2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X
Intro
The red hot pickup truck market has long been dominated by the Detroit automakers. With heavy investments from Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, and Ram, the Japanese automakers are having a tough time gaining market share.
Nissan is hoping to change that with its heavily refreshed 2020 Titan. It features a bold new design, a re-tuned Endurance V8 engine, a new 9-speed automatic transmission, and a new infotainment system. All Titans in Canada come standard with 4x4-drive are backed by a 5-year/160,000 km bumper to bumper warranty.
Thanks to Nissan Canada, I have the chance to test drive the handsome looking 2020 Nissan TITAN PRO-4X for one week. Below is my unbiased review.
Exterior
According to Nissan, the new design language of the Titan is based on a “Powerful Warrior” theme. At the front, Titan warrior mask inspired LED headlights and LED daytime running lights give the car a high-tech, futuristic vibe. The new headlights are 120% brighter than the previous generation, and high beam assist is now standard for all trims. Our PRO-4X tester comes with a bold matte black center grille and a matching lower body trim. Both the lettering of the Nissan logo and the tow hooks are painted in lava red, which contrasts nicely with the matte black surroundings.
On the side, beefy cage bars and step plates with distinctive Titan logos set the tone of the car. Our P4X trim tester is equipped with rugged looking 18” aluminum alloy wheels. They are increased to 20” for the Platinum Reserve trim.
The rear exterior design of the Titan includes new LED taillights and tailgate finishers. Just like the front grille, the finishers come in different colors for different trims. Our tester features a black finisher that matches nicely with the black bumper of the car.
I very much enjoy the exterior styling of the new Nissan Titan. The unique black and Baja Storm color combo of our tester makes the car look extra rugged and manly. It surely turns heads on the street and in the local hardware store parking lots.
Interior
The interior of the Titan has the same utilitarian vibe as its exterior. All the dials and buttons are large and easy to reach. It features some premium upgrades like the new dual-panel panoramic moonroof, padded leather inserts with red stitching, and the ultra comfortable zero gravity front seats. Heated front seats come standard, with cooling optional. Heated rear seats are available with options. All passengers in the Titan enjoy decent head and legroom. The rear cabin also has dedicated air vents and an array of charging ports behind the center console. They include two USB ports, one 12V socket, and a 120V 400W household outlet.
Infotainment
The large center stack of the Titan houses either a standard 8.0” touchscreen or an optional 9.0” display. It features the new generation Nissan infotainment system that is sharp, intuitive, and responsive. The screen of our tester suffers from blistering that may be caused by the sanitizing solutions used by previous car journalists. As a general rule, it is best to avoid using solvent based cleaning solutions (including alcohol) to clean car screens. They tend to damage the protective coatings on the screen, and are advised against by most manufactures.
The new infotainment system also includes standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The NissanConnect Services, a suite of convenience and security features that allow remote access features of the car, is optional. It can be accessed from inside the vehicle, on a computer, or on a smartphone.
A 7.0” information display is located in the instrument cluster. It is large for the segment and provides important vehicle information right in front of the driver.
Our tester comes with the optional Fender Premium Audio System that includes 12 speakers, a 485-watt, 9-channel amplifier, and Panasonic’s proprietary Acoustic Motion Control technology.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The 2020 Nissan Titan is equipped with standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 technology. It is very comprehensive and includes important safety features such as:
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Haptic Steering
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
- Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Rear Intelligent Emergency Braking (R-IEB)
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (I-FCW)
- Intelligent Driver Alertness (I-DA)
- Rear Door Alert (RDA) system
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
In addition, the following features are avaiable:
- Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
Driving
Every 2020 Titan in Canada is powered by a re-tuned 5.6-litre Endurance V8 that provides 400 hp of power and 413 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated with a new 9-speed automatic transmission that has a larger final gear ratio to give the Titan more torque and faster acceleration. The drivetrain feels great. The engine is strong and responsive, and the transmission shifts smoothly even at lower speeds. The larger final gear ratio gives the Titan a noticeable mid-range boost, but fuel economy suffers slightly as a result.
In Canada, the Titan comes standard with 4x4-drive. It is a capable off-road machine with features like Hill Start Assist, Brake Limited-Slip Differential, Hill Descent Control, and electronic locking rear differential. It also has an enhanced Off Road Gauge that displays the vehicle’s tire angle, relative pitch and roll angles with the 7" information LCD display.
On the road, the Titan remains composed. The suspension does a great job of minimizing body rolls around corners. The steering has a good amount of weight and feedback, but not strenuous to operate. The car is also relatively quiet. While the sweet V8 roar does permeate into the cabin from time to time, road and wind noises are largely isolated.
The Titan however, is heavy on the gas. Worse yet, if you want to get the most power out of the engine, premium fuel is required. I average 17.5L/100km during my one week test drive. I did go pretty hard while testing the Titan's off-road capabilities, so take that into consideration.
Cargo Space & Storage
The 2020 TITAN Crew Cab features a standard 5.5 foot bed. It features Nissan’s Utili-track Bed Channel System and utilizes heavy-duty aluminum alloy cleats for endless tie-down possibilities. The bed of our Titan tester is covered with spray-on anti-slip bedliner. You will also find a 400W 120-volt outlet in the back. The damped tailgate is light and lowers smoothly once the latch is released.
Inside the cabin, the rear bench seats can be folded up to reveal the lockable underseat storage compartment. The top of the cover can be folded out to provide a wider flat floor. A motorized sliding window provides access from the bed to the cabin.
All side door pockets are decently sized with multiple built in cup holders. The large center console storage is big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop computer. Plenty of small trays can be found on the door handles and the center console. The amount of cup holders available is impressive. Besides the ones in the side door pockets, four more can be found in the center console, and two more can be found on the rear folding armrest.
Verdict
The 2020 Nissan Titan is an excellent pickup that provides good power, great utility, impressive drivability, and handsome styling. The last one is especially true for the PRO-4X trim. Unfortunately, it is facing stiff competitions from the domestic automakers. While the Titan is better equipped standard, it is also more expensive than most of its rivals. The V8 engine is smooth and powerful, but it is not particularly fuel efficient. A diesel engine option might help to increase fuel efficiency, but it is not offered for the Titan. On the plus side, the 5-year/160,000 km bumper to bumper warranty is the best in the industry. It also shows how confident Nissan is with the reliability of the car.
MSRP
$66,313 CAD as tested including Freight & PDI
Color
Baja Storm
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