Unlike the Tundra, it fails even to offer the promise of Japanese quality; Consumer Reports deems Nissan's big truck much worse than average in reliability, based on the magazine's annual surveys of its readers-vehicle owners. In fact, Nissan is proof that Japanese cars are no longer necessarily better than domestic models; the carmaker is a below-average performer in most of J.D. Well, it is a competitively designed large truck, from the throbbing V-8 under the hood to the plastic-protected bed with its clever cargo tie-down system. For '08 there's a new variation -- a long-wheelbase model called the 4x4 PRO-4X. It's intended for serious off-roading, and, considering that, its ride is amazingly civilized, with virtually none of the jounce one usually experiences in such models. Some reviewers have complained about the Titan's engine and driveline noise, but, though it's ever-present, I didn't find it tiresome or even objectionable. The wind noise, though, was another matter at highway speeds.
Back on the upside, the steering system is responsive and nicely weighted. The Pro comes in King or Crew cab style -- the former meaning a smaller cab with two rear doors that have their hinges at the rear; the latter meaning a larger cab with all four doors opening conventionally. Nissan offers four bed lengths in long-wheelbase models: the fairly useless 5.5 feet that's easily filled with a few pieces of redwood furniture or a few bundles of brush; 6.5 feet, and, new for '08, 7 feet and 8 feet. You'll have to opt for the shorter King cab to get the most useful, 8-foot bed. The longest bed available in Crew cab models is 7 feet, which means that 8-foot-long building material has to extend onto the tailgate. 25,135 with freight for an XE King cab with a 6.5-foot bed and with the same 5.6-liter V-8 as in all Titans, delivering 317 horsepower.
All Titans come with automatic transmission. 1,200 -- a package I would recommend you seriously consider. The Titan gets a good-as-they-come five-star rating from the federal government for its protection of the driver in frontal crashes; the rating is four stars for the passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also deems the Titan "good" in frontal crashes. But neither the Feds nor the institute have side-impact ratings for this model. 39,275 for Crew cab models. All '08s have freshened styling and new wheel styles, Nissan says, plus new seats and revised instrumentation. The tester's black-on-white analog gauges, part of the PRO-4X package, were first-rate: easy to read. In fact, the entire interior was first-rate. Controls are simple to operate, large enough and logically located. I found the seats excellent and the optional fore and aft adjustable pedals a welcome feature. The center console has a deep-lidded compartment ideal for a laptop and some files. The tester's five-speed automatic transmission was as commendably smooth as the tester's ride. And it was easy to control through the accelerator pedal. Manual downshifting for engine braking isn't quite as easy as it could be. The '08 Titans went on sale in the spring. The new long-wheelbase models also include a larger 37-gallon (versus 28-gallon) fuel tank, which brings up a drawback of all large pickups (and one reason they don't sell as well as they used to): fuel economy. 300) running boards are not available. In sum, the Titan continues to be a contender worth considering for its many thoughtful features -- especially if there's a Nissan dealer with whom you like to do business. But this is a tough arena, the choice is not an easy one and the Titan is not a standout.
