The redesigned 2017 Titan is more pleasant than the XD version. It comes with a smooth and punchy gas 5.6-liter V8 that is mated to a slick and responsive seven-speed automatic transmission. A V6 engine will follow later. The ride is more tolerable than the XD's, and handling is less clumsy. The roomy cabin has a variety of handy storage places, and the rear tailgate is damped--a nice touch. A suite of safety and driver-assistance features is offered, including Nissan's surround-view camera system, blind-spot warning, and moving-object detection. When properly equipped, the Titan tows 9,390 pounds.

Nissan's first full-sized pickup, the Titan has an impressively large cabin, is relatively agile and offers a fairly comfortable ride, along with a very smooth transmission. From its 2004 introduction, safety features included optional electronic stability control and head-protection airbags. On the negative side, the crew cab's cargo bed is fairly small compared with the competition and payload capacity was a meager 1,105 pounds in our 2004 version. The payload was raised in later models. The muscular V8 provides strong acceleration, but the constant engine and exhaust noise can become tiresome. A 2008 freshening included styling updates and a long-bed version. The damped-action tailgate is a handy feature. Still, interior fit and finish are lackluster and neither a standard cab nor different engines are available.