Nissan had no choice but to do something with its pickup truck offering.
You see, Nissan didn’t sell many of the old model – only about 3,200 left Canadian showrooms in 2015. That pales against the nearly 119,000 F-150s Ford moved last year.
Enter the new Titan XD, pitched as being something that straddles market-segments by bringing heavy-duty load and tow numbers to a half-ton pickup. The XD is the first of the new-look Titan lineup to arrive. Eventually there will be three cab configurations offered along with three powertrains and two frame sizes.
The pickup truck market in Canada is huge, so it makes sense for Nissan to want a slice of this pie. The crew-cab Titan XD Platinum Reserve I drove for a week is certainly a competent truck, but will competent be enough to woo loyalists away from Ford, Ram and the rest?
The XD looks the part of a modern pickup. Towering chrome grill? Check. Badge on the flank advertising the engine? Check (a Cummins turbo diesel V-8 in this case). A vague sense of guilt driving a truck that is more than 20 feet long in downtown Toronto? Check! The ride of the XD is surprisingly good at low speed, helped no doubt by the huge wheelbase and large wheel and tire package. On the flip side is the heavy steering and large turning circle. Those two factors combine to make navigating a dense car park both sweaty and nerve-wracking as seen in this video.
The Platinum Reserve trim of the XD has surround cameras to make parking easier and I couldn’t imagine driving in an urban environment without them. This trim level also boasts ample wood and leather (with the Titan logo embossed on the headrests). There’s also an injection of technology controlled via touchscreen.
Of course, a big pickup is at home where the roads are straight and the curves are sweeping. I was lucky enough to haul a camera crew and gear a couple of hours north of Toronto and onto a friend’s property. The Titan ate all the equipment we could throw at it, and there was ample room for five adults.
There were deep puddles and muddy tracks galore to throw the Titan into, thanks to the spring thaw. A flick of the drive switch to 4WD and it powered along, the torque from the Cummins overcoming any hindrances.
The Titan’s trip computer reported fuel consumption of 13.5 litres/100 km during a long stint of highway driving and about 16.5/100 km during city driving.
The notable moment of the week was when I passed another brand-new XD in the little town of Coboconk, Ont. The other Titan driver and I shared a wave of recognition. Considering how few Titans are on the road that’s a rare encounter, but if Nissan’s hopes for the Titan are realized, it could happen a lot more.
TECH SPECS
Base price: $52,400
As tested: $74,400
Engine: V-8 turbo diesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel economy (Litres/100km): 13.5 l/100km highway, 16.5 city (estimated)
Drive: Rear, all-wheel drive, low-range all-wheel drive
Altrenatives: Ford F-150, Ram, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra
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