Even though pickup trucks are one of the hottest segments in the automotive industry, that doesn't equate to mad sales for every model. Case in point, the Nissan Titan and Titan XD. They're sort of in the "also-ran" category compared to the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and the Ram 1500. And since the Titan XD's not quite a heavy-duty (but stronger than the regular Titan), it can't really compete with the bigger offerings from those brands, either. Well, Nissan is hoping their 2020 Titan and Titan XD will gain some traction with the refresh. What you see here is the newest version of the XD.
One major difference you can't tell from just looking at it is the absence of the Cummins diesel engine. The engine builder has stopped making the engine used by the last XD, so now all XDs will be powered by an updated version of the 5.6-liter gas V8. The good news is that there's a bit more power to all four wheels thanks to 400 horses and 413 lb-ft, amounting to 10 more horses and 19 more lb-ft. The Titan XD also benefits from a new 9-speed automatic transmission that replaces the so-so seven-speed from the last model.
In terms of aesthetics, the grille and fascia are totally redone for a more refined (but still tough look), and minor tweaks in the cabin. The Titan and Titan XD have always been attractive pickup trucks, but the new look is a little bit bolder and goes well with the largely unchanged body. Nissan also cut down on the configuration levels by a significant amount. You can now only get the Crew Cab with a 6.5-foot bed and four-wheel drive.
The off-road-focused PRO-4X trim level gets "Lava Red" accents to denote its more rugged leanings, and the change looks great with the black grille and other trim bits. Both inside and out, you'll find that bold red lettering and trim to contrast nicely with the black grille, seats, dash, etc.
Inside the XD, there are notable changes, as well. If you get the higher trim levels, you can expect a bigger 9-inch infotainment screen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's also a panoramic moonroof, a booming Fender premium audio system, and LED headlights and foglights as options. The interior isn't as refined as, say, a Ford F-150 King Ranch or a Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, but it's a step in the right direction. At least in high trims like Platinum, you get the superb Zero Gravity seats.
In terms of safety tech, Nissan is going the way of Toyota by making a lot of systems standard. The Titan XD will get automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, auto high-beams, rear door alert, and rear automatic braking all standard, which should be a big draw for families. There's also a great set of optional features such as a 360-degree surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and traffic sign recognition.
We're guessing the Titan and Titan XD won't surpass the big three (Ford, Chevy, Ram), but they just might start nipping at Toyota's heels since we don't see a redesigned Tundra anywhere. There's no pricing announced just yet, but the new XD will hit showrooms in early 2020.
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