2008 Nissan Titan

Nissan's 5.6-liter Endurance V-8 generates 317 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 385 pound-feet of torque at 3400 rpm, driving a five-speed automatic transmission. The V-8 offers flex-fuel operation, capable of running on a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. When equipped with an optional towing package, a King Cab Titan can haul up to 9,500 pounds.


Driven off-road, an LE Crew Cab produced a helpful "grunt" of power on a slippery upgrade. On less-harsh stretches, the LE delivers a well-controlled ride, as its suspension snubs bad spots effectively. More than some domestic-brand big pickups, the poshest Titan feels under close control. Titans are quiet, too, with a well-muted engine.

Interior

Full gauges aren't huge, but their large numbers help readability. Seats are comfortably cushioned, with substantial side bolsters that really keep you in place. Expect excellent views all around, though over-left-shoulder visibility is blocked partially by the vertical grip handle. Drivers enjoy an exceptionally long seat bottom, plus fine support overall for both back and thigh. White-faced gauges in the PRO-4X feature big tachometer digits, but the speedometer numbers are smaller (though all are easy to read).


Side-impact airbags and Vehicle Dynamic Control are a $1,200 option (not available for the Titan XE). Nissan's navigation system, with a "bird's eye" viewing feature, costs $1,800 extra on PRO-4X and LE models. A front bench seat may be installed, rather than captain's chairs, for six-passenger capacity.

Driving Impression
Through a forested off-road course, the PRO-4X felt significantly tauter, as expected. Ordinarily, trucks designed for off-road and other heavy-duty applications present a tedious trade-off when driving on regular roads. Specifically, they're likely to ride significantly rougher than their moderate-duty counterparts. When rolling the PRO-4X onto ordinary pavement, then, you'd expect to be punished by pounding motions from the suspension. Instead, the experience became highly pleasing-though that pleasure might be diminished when it's time to fill up the tank.