Nissan Titan LE
This wasn't the first time we had driven a Titan. We have given it criticism and accolades in the past that apply to this year's Of the Year contender. Still, the tester we drove did offer some new features we hadn't experienced before.
The first time we tested a Titan's interior no one was impressed. Three years later, it looks like Nissan has drastically improved the looks of the interior plastics. The interior, represented by the LE trim level, was the best-looking we have seen in a Titan. We don't see the interior of the Titan aging well, and it has nothing to do with its style. The hard plastic over the gauge cluster and the textured plastic that make up most of the dash are both soft enough to scratch with a thumbnail. We haven't seen this problem in any other truck interior so far. Another gripe is the position of the power-window switches. On the Titan, they are on the top of the doorsills, which are just not convenient; meanwhile, the switches on the Armada are lower and placed towards the front of the arm rests, just like they are in 95 percent of vehicles sold today. Compared to the rest of our field, the Titan competes--at best--with the Tundra in regards to the apparent quality and design of its interior elements and beats the Ram as far as the visual presentation. But for nearly $45,000 we had expected more. Ford is way ahead of of its competitors when it comes to the interior's fit, finish, perceived quality, and visual interest. Other than that, the truck offers a very competent, practical, and comfortable interior.
Giving the truck a longer wheelbase was a nice move for a utility-oriented market. Bigger will likely always be better for pickups, and the extended wheelbase keeps the Titan in the game by giving its customers more functionality and the press something fresh to talk about. It has a great towing capability and a longer bed, and the cab accommodates cargo well enough. It's a decent truck in these areas. On the highway, the Titan doesn't feel as refined as the Tundra, and the steering feels heavy, but not overbearing. Actually, the steering feels solid enough to remind you that you're not driving a car. The truck has always been pretty good around town, but the longer wheelbase, which should help tame unruly pavement, now makes it feel as bouncy as a Ram, thanks to it's heavier springs. Another obvious trade-off is parking. Parallel parking the Titan, like any large truck, is a chore; but once you get used to the convex mirrors, it's not impossible.
The 5.6L in the Nissan feels strong off the line, with Ford and GM trucks you can feel that the engine is tuned to not go wide-open throttle right away, or to retard the timing for a few seconds; not so with the Nissan. Granted, with the added weight of the crew cab and long bed, a lot of the fun was taken out of the equation that we were used to with the lighter Titans we've tested. What's left is still a strong performer and more than enough power for a work truck.