Used 2021 Nissan TITAN

The 2021 Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck that cost $230 million. That’s how much Nissan invested in updating the Titan, the fruits of which debuted last year. It brought a thoroughly revised interior (making a 9-inch touchscreen available; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard) and more standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. The exterior also saw some styling revisions. And tow ratings increased so that a 2021 Titan King Cab 4×2, the best tow rig, can pull a 9,370-pound trailer.

The engine puts out 400 horsepower (with premium fuel). It’s the only standard V8 in its class with that much muscle. The Titan is now much quicker from 50 to 70 mph.

Naturally, there is tough and significantly newer competition from the Big Three (Ford, GM, Ram), plus the always-considerable Toyota Tundra. But the 2021 Titan’s case is strengthened by a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that’s the best in the pickup business.

The 2021 Titan delivers a pleasurable driving experience. It’s sufficiently civilized and comfortable for a cross-country jaunt.

The V8 engine is quiet and refined, with enough power to make short work of freeway onramps — even while towing a 5,000-pound trailer with a couple of quad bikes on board. And it stays relaxed on the highway, running at about 1,500 rpm at 60 mph and only 1,900 rpm at 80 mph. The 9-speed automatic transmission is similarly smooth, yet will downshift two or sometimes three gears in rapid response to a mashed accelerator pedal.

Conversation within the roomy Crew Cab is never strained, thanks in part to acoustic laminated glass. Operating the Fender-branded stereo is also made easy by the attractive 9-inch touchscreen above the center stack.

This screen’s resolution is better than HD (the navigation feature has great-looking maps). And it’s supported by large buttons that can be manipulated without looking away from the road for too long.

The active cruise control works as it should, and the lane departure warning system vibrates the steering wheel gently if the Titan starts to drift out of its lane. This is much better than an audible warning. This system may also be shut off by controls on the steering wheel.

The 2021 Titan comes as a King Cab with a pair of rear-hinged back doors, or a Crew Cab with four conventional doors. Both seat five comfortably (or six when ordered as a base S model with a front bench seat). The interior features a center stack with the Integrated Command Center and laminated glass. A panoramic moonroof is optional.

The seats are all-day comfortable, rear legroom is fine for most adults, and the quality of materials is high. The off-road-focused Titan Pro-4X offers a camouflage seat fabric that looks much better in real life than it might sound.

The gauges are models of clarity, with a big analog rev counter and speedometer flanking a large center information display. In the Pro-4X, this display can feature specialist information like the angle of inclination, plus an active pictogram that shows power delivery in the 4×4 system’s low range.

Buyers over 6 feet tall will probably want to give the panoramic moonroof — available in SL, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve trims — a miss. Although the opening is nice and large (while retaining handy grab handles), it reduces headroom noticeably.

The 12-speaker/485-watt Fender-branded audio system fills the roomy cab with crisp, clear sounds.

During last year’s mid-cycle revamp, Nissan created distinct looks for each Titan variant. The Titan SL goes heavy on the chrome, brightening the grille, mirrors, door handles, sidestep, exhaust tip, and the 20-inch alloy wheels.

Platinum Reserve has a 2-tone color scheme with a satin chrome grille and tailgate finisher. This is complemented by illuminated chrome running boards and painted 20-inch machined alloy wheels.

The rugged off-road-oriented Pro-4X features a blacked-out grille with red Nissan lettering, red tow hooks, black tailgate (also with red Nissan lettering), special graphics, and black door handles. The Pro-4X rolls on dark-painted, 18-inch alloy wheels wearing all-terrain off-road tires.

Exterior color choices include Super Black, Cardinal Red Metallic, Baja Storm, Red Alert, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Gun Metallic, Pearl White Tri-Coat, Glacier White, and Deep Blue Pearl.

INTEGRATED COMMAND CENTER
Featuring a handsome 9-inch touchscreen with outstanding WXGA resolution (better than high definition), the Titan’s Integrated Command Center is wonderfully easy to use. Standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration is another definite plus point.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Automatic emergency braking is a potential life-saver and standard in all versions of the Nissan Titan, along with a rear braking feature that automatically applies the anchors if something is detected in the pickup’s path when it’s reversing.

The 2021 Titan is available as a King Cab model with a 6.5-foot bed or as a Crew Cab model with a 5.5-foot bed.

The Nissan Safety Shield 360 array of driver aids is standard, as well as rear automatic braking, automatic on/off headlights, trailer sway control, Bluetooth, USB port, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. An 8-inch display is standard in the S trim, but the Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve versions have an impressive 9-inch touchscreen with WXGA resolution.

Nissan Connect is also included, allowing over-the-air software updates plus several safety and security features.

Other than that, the S trim is basic, with air conditioning, 4-way manually adjustable front seats, 18-inch steel wheels, and a 6-speaker audio system.

The few options for a base Titan S include a tow package, spray-in bed liner, and an overhead front console.

The SV, though better equipped in standard form, still has plenty of options. These include 20-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, 110-volt outlet in the bed, cargo lights, bed step, trailer-brake controller, extendable side mirrors for towing, power-adjustable driver’s seat, two rear USB ports, Nissan Connect with navigation, plus the 9-inch Integrated Command Center.

The Titan Pro-4X can be ordered with power-adjustable side mirrors, embroidered seats, power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated rear seats, power-adjustable steering column, remote engine start, panoramic moonroof, 12-speaker Fender audio system, and a truly indispensable 360-degree camera system making life much easier in tight parking lots and when hitching up a trailer.

As the Titan flagship, the Platinum Reserve version is opulent and well equipped. But extras are available even here, such as a rear bed step, panoramic moonroof, and a Utility package that includes a lockable toolbox.

Every 2021 Nissan Titan, in either regular or XD form, has a direct-injected 5.6-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. That’s a class-leading amount of muscle.

A 9-speed automatic transmission sends that energy to the rear wheels (RWD) as standard, although all-wheel drive (AWD) is available in some versions or standard in others.

Achieving that maximum power means using premium gasoline. But 87-octane gasoline won’t hurt.

5.6-liter V8
400 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
413 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/21 mpg (RWD) 16/21 (AWD), 15/20 mpg (Pro-4X)