Car Review of the 2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab Full-Size Pickup Truck
Base MSRP Range: $22,950 - $35,400
Base Invoice Range: $20,746 - $31,999
MSRP As Tested: $35,400
Versions: XE, SE, LE.
Vehicle Category: Full-Size Pickup Truck
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Four-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 5.6-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 32-valves, V-8,305 - horsepower at 4900 rpm and 379 lb-ft torque at 3600 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic with overdrive.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 14/19.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Front seat side airbags with side curtain, ">Four-wheel anti-lock brake system, Body side reinforcements, Zone body with front and rear crumple zones, Hood buckling creases, Energy absorbing steering column, Knee bolsters, Tire-pressure monitor, Shift interlock system.
Competition: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tundra.
Review
There's something magical about listening to Hank Williams when you're driving a pickup truck. It's like the two were meant to be together. They just feel right.
And when you're driving a Nissan Titan, listening to Hank Williams via satellite radio feels just as fitting. Hank's twang and country drawl inspire the feelings of good-ol'-boy America, but you know there's something different about the delivery -- something high-tech, fresh and foreign.
The Titan has been an intriguing truck ever since it was introduced in 2004, mainly because it has absolutely no heritage here in the U.S. While Ford, Chevy and Dodge owners may have loyalty that spans generations -- going from no radio, then AM, followed by FM and satellites -- Nissan's truck was born entirely in the satellite era. It's a 20th century concept built in a 21st century mindset.
That's what makes it so compelling.
Just like the trucks that built America, the Titan is all about power, freedom and simply getting a difficult job done. It looks tough and rugged because it is.
The heart of the Titan, like any good truck, is its engine, and this one is plenty strong. The 5.6-liter V8 makes 305 horsepower and 379 foot-pounds of torque, enough to tow 9,400 pounds when properly equipped. That's the good news.
On the downside, only one engine is offered. There's no V6 or smaller V8 for fuel economy and no diesel engine for really serious towing, so people who like to pick an engine based on the needed workload are out of luck. The available V8 is a fantastic engine -- among the very best on the market -- but that doesn't mean it's a perfect fit for everybody who drives a truck.
One thing in the Titan's favor is interior space, as it has more volume in the cab than any truck in its class. There's lots of space to stretch out even for the biggest passengers.
Also, the quality of the interior is one of the best on the market. It's a close second to the Ford F-150 in my opinion, and clearly nicer than the aging styles in the Chevy and Dodge trucks.
What the Titan lacks in engine choices it makes up for in amenities, with features that can range from bare-bones to totally luxurious. The top-of-the-line crew cab model I tested came with technology found most often in expensive luxury cars and SUVs, including a DVD player, navigation system, leather seats and satellite radio. It lacked nothing in the wiz-bang department.
On the road, the Titan handles extremely well for a truck of its size, offering outstanding acceleration, steering and braking. It's not as bouncy over bumps as the Chevy or Dodge, and it feels as smooth and controlled as the market-leading Ford. The Titan also features a standard power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, designed for greater steering and handling performance, especially during heavy towing situations.
Perhaps Titan's biggest innovation and differentiation from the competition is in its cargo bed, where a spray-in bedliner is applied at the factory. The bedliner helps prevent scratch damage and corrosion to the bed and inner tailgate surface, and it's the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer. It's also covered by the Nissan warranty.
Another innovative feature is the bedside storage compartment located behind the rear driver's side wheel. The bedside storage bin is designed to hold common truck items such as work gloves, chains, rope, road flares, first aid kit or a hitch ball. The compartment is double-sealed to help prevent the intrusion of water and dust.It also uses the Titan ignition key for unlocking.
Overall, assuming you want the standard V8 engine, it's hard to find anything to fault in the Titan. It looks good, drives well and performs like a champ.
And it's sure to be keeping some folks in Detroit awake at night.
Pros: It looks and drives great with the performance to match. It's also a good value considering how pricey trucks are getting these days, and its cabin can be outfitted with lots of luxury goodies.
Cons: It only offers one engine, so people looking for a more fuel-efficient powerplant or a diesel motor are out of luck.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 7
- Performance: 9
- Price: 7
- Handling: 5
- Ride: 5
- Comfort: 6
- Quality: 7
- Overall: 7
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Tow package - receiver hitch, lower final gear ratio (3.357:1), 7-pin wiring harness plug, trailer brake pre-wiring at dashboard, transmission oil temperature gauge, heated power extended mirrors (except on XE) (chrome mirrors on LE), heavy duty battery, brake limited slip differential. Navigation package, Sunroof package, Utility Bed package, Off-Road package, Trac package. Power leather split bench seat, Spray-In Bed Liner.
Number of Rows: 2.
Length in Inches: 224.2
Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles Extended powertrain, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection.
Weight in Pounds: 4894 lbs. - 5075 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 1387 lbs. - 1529 lbs.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 6422 lbs. - 6522 lbs.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 9400 lbs. - 9500 lbs.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 28.0
Destination Charge: $670
