The 2018 Nissan Titan XD has comfortable seats and plenty of padded surfaces.THE BASICS
Model: 2018 Nissan Titan XD Diesel Pro-4XColor: Magnetic BlackFuel economy: NAEngine: 5.0-liter, V-8 Cummins turbo-dieselMRSP (as tested): $60,960
When the 2018 Nissan Titan XD pickup arrived in our driveway earlier this month, the driver demonstrated the truck's immense height by backing himself up and then jumping into the cabin.
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At 59, my "hops" aren't what they used to be, so I had to pull myself into the driver's seat of the Titan XD with both hands.
Still, reaching the summit of the Titan XD was worth the climb as I settled into the most comfortable truck seats I've ever experienced. Nissan calls them zero-gravity seats, which is a nice way of saying they are great for those of us with middle-age spread. For us, any reprieve from the tyranny of gravity is much appreciated.
The Nissan Titan XD is a "tweener." It's bigger than a light-duty truck and smaller and less powerful than most full-on, heavy-duty trucks. In that regard, it occupies a niche all its own.
Interestingly, we had just spent a week test-driving a Chevy Silverado when the Nissan arrived, and the Titan HD felt an order of magnitude bigger. Part of magnitude is attitude. Our Titan XD Crew cab tester comes equipped with a 5.-0-liter Cummins V-8 turbo-diesel engine that creates a rumble that adds to the truck's machismo. It also cranks out 555 pound-feet of torque, plenty of low-end grunt to tow loads of up to 12,640 pounds.
JUST THE FACTS
The 2018 Nissan Titan XD is based on a two-year-old design, and it seats five in real comfort. There are two engine choices, a gas-powered V-8 and the eight-cylinder turbo-diesel from Cummins. The diesel has a six-speed automatic transmission. There are five Titan XD trim levels, S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve. Our tester is a mid-trim, PRO-4X model with lots of price-boosting extras.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Our tester has an MSRP of $60,960, but that's with options such as leather heated and ventilate seats, an around-view monitor, and a Rockford Fosgate premium audio system. A base Titan XD Crew Cab diesel starts at $42,490. The top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve trim level starts at $63,610.
COOL STUFF
Let others dream of giant touch-screens and safety tech, the coolest thing about the Nissan Titan XD is its sheer mass. Even mid-size SUVs look like pipsqueaks by comparison. Meanwhile, Ford 150s and Chevy Silverados look like runt siblings compared to the big Nissan. If towering over traffic makes you happy, the Titan XD is the rig for you. You might want to measure your garage before you buy, though, as the crew cab is more than 20 feet long.
WORTHWHILE OPTION PACKAGES
The Utility Package ($1,445) adds front and rear sonar, tailgate-area illumination, a 120-volt outlet, LED under railbed lighting, power side mirrors and the sound system upgrade. The $3,545 Convenience Package includes leather upholstery, heated seats, seating-position memory functions, remote engine start, and Nissan Connect telematics.
ONE THING WE'D LIKE TO SEE
Running boards or step bars would make mounting the Titan XD much easier. But that's an easy fix if you've got the dough.
BOTTOM LINE
One of our favorite features of the 2018 Titan XD Turbo Diesel is Nissan's class leading five-year or 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. If you are on the fence about what truck to buy, that protection alone might convince you to fall for the Nissan.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.