2023 Nissan Titan XD

Overview

In the world of pickups, there are two Titans. While the regular half-ton Titan, which we review separately, commands its own place in the full-size segment, the heavy-duty-ish Titan XD ups the payload and towing capacity. The 400-hp V-8 powertrain in this large application lacks overall might versus big rigs such as the Ram 3500’s available 1075 pound-feet of torque, or the Ford Super Duty’s incredible range of cab and powertrain configurability. While Nissan’s idea behind the Titan XD is to incorporate the comfort of a full-size pickup with the muscle of a heavy-duty, it quickly finds itself outdone by more dedicated commercial-grade trucks. Ordering a Titan XD is straightforward, as four-wheel drive, a crew cab, and a 6.6-foot bed are all standard. The most exciting Titan XD is the Pro-4X trim level, which flirts with a more off-road attitude and incorporates skid plates, special badging, and nicely tuned Bilstein front and rear heavy-duty shocks.

What’s New for 2023?

Nissan doesn’t make any major changes to the Titan XD heavy-duty pickup for 2023. Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve models now come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Considering the Titan XD’s status as an in-betweener, we’d suggest sticking with the low-end SV trim. This will maximize payload and towing capacity to help give the Titan XD a fighting chance against similarly priced HD competitors. Luckily, four-wheel drive is standard, and all Titan XD models come well equipped with driver-assistance features and stylish 20-inch wheels.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The standard gasoline-powered 5.6-liter V-8 is quiet and refined. It makes 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and is accompanied by a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. Nissan’s tweener drives like a more civilized heavy-duty pickup without handling better or being able to haul as much. The Titan XD has a compliant ride for a big pickup with a heavy-duty frame, though light-duty pickups ride significantly better. The XD handles like a heavy-duty pickup, too, with lazy, uncommunicative steering and vague responses to directional commands. Therefore, it is unwieldy to drive on the highway. The results for the XD we tested put it in the middle of the class. The soft, vague feel of the brake pedal wasn’t reassuring.

More on the Titan XD Pickup

Towing and Payload Capacity

Whereas the Ford Super Duty can pull up to 37,000 pounds with a gooseneck hitch, the Titan XD can only handle 11,040 pounds with the same type of setup. The Nissan’s number drops to 10,880 pounds when it’s pulling a conventional trailer. Both maximum tow ratings are also lower than those of half-ton trucks such as the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, which can each tug up to 12,000 pounds. They also match the XD’s max payload rating of 2240 pounds.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Titan XD qualifies as a heavy-duty vehicle under EPA rules, so its fuel economy is not rated by that federal agency.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

A practical but uninspired dash design doesn’t help the Titan XD stand out in this segment. The leather appointments in our Pro-4X test truck gussied up the interior, while the topmost Platinum Reserve model features fancier two-tone leather and open-pore wood trim. Nissan’s excellent Zero Gravity front and rear seats steal the show with their perfect balance of support and comfort, especially on long road trips. The Titan XD, which is offered solely in crew-cab configuration, can hold the most carry-on-sized suitcases behind the front seats in its class, and its low lift-over height helps when loading cargo into the bed. However, its cargo boxes are among the smallest in this set, and interior storage space for smaller items is less useful than the competition’s.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Base S and value-minded SV models come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trims get a new 9.0-inch display as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Every Titan XD uses a 7.0-inch gauge-cluster screen with displays for diagnostics and fuel economy plus an off-road accelerometer. It also has a neat Trailer Light Check feature for singlehanded monitoring of the trailer’s lighting connections.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Titan XD comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance features to help manage its mammoth measurements. For more information about the Titan’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert Standard lane-departure warning

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Nissan’s warranty coverage for the Titan XD is one of the best; however, its shorter roadside assistance period and lack of complimentary scheduled maintenance diminish our praise.

Limited warranty covers five years or 100,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs