2020 Nissan Titan Review

The Nissan Titan receives a significant update for 2020, bringing some much-needed improvements to this full-size pickup truck. Notable changes include a new nine-speed automatic transmission, redesigned exterior styling and an available 9-inch touchscreen. The standard V8 engine, the only available engine for the Titan, gets a small power bump for 2020 and now makes 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft.

Nissan's suite of driver assistance aids, known as Safety Shield 360, is standard on the new model and brings adaptive cruise control to the Titan for the first time. Safety Shield 360 also includes reverse automatic braking, a first for any pickup truck. The number of airbags increases from six to eight, while seat-belt pre-tensioners jump from two to four.

Five trims are available for the 2020 Titan: S, SV, Pro-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. Nissan no longer offers a regular-cab configuration, so you'll have to choose between double-cab (Nissan calls this the King Cab) and crew-cab models. Feature highlights include:

S
The base S starts off with:

• 5.7-liter V8 engine (400 horsepower, 413 lb-ft of torque)
• Nine-speed automatic transmission
• 2 USB ports (1 standard USB and 1 USB-C)
• 8-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

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

• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don'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
The SV trim is very similar to the S but has:

• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between vehicle and the car in front)

You can also get the SV with the following packages:

SV Convenience package

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Automatic dual-zone climate control
• Remote engine start
• Keyless ignition and entry
• Front captain's chairs with a power-adjustable driver's seat
• Power-sliding rear window
• 9-inch touchscreen display with navigation
• Extra USB and power ports

SV Tow package

• Tow mirrors
• Trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab)
• Class IV receiver hitch and trailer wiring harness

SV Utility package

• Cargo tie-down system
• 120-volt power outlet in the bed
• Rear bumper step
• Electronically locking tailgate

Pro-4X
The off-road-focused Pro-4X features a number of upgrades that include:

• Most of the features from the SV Convenience package
• Standard four-wheel drive
• Bilstein off-road shock absorbers
• Electronic locking rear differential
• Hill descent control
• Two-speed transfer case with 4-Hi and 4-Lo
• Radiator skid plate
• Spray-in bedliner
• LED headlights

The Pro-4X's packages include:

Pro-4X Convenience package

• Leather upholstery
• Surround-view parking camera system
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Heated seats
• Power-adjustable and heated steering wheel
• Driver-seat memory settings

Pro-4X Utility package

• Combines the SV Towing and Utility packages

SL
The Titan SL is only available in the crew-cab configuration. Mechanically, it's basically the same as the SV trim. As far as features go, it builds on the Pro-4X with:

• Features from the Pro-4X Convenience package
• 20-inch chrome wheels
• Chrome exterior and interior trim
• 12-speaker premium Fender audio system

Platinum Reserve
As with the SL trim, the Titan Platinum Reserve is only available as a crew-cab model. It adds to the SL trim with features such as:

• Premium leather seating
• Wood trim on the dash, doors and steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped center console
• Heated and ventilated front seats

Other Titan options include:

• Rear-seat entertainment system
• Panoramic sunroof

Behind the wheel, the Titan quickly grows on you. Its powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine is proven and packs upgraded power over the previous version. It has no trouble hustling up to speed or hauling heavy loads. The new nine-speed automatic transmission, while not super fast in its shifts, is nice and smooth.

Insulation from wind and road noise has improved thanks to new acoustic laminated glass. At highway speeds, it's easy to keep the stereo humming and hold a conversation at the same time. A standard V8 engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and safety suite make an effective formula for an easy driving experience. There are no glaring problems behind the wheel of the 2020 Titan.

But nothing stands out either. The Titan's V8 isn't as fuel-efficient as Ford's turbocharged V6 or as responsive as Chevy's V8s. And don't get us started on ride quality versus the Ram. Compared to leading competitors, the Titan takes its time sending horsepower to the road, and its rear suspension can deliver a choppy ride with an unladen bed. It's not bad — the Nissan is composed going up grades, twisting around corners and stopping with force. It's just not as good as the others (except for the ancient Tundra; it's better than the Tundra).

