2020 Nissan Titan XD Review

Nissan has refreshed its tweener truck, the Titan XD, which occupies a niche between full-size and heavy-duty trucks. On top of a handful of changes to the trucks' looks and technology, the XD lineup has been simplified. Going forward, there is only one configuration: crew cab with a 6.5-foot bed, a gasoline V8 and four-wheel drive. Output from the 5.6-liter gas V8 has been increased slightly to 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, but the 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V8 has been dropped.

A new nine-speed automatic replaces the aging seven-speed auto, which should increase fuel efficiency and drivability. The rear gearing is now 4.083:1, which should help improve acceleration.

The 2020 Titan XD is 3 inches taller and about 15 inches longer than the standard Titan, with an 11.8-inch-longer wheelbase. The cab is identical in size between the two trucks, meaning the extra length is all in the bed. Ground clearance, too, is identical, with the XD's additional height coming from the fully boxed frame.

The XD's styling has been updated, too, bringing it in line with what we saw on the 2020 Nissan Titan. The front and rear ends have been heavily revised with new lighting, a new grille and a new tailgate. Twenty-inch wheels are standard, and the Pro-4X model gets red accents on the Nissan badges.

There's a good bit of tech. The standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2020 XD's infotainment system has been upgraded with larger screens and a new user interface that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The three best-selling vehicles in the U.S. are pickup trucks, with the Ford F-Series leading the pack for the past few decades. Brand loyalty is strong in the truck segment, and Nissan says a good number of Titan buyers are coming from cars and crossovers, not other pickup trucks, so they might not be as well-versed in the complex arcana of truck configurations.

Titan sales are a fraction of what the domestic automakers move, but profit margins are high and Nissan hopes a simplified lineup will help move the trucks that most customers are looking for. With the XD, Nissan is aiming for customers who want strong towing numbers but don't want to wade through drive configurations, gearing and tow packages to find the right fit. 

The Titan XD is a solid performer. The 5.6-liter V8 and nine-speed automatic transmission combo provides plenty of power and smooth shifts. We also like the ride quality, which is comparable to the Ford F-150's and Chevrolet Silverado 1500's but somewhere below the Ram 1500's in terms of cushioning and noise insulation. This is a big, comfortable truck.

Maximum tow capacity is 11,040 pounds with a gooseneck trailer and 10,880 pounds from the bumper hitch. When using the latter, the Titan XD is maneuverable and easily swings wide around turns, whether pulling a riverboat, an Airstream trailer or an 8,000-pound flatbed. There is an effortlessness to the steering, which enhances confidence on the road, and excellent outward visibility with big side mirrors goes a long way too.

But two days of driving the updated XD made it clear to us that, for those who tow, the diesel will be missed. The strong V8 engine makes most of its power high in the rev range, where it also makes more noise and uses more fuel. The diesel would, and did, more competently pull those loads. Titan XD drivers who don't tow will find the V8 enjoyable. The question is whether those customers exist in any real number.

The Titan XD has a spacious cabin. New for the 2020 model is a standard 8-inch touchscreen and available 9-inch unit, the latter featuring WXGA resolution that provides crystal-clear graphics … mostly. The exception is the rearview camera display, which is still low-res and blurry.

Nissan redesigned the center console in order to accommodate the screen, and the result is a new array of controls that make it easy to find what you need. Buttons and dials sometimes come off too plasticky or toy-like, but it's a big improvement over the previous model. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, standard in cloth and available in leather on higher trims, are wonderfully comfortable. Wide, supportive and well-cushioned, they make long trips stress-free. The seats could use more vertical adjustability, however.

The 2020 Titan XD is offered in five trim levels: the S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. All Titan XDs come standard with a 5.6-liter V8 engine (400 horsepower, 413 lb-ft), a nine-speed transmission and four-wheel drive. The Titan XD is only available in a crew-cab configuration with a 6.5-foot bed. Moving up through the trim levels unlocks different option packages with varying degrees of luxury and utility features. Highlight features include:

S
Starts you off with:

• 17-inch steel wheels
• Seating for six (front bench seat)
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Six-speaker sound system
• Manual-sliding rear window

The S also comes with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 suite of driver aids. It includes:

• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
• Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• High-beam assist (automatically turns the high beams on and off)
• Trailer sway control (helps stabilize a towed trailer while driving)

SV
Adds more features such as:

• Trailer brake controller
• Heated external towing mirrors
• Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

Pro-4X
Increases off-road capability with:

• Unique 18-inch alloy wheels with off-road tires
• Special off-road shock absorbers
• Electronically locking rear differential
• Radiator skid plate
• Locking rear differential
• LED headlights
• Spray-in bedliner
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents

SL
Adds more premium features including:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• 9-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Upgraded 12-speaker audio system
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Power-sliding rear window

Platinum Reserve
Loads you up with:

• Premium leather seating
• Two-tone exterior paint
• Illuminated running boards
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Interior wood trim

Nissan hopes the simplified lineup will entice consumers to go for the Titan XD rather than wade through the complex configuration options of the full-size truck market. There's something to be said for that. The fact is, though, the Titan XD competes in the most intense class in all the automotive industry.

Heavy-duty pickups such as the Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ram 2500 are simply stronger and better suited for demanding work. Nissan suggests thinking of the Titan XD as a well-equipped F-150 or Ram 1500 with a tow package. Yet the Titan XD will likely end up being more expensive than those models and have fewer options and body styles. The 2020 Titan XD is good, but rival trucks are simply better.