Nissan Titan XD: 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Finalist
Forging Its Own Path With a 5.0-Liter Turbodiesel V-8
We Like: Its comfortable interior, unshakable Cummins power.
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We Don't Like: Its heavy-duty steering, unimpressive infotainment, and ambiguous identity.
Big, bold, and accentuated by loads of chrome exterior trim, the second-generation Titan (and first-ever XD tweener model) perplexed us. In many ways, it's admirable. Its interior is spacious and luxurious with an abundance of soft leather. Its generous payload (up to a claimed 2,000 pounds) and towing ("more than 12,000 pounds," per Nissan) maximums are no small feats, and amenities such as a standard gooseneck hitch and detachable bed-mounted utility boxes are unique. Its 5.0-liter, turbodiesel Cummins V-8 drew constant praise.
Learn about other Truck of the Year finalists at the links below. Check out theTruck of the Year introduction HERE, and discoverhow our Of The Year awards have evolved HERE.Andthe 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year is...
"The Cummins seems right at home in this truck," Ron Kiino said. "Overall, it's very smooth and quiet. The Aisin six-speed performs well -- intuitive and seamless in its shifting." The Titan's chassis, a version of the NV's underpinnings, provides a calm, collected ride, which Christian Seabaugh appreciated. "It may essentially be an HD pickup," he said, "but it doesn't ride like one."
But delve into its details, and you'll notice its flaws. Its cabin is a blatant hodgepodge of Nissan parts. "There's a skinny shift lever here, a smallish touchscreen there, and a huge headlight knob," Ed Loh said.
The Titan straddles classifications, creating what Kiino sees as a puzzling mix of questionable value and uncertainty regarding the function it intends to perform, let alone how well it accomplishes that function. But when there's no real competition, one sets the standard by default, leaving the XD with the pleasure of forging its own path.