In its Pro-4X guise, the 2020 Titan is loads of fun when you leave the pavement. Four-wheel drive is standard, and it comes with protective skid plates and an electronic locking rear differential. The tires are General Grabber APT wrapped onto 18-inch wheels. The shock absorbers are upgraded to Bilstein units that do a nice job of smoothing out uneven terrain.

One disappointment is that the standard hill descent control cannot be adjusted. It only has one creeping speed. The Pro-4X is also begging for better technology. It comes with unique off-road pages in the 7-inch driver information display, but the system takes a few seconds to respond. And by the time it updates, you've moved on. There is a nifty right-wheel camera to maneuver around rocks and debris, but none for the driver's side and the resolution is still dreadful.

The new Titan has more storage space, an improved control layout and all the comfort features you'd expect to see in a modern full-size truck. The standard Zero Gravity cloth seats are wide and comfortable, with a solid range of possible adjustments. Leather versions in some trims are very well done, and the quilted leather in the Platinum Reserve looks great.

In crew-cab models, you can fold the rear seats down flat or flip them up to reveal floor storage. There's a new optional panoramic sunroof with a power shade that span s nearly the entire roof. Even with the sizable sunroof, Nissan managed to keep grip handles above the doors for easy access to the cabin.

Still, it feels like Nissan is playing catch-up here. There is a lot of plastic, and the steering wheel design is badly dated. A slick air-conditioning design is ruined by noticeable plastic panels covering nearly half of the vent. The buttons and dials are too small and overly styled and cartoonishly labeled.

The big addition for 2020 is an 8-inch standard touchscreen. A 9-inch version is optional. The larger one provides higher resolution and improved clarity and responsiveness over HD. Unfortunately, the system's software doesn't seem to have been optimized to take advantage of the superior graphics. The new screen also highlights the poor picture quality from outdated cameras. There are a few apps on hand, but unless you need to see your weather forecast or music cover art in stunning clarity, the upgraded screen isn't being used to its potential.

There's a similar problem in the center storage area. Nissan added a handy, soft smartphone grip that sits fore of the cupholders. The problem is it's situated in an added tray that takes away from accessible center storage space. The Ram 1500 has a similar smartphone grip, but it is tucked out of the way, pressed against a wireless charging pad. Center storage is also fully modular in the Ram, so you can move it around and still access the bin. In the Titan, it's all just in the way and without the added benefit of a charging pad.

Certainly, the interior has some good qualities. The optional 12-speaker Fender audio system in the crew-cab models offers impressive clarity. Drivers have a commanding view of the road, and it's generally easy to see out of the sides and back. But the Titan runs into trouble when Nissan tries to extend itself — with low-resolution cameras or nasty brown blotches that appear on the fancy infotainment whenever you wear your sunglasses. In fact, that's kind of a microcosm for the Titan itself: an appealing idea with good intentions but lacking the necessary follow-through.

The new Titan is plenty capable for the vast majority of jobs. It has a maximum towing capacity of 9,370 pounds. That mark isn't the highest in the class, with each of the domestic pickups easily exceeding 10,000 pounds. Still, the Titan's capacity is plenty high, and more importantly, the Titan is comfortable towing large loads in the midrange of that figure.

We experienced towing in a Titan SV King Cab, a small step above the base trim and, according to Nissan, the volume model for heavy towers. Pulling a trailer and four snowmobiles that totaled 4,900 pounds, the Titan had no trouble accelerating up to highway speed or braking firmly when exiting to a stop sign. It has standard trailer sway control to keep the load in line.

Later, we stepped up to a 6,000-pound Airstream trailer, which slightly strained the truck as it gained speed but caused no problems with control. The biggest issue is a noticeable electronic drone from the transmission while in tow mode. Otherwise, it performed well. Adaptive cruise control even works, making long trips a breeze.

King Cab versions have a 6.5-foot bed, while crew-cab models have a 5.5-foot bed. SL and Platinum Reserve trims feature LED lighting throughout the bed, and the Platinum Reserve offers optional watertight in-bed cargo boxes that can be removed if needed. There are also adjustable aluminum hooks on tracks. The maximum payload capacity is 1,680 pounds.