a fighting chance against similarly priced HD competitors. Luckily, four-wheel drive is standard, and all Titan XD models come well-equipped with driver-assistance features and stylish 20-inch wheels.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The standard gasoline-powered 5.6-liter V-8 is quiet and refined. It makes 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and is accompanied by a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. Nissan’s tweener drives like a more civilized heavy-duty pickup without handling better or being able to haul as much. The XD has a compliant ride for a big pickup with a heavy-duty frame, though light-duty pickups ride significantly better. The XD handles like a heavy-duty pickup too, with lazy, uncommunicative steering and vague responses to directional commands that render it unwieldy on the highway. The test results for the XD we tested put it in the middle of the class. The soft, vague feel of the brake pedal wasn’t reassuring.
Towing and Payload Capacity
Whereas the Ford Super Duty can pull up to 40,000 pounds with a gooseneck hitch, the Titan XD can only handle 11,050 pounds with the same type of setup. The Nissan’s number drops to 10,900 pounds when it’s pulling a conventional trailer. Both maximum tow ratings are also lower than those of half-ton trucks such as the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, which can each tug up to 13,200 pounds. They also match the XD’s max payload rating of 2260 pounds.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Titan XD qualifies as a heavy-duty vehicle under EPA rules, so its fuel economy is not rated by that federal agency.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
A practical but uninspired dash design doesn’t help the Titan XD stand out in this segment. The leather appointments in our Pro-4X long-term test truck—it was a diesel model, since discontinued—gussied up the interior, while the topmost Platinum Reserve model features fancier two-tone leather and open-pore wood trim. Nissan’s excellent Zero Gravity front and rear seats steal the show with their perfect balance of support and comfort, especially on long road trips. The Titan XD, which is offered solely in crew-cab configuration, can hold the most carry-on-sized suitcases behind the front seats in its class, and its low lift-over height helps when loading cargo into the bed. However, its cargo boxes are among the smallest in this set, and interior storage space for smaller items is less useful than the competition’s.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The value-minded SV models come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trims get a new 9.0-inch display as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Every Titan XD uses a 7.0-inch gauge-cluster screen with displays for diagnostics and fuel economy plus an off-road accelerometer. It also has a neat Trailer Light Check feature for singlehanded monitoring of the trailer’s lighting connections.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Titan XD comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance features to help manage its mammoth measurements. For more information about the Titan’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Standard lane-departure warning
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Nissan’s warranty coverage for the Titan XD is one of the best; however, its shorter roadside assistance period and lack of complimentary scheduled maintenance diminish our praise.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 100,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Source: www.caranddriver.com