The Nissan Titan PRO-4X 2019 is an attempt by the company to topple many American rivals which have been on the top of the proverbial mountain for quite some time now. Though the Titan may lack the respect and recognition of General Motors, Ram and Ford, it uses a similar formula with its big trucks. It pairs a 390-hp V8 with a well designed seven-speed auto transmission, but the Titan delivers a much rougher ride than the competition. Nissan also sells a dedicated model of the Titan for off-roading (that’s the one we are reviewing) and they also offer a customizable cargo box similar to the competition. That said, the Titan has the least towing capacity in the light-duty category. The tires, for the most part, are pretty good but replacing the tires can help improve performance.
So, the question we’ve been asking ourselves is, does the 2019 Titan do enough to destabilize the established big boys?
What’s New in the 2019 Titan?
One of the things that’s new in the 2019 model is an upgraded infotainment system with a load of options. Each model now comes with a 7-inch touchscreen and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Also onboard is yet another USB port – some top trims have illuminated USB ports, too. Plus, there is a new so-called Fender audio system which is rated at an impressive 485 watts with a nine-channel amp.
On the outside, the Titan Pro gets a body-colored grille with matching black accents replacing the previous chrome color. Moab Sunset and Midnight Pine colors make their debut with the Tian Pro. Plus, Nissan has added crew cabs with an alert system dubbed Rear Door Alert which reminds drivers to turn over and glance at the backseat after parking the car.
Performance
Now unlike many rival trucks, the Nissan Titan uses a single engine mated with a single transmission. The 5.6-liter V8 produces a decent 390 HP and around 395 lb-ft of torque, both of which are pretty average for this segment of the market.
During our testing on the road, we noticed that the shifting is pretty good. The automatic transmission shifts up and down quickly and smoothly. That said, we did experience a bit of hesitation as it sometimes resisted shifting upwards to higher gears until we let go of the throttle. While the powertrain is pretty decent, it isn’t going to blow the competition out of the water. It is still effectively quick though when you compare it to similarly sized vehicles with a V8 engine.
As far as payloads go, the 2019 Titan isn’t the strongest competitor. However, its ability to tow a pretty decent 9660 pounds is good enough for most people while the average towing weight across all models is 9240 pounds.
On the road, the driving is pretty good and the Titan has great handling capabilities. Unfortunately, it continues to exhibit excellent off-road driving capabilities which we weren’t able to test to its full extent. However, the Titan has awesome stopping power, a highly accurate steering system, and a suspension that aims to improve durability over difficult terrain.
It is hard not to notice that the Titan and the XD version share similar cabs and a few other components but each one has its own type of suspension and chassis. The Pro-4X version of the vehicle has an off-road set instead of standard shocks which are best suited for rough roads, though they are slightly stiffer compared to rival vehicles.
Inside the 2019 Titan Pro
The Titan is truly impressive when it comes to the way its cabin is laid out. It offers extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats in the front. The use of premium feeling materials is reserved for the higher end trims like the Platinum Reserve. That said the Pro does have its fair share of plastics though not particularly cheap looking; they do show where corners have been cut to make the price competitive. Over on the back, the rear seat legroom isn’t all that much compared to the competition, but it is good enough to seat a normal sized adult fairly easily.
Over on the dashboard, there is a 7-inch touch screen which supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Also, onboard is the NissanConnect system which seems a bit dated than competing offerings with higher resolution screens similar to the one we saw on the Ram 1500. Though it still is an improvement over the previous versions. Also, you can get the Titan with a 4G LTE hotspot which is pretty nifty, and numerous power points.
Move on over to the cargo area, and here you get a lot more than with the competition. You get a spring-assisted tailgate which swings open relatively easy, and there are a couple of innovative add-ons like a unique bed channel and even discreet in-bed cargo. That said while it is all good for larger options we do wish there was more room for smaller items. The cargo boxes have little space when compared to rival vehicles. The most space can be had with the regular cab measuring 8.2 feet.
Fuel Economy
The Nissan Titan has some of the best fuel economy in its class. We got a decent 18 mpg during real-world driving, which is an mpg less than the Ford F-150’s V6 twin-turbo engine.
Safety Features
Safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alerts, along with front and rear parking sensors. There are several driver assistance technologies like a motion detector system which helps drivers maneuver the colossal size vehicle.
Final Verdict
The Nissan Titan PRO-4X 2019 is amongst the best vehicles in its class when it comes to fuel economy, space, and market price. Nissan has made few compromises, but the ones they have made is evident. That said it is a worthy contender for the top spot in this category. Perhaps worthy of consideration for anyone who does not want to put down a few extra thousand dollars for a similarly worthy American vehicle.
Additional Details
Car Make: NissanCar Make: Titan Pro-4X