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Until recently, the one market segment American auto manufacturers continued to dominate in spite of the Japanese quality invasion that began in the 1970s, was the full-size pickup market. While the Ford F-150 remains the all time vehicle sales leader, and brand loyalty for Chevy, GMC, and Dodge Ram trucks remain strong, Nissan and Toyota have steadily built their own cadre of loyal owners by building tough, dependable, V8-powered full-size American-style, pickups.
Both Japanese automakers already owned a share of the mid-size truck market, when they debuted their full-size pickups — Toyota with its hot-selling Tacoma, and Nissan with its popular Frontier.
When Toyota’s stylish Tundra Pickup began building market share, Nissan, jumped into the fray debuting its brawny, full-size, Titan in 2004. The Titan is not only a true full-size American-style pickup, with serious V8 power and towing capacity, it also offers a number of innovations neither the domestics nor Toyota, do.
There is a factory-installed and warranted, spray-on bedliner. The Titan also features an optional, factory-installed Utili-Trak cargo tie-down system utilizing the bed channels and specially designed tie-down cleats for amazingly flexible cargo storage. Utili-Trak also accommodates a large number of aftermarket accessory storage and cargo systems.
Other innovations include a standard, specially hinged rear door on Titan King Cab model that swings back like an airplane door, avoiding the parking lot clamshell situation between the front and rear doors. Helpful lighting illuminates the tailgate area when the gate is down for loading and unloading, and for when it does double duty as a workbench. There’s also a small, locking, storage compartment for hand tools in the rear quarter panel.
Walkaround: There’s no mistaking the Titan for anything but a Nissan, with its bold signature chrome grill. 2008 saw the addition of a new Long Wheelbase (LWB) version and a new Titan PRO-4X model. Also featured is freshened styling, with a revised front end and all-new wheel styles. The 2008 Titan is offered in four models — XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE; in two body styles — King Cab and Crew Cab; in 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations; and four bed sizes — 5’5’’, 6’5’’, 7 and 8 feet.
Interior: The Titan’s cab is functional, comfortable well-appointed and reasonably quiet, with deceiving spaciousness. A new seat design and refined instrumentation is featured for 2008, as well as wood grain trim being offered in addition to the standard brushed stainless look. Meanwhile other Titan enhancements include available Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System, XM Satellite Radio, an available heated leather-appointed bench seat, a revised center stack and a larger, 8.0-inch DVD screen (up from 7.0-inch).
Instrumentation is easy to read at a glance and illuminated in Nissan’s signature amber. Control knobs for the sound and climate systems — as well as the inside door handles — are beefy. The steering wheel is big and feels like a truck wheel should — especially compared to the Tundra, which uses the same wheel as the Camry. There’s also a deep, roomy, refined open center console storage area, that’s just convenient for lots of different stuff.
Standard equipment includes power folding mirrors with heat, power adjust, auto dim and integrated turn signals on the LE model, while the mid-grade audio package adds the ability to play mp3 formatted CDs (standard on SE and LE, optional on XE).
Notable options include front-seat side and curtain airbags, a navigation system, 350-watt, 8-speaker, Rockford-Fosgate stereo and a rear DVD entertainment system.
Under The Hood: There’s only one powerplant for the Titan — a 5.6-liter, 317-horse, DOHC V8 puts out 385 lb-ft of torque. It’s married to a 5-speed automatic with Overdrive, and boasts a maximum towing capacity of up to 9,500 pounds for King Cab and 9,400 pounds for Crew Cab (when properly equipped). It’s also features E85 Ethanol Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) capability.
Behind The Wheel: Although most pickups offer decent ride quality when hauling something heavy, the Titan, with its fully boxed ladder frame, double wishbone front suspension and rigid rear leaf, does it even with the bed empty. The Titan rides more like a big luxury car than a truck. The steering also has a precise, on-center feel.
The Titan is built on Nissan’s rugged F-Alpha pickup platform, and doesn’t lack for power, which is delivered steadily and very smoothly, with excellent acceleration and passing ability. It’s accompanied by a deep, almost hot-rod exhaust sound not found on regular production models of F-150, Silverado or Tundra.
As you’d expect when an engine delivers this amount of horsepower and torque, fuel economy is estimated at just 12/city and 17/highway. It’s 9 and 13 with ethanol Get over it. It is however, LEV1-ULEV (Calif.), Tier2 — Bin 8z EPA certified.
Whines: The sizable pillars around the Titan’s windshield obscure visibility in some situations, and the radio face annoyingly reflects in the back window.
Bottom Line: The 2008 Nissan Titan is one great, full-size truck that evolves into something better with each model year. Built in Smyrna, Tenn., expect it to continue giving the “other domestics” a serious run for their buyers’ money. I’ve been a confirmed Ford truck man all my life, but when it came time to replace my personal F-250 4X4, I bought a 4X4 Crew Cab Titan LE. What more can I say?
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