2020 Nissan Titan | Review & Road Test

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2020 Nissan Titan – Review & Road Test

Sometimes a facelift is just too much, and others it’s subtle enough that whatever’s getting lifted is just a better version of what it was. Well, the Nissan Titan found a great surgeon who didn’t overdo things, because the mid-cycle refresh this guy got is solid. Yeah, let’s bust out that graphic for 2020!

There are three new grille options including this one on the off-road Pro 4x model.

The brighter LED headlights are standard on the top three trim levels only, as well as available LEDs in the bed and taillights, so there’s plenty of really good illumination to be had if you’re willing to pay for it.

Overall the Titan’s got presence. It’s handsome and not so different from the previous model that it’s unrecognizable.

The Titan’s 229 inches long and 80 inches wide. The bed on this Crew Cab is 5.5 ft, and the King Cab which has less room for people and more room back here sports a 6.5ft box.

The box has good options for work functionality. You can get a spray in liner, that’s standard on the Pro4x trim and above. There’s a box storage system that sit low in the bed so as to not entice someone to steal your stuff, and there’s Nissan’s Utili-Track system that features these moveable cleats, that’s standard on the SL and Platinum reserve trim but optional on some lower ones.

It’s got a damped tailgate that makes it easier to open and close. The bed on the Pro4X is a bit high for me to reach into, but it does get this retractable step up that makes it easier to get in and out. Good utility and function here.

The Titan’s is objectively not a displeasing interior.

First the good. Seats, well, you know by now how much I dig Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats. So comfortable. And I drove this sucker 1,000 miles towing a 2,000-pound trailer, so I know. There’s plenty of room, even in the back for larger dude persons, and the ones who piled in here with me on our road trip were perfectly happy back there.

There are plenty of cup holders, though these inserts are sort of awkward if you’re not using them. The stitching is a nice touch and it’s real. Though of course you won’t get details like this on the lower trim levels.

This 7-inch gauge cluster as well as an 8-inch touchscreen monitor come standard. But starting with the Pro4X trim this becomes a 9-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are gratis on every Titan made, which is great. My quip about this infotainment system is in the touch part of it. Sometimes it’s more sensitive than others or it has a tendency to glitch and skip around, maybe that’s just ours. However, I had similar issues with the temperature controls. When it’s on Auto it would sometimes blow cold air, even when set to 78 degrees. And I had to turn the car off and on again once because the seat heaters where blowing cool air on my booty. Overall, glitchy and not super consistent.

So, the biggest news for this big truck is what’s under the hood. Nissan no longer offers a diesel option for the Titan. There’s one powertrain, which in the very competitive truck-o-verse that’s unusual.

The Ford F150, Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado all offer several powertrain options. For serious truck buyers that does give the competition a leg up when it comes to configuring the workhorse that’s right for you.

The 5.6L V8 that moans under this hood, however, is a solid power source. It’s been retuned and makes 400 hp, that’s up from 390, and 410 pound ft of torque at 4,000 rpms and while it does make quite a noise when you’re goosing the throttle either going up an incline or looking for a burst of acceleration, the Titan does give you an appropriate and confident power surge.

The 9-speed automatic that V8 pairs with is new and works very well here. It’s got 2 more gears than the previous year’s model and that makes for easy towing, smoother shifts, and better gas mileage thanks to more efficient gear selection. Overall there are huge gains over the previous trans with this new set up.

High speed cruising in the Titan is great and overall it affords a quiet, comfortable ride, even with these more aggressive off-road tires. I do wish the pedals were in a less staggered position, but my feet are small so I’m not the average person in that regard. There I’ll give the Titan a pass.



The XD (Graphic: 11,040 Max Towing/2,200 Max Payload) doesn’t tow or haul as much as those other Goliaths, but this David is still capable and comfortable if you’re not in the market for a gigantor truck but still want to haul around some fun toys.

It’s got the same powertrain, but the suspension’s beefed up to handle more weight. It’s got a double wishbone set up in front and leafs in the rear. The rear axle is heartier, too.

Other towing niceties include a gooseneck hitch, trailer brake controller and a downhill speed control function.