2017 Nissan Titan: A quiet, classy and capable pickup truck [First Look]
MONTEREY, Calif. — When I agreed to attend the Nissan Adventure Drive, which gave me a first look at the 2017 Armada, Pathfinder and Titan, I didn’t expect to walk away with my favorite vehicle being a pickup truck.
But it was.
The 2017 Nissan Titan is that good. So good, in fact, that I could see it as a daily driver. And I’m not even a pickup truck fan.
It was quiet, easy to drive and incredibly comfortable. Throughout our morning-long trek, I kept forgetting that I was driving a pickup truck.
Granted, most of the vehicles we were driving were posh Platinum models with all the whistles and bells. But still. In terms of ride and handling – which will be similar across the lineup – the Titan is smooth, capable and competent.
We started our drive with a short off-road course in the Pro4X model that accented the truck’s rough-and-tumble chops. Whether it was traversing off-camber terrain or dropping down steep inclines, the Titan held its ground (literally) and did a fine job of proving it can handle some uneven and rocky terrain.
Titan made the transition from dirt trails to paved roads with ease, becoming a plush and comfortable cruiser in the blink of an eye.
I was impressed with how quiet and calm the Titan was on the highway, and when we hit some twisty stretches of road, the truck was actually nimble.
When I had the Titan XDfor a weeklong test, I liked it. But it was a bit large for an urban environment, and while the around-view camera and parking sensors made it manageable in tight spaces, it wasn’t easy. The regular Titan, however, is easy to maneuver and drives smaller than its size. I’d still want the around-view camera and sensors for city driving, but the oversized side-mirrors and wide window openings give an excellent view surrounding the vehicle.
Speaking of the side mirrors, one of my favorite features on the 2017 Titan was the kick down window opening that allows the mirrors to sit a bit lower, removing the side-view blind spot that large mirrors often create.
But that’s just one of the nice standard features you’ll find on the 2017 Titan. Other faves include incredible interior quietness, an excellent turning radius, flip-up rear seats for an open load floor, a liftgate that can be operated with one hand and hooks on the underside of the rear seats that can hold grocery bags.
Another standard feature: The 5.6-liter V-8 engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. This powerful engine delivers 390 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. This power equation provides really quick acceleration and allows the Titan to pass with ease. I didn’t feel like it struggled at all, and it did everything I wanted it to do at exactly the moment I wanted it done.
Of course, that was without towing or hauling anything.
Maximum tow capacity for the Titan is 9,390 pounds, which is more than similarly sized offerings from Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and Ram. Towing aids for the 2017 Titan include a backup camera, downhill speed control, a trailer light check, integrated trailer brake control and trailer sway control.
Nissan announced pricing last week for the 2017, and it will be as follows:
- S Crew Cab 4x2: $34,780
- SV Crew Cab 4x2: $37,670
- SL Crew Cab 4x2: $46,380
- Platinum Reserve Crew Cab 4x2: $52,310
- S Crew Cab 4x4: $37,810
- SV Crew Cab 4x4: $40,700
- PRO-4X Crew Cab 4x4: $45,020
- SL Crew Cab 4x4: $49,460
- Platinum Reserve Crew Cab 4x4: $55,400
These prices don’t include an additional $1,195 destination fee.
In addition to some very competitive pricing, Nissan has also announced a warranty that knocks the socks off the competition: A 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. All the other trucks in this segment offer 3-year/36,000-mile warranties.
During the press preview, Rich Miller, director of product planning and chief product specialist at Nissan North America, said that the goal for the all-new 2017 Titan was “overall goodness.” He said the brand didn’t want to make any trade offs by chasing best-in-class categories.
“We don’t want to be best in everything,” he said, “but we don’t want to be worst in anything.”
After spending a few short hours in this truck, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t close to best – if not best – across the board. So, to reiterate in case you missed it: I really liked this truck.
The 2017 Titan goes on sale at the end of August.
In pretty much every aspect, the 2017 Nissan Titan surprised me. It exceeded any expectation I had. Frankly, this is going to be the bar that every future pickup truck I drive will be measured against.
And it’s a pretty high bar.
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