Used 2021 Nissan TITAN XD

The 2021 Nissan Titan XD is a strong, rugged crew-cab pickup truck with a 6.5-foot bed, standard 4-wheel drive, and pretty decent off-road ability. In theory, the Titan XD is a great idea. Occupying the ground between half-ton trucks (like the Ford F-150) and three-quarter-ton pickups (like the Ford F-250), it has greater towing and payload capacity than the standard Titan and the Toyota Tundra.

The idea starts to lose its glow because, for the most part, the XD’s capabilities are often equaled or surpassed by half-ton trucks. And the three-quarter and one-ton rivals from Ram, Ford, and Chevy can handle so much more.

Even so, there’s still a place for the 2021 Titan XD in the pickup landscape, especially with its impressive 5-year/100,000-mile warranty. The civilized cabin is comfortable and well-appointed. And an array of standard driver assistance features, such as front and rear automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, gives it something of an edge over the competition.

Except for negotiating tight parking spots, the 2021 Nissan Titan XD is easy to live with. It rides comfortably, with a quiet cabin and supportive, NASA-inspired “zero-gravity” seats.

The 5.6-liter V8 has plenty of muscle, and the 9-speed automatic transmission works without complaint, neither hunting for gears nor making abrupt changes.

The interior offers an optional 9-inch infotainment touchscreen that helps it stay competitive with trucks like the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150, but still isn’t as arguably attractive as the Ram 1500.

The Titan XD also comes solely as a crew cab with one bed length and one drivetrain, which might be an issue with buyers accustomed to nearly unlimited configuration possibilities when acquiring a new truck.

Although the 2021 Titan XD is a tough truck, it has features to please the pickiest pickup buyer. Base S trims come with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. Higher trims have a 9-inch screen. “Zero gravity” seats are fitted in both rows. And storage areas around the cabin are generous.

The top Platinum Reserve trim has one of the most attractive XD cabins, all done in black and cocoa brown, exuding luxury with heated/cooled/leather-covered seats, open-pore wood accents, and aluminum door-sill plates.

Daily drives and cross-country trips alike are made more convenient with things like hands-free text messaging, navigation, NissanConnect with mobile apps, Bluetooth, and a 110-volt outlet.

Nissan revised the Titan XD’s looks last year, with a new grille, front bumper, and wheels, as well as dedicated styling elements for each of the five trims. The headlights now provide around 120 percent more light at their low beam setting.

The truck bed has LED lighting at all four corners. Like the grille design, taillights are specific to each trim. An integrated gooseneck hitch with a plug inside the bed is standard in SV trim and higher.

5.6-LITER V8 ENGINE
The Titan XD’s standard 5.6-liter V8 is a solid performer. Generating 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, it has no issues pulling heavy loads. There are no EPA numbers for the XD, but the regular half-ton Titan 4×4 uses the same engine and achieves an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

NISSAN SAFETY SHIELD 360
This set of standard and reassuring driver aids includes rear automatic emergency braking, a feature unique to the Titan XD (for now).

As well as basic items in the 2021 Titan XD S — like 17-inch steel wheels, spray-in bed liner, and hill start assist — there are also several nicer additions such as rear reading lights, cruise control, steering wheel controls, a lockable tailgate, and a comprehensive gauge package. All XDs except the base S have underbody skidplate protection as standard.

On the tech front, the XD has an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, hands-free text messaging, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, two USB ports, Bluetooth, NissanConnect with mobile apps, and a 6-speaker audio system.

Standard driver aids include forward-collision warning with front and rear automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Four-wheel drive, with a 2-speed transfer case, is also standard throughout the range.

At the SV level comes trailer sway/trailer brake control, trailer light function check, integrated gooseneck hitch, heated/extendable side mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and carpeting.

Off-road warriors will want to explore the specialist Pro-4X model with Bilstein shock absorbers, extra underbody protection, and all-terrain tires. This is also where the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen and Wi-fi become standard. Beyond that are increasing levels of luxury, with some plush additions available as options in the lower trims.

Among the extras are 20-inch alloy wheels, heated/ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, dual-pane panoramic moonroof, power-sliding rear window, navigation, rear-seat entertainment system, and a Fender-branded 12-speaker audio system upgrade.

The Nissan Titan XD has a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V8, a 9-speed automatic transmission, and 4-wheel drive as standard.

The 2021 Titan XD has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR — the maximum the truck can weigh, including payload, people, and fluids) of 8,800 pounds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have any fuel consumption estimates for a truck of this size. Maximum engine output is achieved with premium gasoline.

5.6-liter V8
400 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
413 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A