::Model Guide>Nissan>2004>Titan>In Depth Review


Introduction

In 1986, Honda took the industry by storm and entered the full-size luxury automobile market. Honda, realizing their brand was known for reliable economy cars (not luxury vehicles), launched a new division to support these technologically advanced automobiles. Acura prospered for four years, until Nissan and Toyota studied the market and joined the game with Infiniti and Lexus, their luxury brands.

In 1990, the Infiniti Q45 and Lexus LS400 raised the bar. To steal sales from the luxury domestics and European imports, their cars were larger and their rear wheels were driven by powerful V8 engines. The front-wheel-drive V6-powered Acura Legend didn’t have what it took to survive. Acura quickly lost market share, and never recovered in the high-end luxury segment. Acura conceded the niche to Infiniti and Lexus.

Failing to learn from Acura’s luxury market mistakes, Toyota decided to enter one of the world’s most difficult markets - the domestic full-size pickup truck market. In 1993, they launched the T100. Dropped into dealerships with a 150-horsepower V6, the scaled-down truck was underpowered and smaller than the domestic offerings. Offering only a standard cab, the unexciting truck never stood a chance. Sales were below modest projections, and the domestics never blinked. In 2000, with a new name and a V8, the Toyota Tundra rolled into showrooms. Still only 7/8ths the size of the domestics, it is haunted by the T100’s ghost. The domestics continue to duck the punches.

It is now 2003, and Nissan has decided to enter the game with their version of the full-size truck for our domestic market. It is called the Titan.

The Market

The full-size truck segment represents nearly 2.3 million domestic sales each year. Last year, the Big Three (Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge) moved the bulk of those. The market was small, with a very loyal following. If there was to be a new player on the field, it wouldn’t be easy.

With the mindset of a determined overachiever, Nissan spent $2 million over several years to research what the segment demanded, and where to position their new full-size.

What emerged from the drawing boards was the first true full-size pickup built by an import. The Titan offered class-leading V8 power, best in class torque, best headroom, largest interior volume, best rear legroom, class leading towing, best 4x4 approach angle, best 4x4 ground clearance, and the largest 4x4 tires in the class.

As if they didn’t already have a winner, Nissan pushed the full-size pickup envelope with the first “wide-open door” on a King Cab, the first factory spray-on bedliner, and the first gated transmission shifter. Nissan is ready to play.

Chassis & Suspension

Available in Crew Cab (four-door) and King Cab (with the unique “wide-open door”), the Nissan Titan sits atop a traditional body-on-frame design. The welded steel full-length boxed ladder frame yields a very rigid platform (Nissan chose frame welding for accurate control over material thickness, and tighter frame radiuses – both limitations of hydroforming.) All mounting holes in the frame are cut after welding for better consistency and accuracy during the manufacturing process. A generous 28-gallon fuel tank rides inside the rail (protected by a skid plate) on the driver side in front of the rear axle. The engine sits low and back on the chassis providing an excellent pickup truck weight distribution of 55/45 (front/rear).

The Titan rides on a front double-wishbone suspension (including Rancho shocks on the Off-Road package) and traditional rear leaf springs. The double-wishbone fronts (with sway bar) offer excellent impact resistance, and a comfortable ride, while keeping the front wheels in alignment with the road surface. The rear leaf set-up offers heavy towing capacity (an impressive 9500 lbs.) while preventing unwanted suspension movements common with coil designs.

Powerplant & Transmission

The engine in the new Titan truck is an all-new design from the block up. Named the “VK56DE Endurance V8”, the aluminum block (with cast-iron cylinder liners) and aluminum head 5.6-liter was designed to be reliable, smooth, and fuel-efficient.

Generating an impressive 305 horsepower, and 379 lb-ft of torque, the chain-driven DOHC valvetrain system represents a departure from the full-size OHV of GM and Ford while offering more standard power than any other full-size truck in the category.

The VK56DE offers responsive acceleration for all driving conditions (90% of maximum torque is available from around 2500 RPM). With an eye on the details, Nissan focused on increasing torsional rigidity in the block and eliminating annoying vibrations. The structural oil pan uses reinforcing ribs to strengthen the lower surfaces while the oil gallery pipe itself acts as a reinforcement beam. In addition, a baffle was added to prevent sound resonations from developing between the middle and lower section surfaces of the engine.

