Nissan Titan 4WD SV Crew Cab: increased horsepower

Nissan reimagined the Titan for model year 2017, giving its second-generation pickup imposing styling, increased horsepower, and two more cab variations. (The original edition hit the market in model year 2004.)

Nissan may be a headquartered in Japan, but the Titan is as American as apple pie. The vehicle is assembled in Mississippi and the engine hails from Tennessee. To paraphrase Henry Ford, you can have the Titan’s engine in any form you want as long as it’s a 5.6-liter V8 (a V6 is promised). However, three cab choices are available, including single and king cabs, as well as the first-generation Titan’s crew cab configuration.

Thanks to 73 additional horsepower, the latest Titan accelerates smartly, accompanied by a basso profundo exhaust note. The ride is a little more buttoned-down and comfortable than some of its rivals. Interior trim, even in midlevel SV edition, is upscale, with soft-touch surfaces instead of hard plastic. And the various controls, including those for the touch-screen infotainment system, are easy to use. But the Titan is a truck, after all, with the generally ponderous handling and the heavy fuel consumption common to big pickups.

Titan prices are comparable to those of its competitors, but at five years and 100,000 miles, the Titan’s bumper-to-bumper warranty is notably better.