Sponsored Content
2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X: fuel efficient towing, hauling
Published 1:30 am Friday, October 28, 2016
by Larry Lark, Herald Special Sections Writer
I drove the Nissan Titan XD (diesel version) this spring – now it was the 2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X 4WD (gas version) in the fall.
Frankly, there’s not a lot of difference. My recent gas-engine tester, powered by a 5.6 Endurance V8 engine, delivered 390-horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque when combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Cummins 5.0-liter V8 turbo diesel delivered 310 horsepower, but 555 lb-ft of torque.
Both averaged close to 14 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving. So pick your favorite – horsepower or torque – either way the Titan XD has you covered. Both offer the effortless towing and hauling of the larger, more expensive heavy-duty trucks – including an available maximum towing capacity of 12,314 pounds (diesel) and maximum payload capacity of 2,594 pounds (gas) when properly equipped – yet have fuel-efficiency and affordability closer to a half-ton pickup.
“The full-size truck market is the toughest market to crack in the entire industry, with so many outstanding products available,” said Fred Diaz, division vice president and general manager, North America Trucks and Light Commercial Vehicles, Nissan North America, Inc. “This new Nissan Titan XD is designed to offer buyers something the others don’t – combining outstanding towing and hauling capabilities and noteworthy fuel economy while towing and hauling. It also offers excellent ride comfort and handling, and the features and amenities that real working truck owners want.”
The XD is the first of a new family of Nissan Titan full-size pickups. The new Titan XD Crew Cab is the first of three cab configurations, two frame sizes, three powertrain offerings and five grade levels to be available once the full Titan lineup is complete.
The domestic competition has been served warning. The Titan XD came with a crew cab that seats five adults with plenty of leg, shoulder and head room. Bed features include the popular spray-on bed liner, flush-mounted LED bed-rail lighting, cargo and tailgate lamps, 120-volt in-bed access and a damped tailgate that is light to lift and smoothly damped when lowering.
It also features an industry-first Utilitrack Bed Channel System with four heavy-duty aluminum alloy cleats that move and lock anywhere along the walls, bed floor and header tracks to give the user endless tie-down possibilities. Locking tool boxes are provided on either side, with room still for 4×8-foot sheets of plywood to lay flat in between.
The luxury Pro-4X package includes leather-appointed seats, heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats, passenger-side four-way power seat, power tilt and telescopic steering, around-view monitor with moving object detection, and reverse auto-tilt side mirrors.
Other convenience features include a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, Rockford Fosgate audio system with 12 speakers, navigation system, rearview camera, satellite radio, and remote engine start, among other goodies.
Last, but not least,. the Titan XD includes a shift-on-the-fly, four-wheel-drive system and two-speed transfer case with 4-high and 4-low options. It came in handy when the monsoons hit in the middle of the month.
2016 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X 4WD
Base Price: $45,970
As Tested: $53,085
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.