Extensive CAD (computer-aided design) work allowed simultaneous engineering between the design and manufacturing team. Computer work included flow analysis of both the intake and exhaust manifold, and predicting air flow fields in the engine compartment. Precise temperature calculations in the engine compartment and cooling system assist in cylinder head and block cooling, while exhaust gas flow research in the exhaust manifold assist with emission control.

The V8 engine utilizes six-bolt main bearing caps, a forged steel crankshaft, and a structural aluminum oil pan to save weight. At 509 lbs, the engine is lighter than the Dodge, Ford, and Toyota V8.

The standard (only available) transmission for the Titan is a 5-speed automatic with electronic controls. The drive-by-wire throttle sends signals to the transmission (with tow/haul modes) for precise shifts through all gears. The gated transmission selector has fourth and fifth gears across from each other – offering quick manual shifting while towing or passing.

Fuel economy figures had not been released as of publication.

Brakes & Steering

Generous four-wheel discs bring the Titan to a stop quickly and without drama. The discs are assisted by a standard four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS), brake assist (BA), and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) systems. An optional (bundled in the Tow Package) Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system helps keep the nose of the truck pointing forward if ends begin to swap.

The steering is by power rack-and-pinion with engine speed-sensitive assist. This combination offers better road feel and on-center stability than a traditional recirculating ball system.

Wheels & Tires

Standard wheels are 7.5x17 painted steel wheels wrapped with 245/75R-17 tires. Optional wheels are 18” aluminum-alloy wrapped in 265/70R-18 rubber. Opting for the Off-Road Package will get you 7.5x17 brushed aluminum-alloy wheels with meaty 285/70R-17 rubber.

Off-Road

Offering the first OE application of a locking rear differential on a full-size pickup truck, the Titan again raises the bar among the competition. Opting for the Off-Road package, owners will find their Titans equipped with Rancho performance shocks and a host of other functional off-road treats including fog lamps and tow hooks.

Generous ground clearance, aggressive approach and departure angles, and extensive skid plates allow drivers to get close and not worry about vehicle damage. The engine management software has been programmed with special 4-LO throttle logic for increase control while Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) works to keep power on the ground.

Cargo/Bed

The Titan’s 5’6” bed offers the first available factory-applied permanent spray-in bed liner (part of the Utility Bed Package). Offering distinct advantages over aftermarket spray systems and aftermarket “drop-in” liners, the material is very durable and designed to last the life of the vehicle.

Sourced from PPG, nearly 5-gallons of material are applied at the end of the assembly line. Sprayed in variable thicknesses (2-mm on the bottom and 1-mm on the sides), the elastomer coating is formed from a two-component system that cures to create a tough slip-resistant coating. In addition to preserving the bed itself, additional benefits of this spray-on bedliner include the dampening of sound, road noise, and vibration from the bed area.

The bed of the Titan offers yet another unique offering in the pick-up market. An aluminum aircraft-style “Utili-track” tie-down system is available as a factory option. Nine open section C-channels line the Titan’s bed and (with their aluminum-alloy brackets - each with 500 lb. capacities) offer nearly unlimited cargo arrangements. The brackets can be moved, without tools, to nearly any position on the rails in seconds. Once in place, they are twisted and locked down. In a thoughtful move, Nissan designed the C-channel to be a common size, accepting aftermarket load systems with compatible dimensions. From what we saw, ungainly loads were easy to secure. The aluminum C-channel rails on three sides of the bed offered an additional plus - it is possible to cut plywood to form a custom tonneau cover that slides into the channels.

The Titan also offers the segment’s first rear quarter panel (driver side) climate-resistant storage compartment behind the wheel well. This is another one of those “why didn’t someone think of this sooner” features that really works well. The interior of the compartment has an adjustable tray, and comes with a removable rubber mat.

Less innovative, but no less important, is the tailgate illumination (in addition to the illumination from the cab-mounted light) housed on each side of the bed walls. These lights bathe the bed with light for night duties. Towards the rear of the bed is a 12v cigarette-lighter-type outlet (always powered “on”) for additional accessories.

Interior

The Titan offers class-leading interior space and comfort while still maintaining a truly functional environment for the driver and passengers.

