FAST FACTS
* Model: 2019 Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X Crew Cab* Exterior color: Midnight Pine* Interior color: Black* Engine: 5.0-liter, V8 turbo-diesel* Horsepower: 310* Transmission: six-speed automatic* Fuel economy: Not rated* Local Dealer: Nissan of Chattanooga East and Mountain View Nissan* Price (as tested): $62,590.
If you've ever wondered what it would feel like to drive a two-story house, the Nissan Titan XD Pro-4X diesel provides a rough approximation.
This is a BIG truck.
Seated inside the cab of the Titan XD, you feel like you are taller than just about everything else in traffic. In fact, you might be tempted to go full-monster-truck on that little Smart Fortwo that just cut you off. But you don't, or course. Because, well, it wouldn't be a fair fight.
In the Titan XD, you'd have to look far and wide to pick on somebody your own size.
Nissan's heavy-duty truck series comes with two engine options: an Endurance gas-powered V-8 making 390 horsepower, or a Cummins 5.0-liter V8 that makes - get this - 555 pound-feet of torque. Our tester, provided for a one-week test drive by the manufacturer, comes equipped with the Cummins turbo-diesel. Go with the diesel if you like living loud and large.
Locally, Titan trucks are available at Nissan of Chattanooga East and Mountain View Nissan. Late last week, Nissan of Chattanooga East, at 2121 Chapman Road, had 12 Titan trucks in digital inventory, while Mountain View Nissan, 2100 Market Street, had 24 Titan units listed on its website including two XD models.
WHAT IS IT?
The Titan XD is a heavy duty truck with seating for five. Equipped with the Cummins turb0-diesel engine, like our tester, the truck is capable of towing up to 12,600 pounds, with a maximum payload of 2,330 pounds in its 6.5-foot bed.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Our tester, with a host of options, rings up at $62,590. When equipped with the gas-powered V-8 engine, the Titan XD starts at $49,390 in crew cab configuration. King cab models are also available four a couple of thousand less.
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WHAT WE LIKED:
Items on our "like" list included comfortable leather seats with contrasting-color stitching, great back-seat leg room, the paint color which looks either dark green or black depending on the light, and the easy-to-lift tailgate.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:
A truck this big is, by definition, hard to park. We found ourselves thinking ahead to avoid narrow bridges and tight parking lots. With no running boards, we had to hop just to get inside the Titan XD. The diesel engine is powerful, but it's also noisy. If you like a quiet idle, fuhgeddaboudit. Because it is classified as a heavy-duty truck the Titan HD has no government fuel economy rating, but expect an mpg in the high teens in combined city and highway driving.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS:
If you are not accustomed to driving a truck this big, it takes some adjustment. If you aren't careful, you'll take a turn too quickly and hop a curb. The big Titan diesel takes a few beats to gather itself, but doesn't struggle to maintain highway speeds. If you live on Signal Mountain, we'd suggest you avoid the W Road until you get the hang of driving the Titan XD.
BOTTOM LINE:
The Titan HD Turbo Diesel 4X4 is a big burly truck with modest off-road capability. If you do a lot of heavy-duty towing, it should be on your short list of trucks to test drive.
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The interior of the 2019 Nissan Titan XD has available leather seats.