Available as a Crew Cab (four-door) or King Cab (two-door with unique nearly 180-degree “wide-open” side doors), the Titan is available with three different trim levels (XE, SE, or LE). Cloth or leather seats (bench or captain’s chairs) position the driver and passenger comfortably in the cabin. An array of cup holders, 12v outlets, and storage areas ensure nothing will go without power, or out of place. Seats recline, fold up and away, and even flat. Those same seats can even be ordered heated. Power-adjustable foot pedals are available. When it comes to pickups, interior versatility is the idea – and Titan delivers.

Safety

The 2004 Titan offers another industry-first (among full-size trucks) with rollover protection for outboard passengers. The system includes available curtain airbags which deploy (and stay inflated for six seconds) to protect passengers from both fast (highway) and slow (off-road) rolls. Working in conjunction with dual front and side airbags equipped with Nissan’s AABS (Advanced Air Bag System), front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, safety has (finally) taken a priority in the full-size arena.

Children benefit with Nissan’s attention to safety as the 2004 Titan comes standard with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for Children) child seat anchor system and occupancy sensing front airbags.

Manufacturing

Nissan will build the Titan at their new $1.43 billion manufacturing site in Canton, Mississippi (the Pathfinder Armada will also be built in the Canton plant). The new Nissan Endurance V8 will be assembled on an all-new assembly line at Nissan’s advanced engine production facility in Decherd, Tennessee. Titan production is slated to start in late October. Pricing will be announced in late November with the first production Titans arriving in showrooms before the end of the year.

FreshAlloy Impressions

We spent the day behind the wheel of the 2004 Titan in Napa, California. A fleet of pre-production Titans in various configurations awaited the press team. During the course of the day, we took turns wringing trucks out on smooth two-lane highways, windy mountain passes, and rough dirt fire roads.

In person, the Titan looks very muscular. In a segment where looks mean everything, Nissan realized exterior appearance was critical. A dominating chiseled front end with massive headlights flank the chrome grill. The muscular stance continues with strong A-pillars and blacked-out B-pillars before the cab drops down with forward-swept lines. The bed flares to accommodate the wide rear tires that fill the wheel wells accordingly. Thankfully, there is a lack of useless body cladding except for some tasteful door protection running along the lower panel. Red taillights taper down to the back in a visually pleasing move. In the rear, the tailgate sports the Nissan look with a large panel with latch in the middle.

Unlike some domestics who believe large truck owners enjoy climbing up into their truck; climbing into the Titan is not a chore. Entry or exit was never an issue on either the 4x2 or 4x4 (which enjoy nearly the same ride height).

Behind the wheel all gauges fall easily to view. A transmission temperature gauge is a nice addition – though I wouldn’t expect it to require much monitoring for most drivers. You’ll find all of the amenities now required in modern full-size pickups - including steering wheel controls for radio and cruise, heated seats, and an available DVD player. Though I never had a chance to test it, there was a small 1/8” RCA stereo jack for an external MP3 player to pump tunes into the head unit.

Seats are comfortable and legroom is generous. I left my ten-gallon hat at home, but I am convinced it would have fit between my hairline and the headliner. From the driving position, visibility out of the cabin was good. My only concern was that thick A-pillar. On paved roads it was fine. However, during our off-road segment (where you are crawling over the rocks) the A-pillar often blocked my view of the ground directly to the left or right of the hood.

Power from the 5.6 liter is strong. It is very strong for a stock truck (we estimate 60-mph to fall in about seven seconds). Full throttle starts will chirp tires from a standstill on solid pavement. The torque easily spins the rear wheels in the 4x2 on loose surfaces (I used 4WD on the dirt just to limit wheel spin). Climbing hills is effortless, and passing is done confidently well above legal speeds. With that much responsive power underfoot, your have to remind yourself that you are in a full-size pickup.

One more thing about that engine... It sounds incredible under throttle. I had an extended conversation with one of the senior engineers from Nissan who explained their emphasis on a throaty exhaust note. Calling it a solid “American V8” growl is a compliment. Keep in mind that same exhaust note drew complaints from some of the other journalists (“…it is too loud”). To me, it was all music.

The 5-speed automatic transmission was perfect – no joke. Shifts through the gears were turbine-smooth, and downshifts for passing were silky. I couldn’t detect any unnecessary hunting. I don’t like automatics, so impressing me with one is an accomplishment. The engine/transmission marriage in the Titan is nearly flawless.

After spending time on the 17-inch wheels found in the Off-Road Package, I didn’t like the 18-inch wheel option. With an additional 20-mm of rubber (width) on the road at each corner, and slightly taller sidewalls, the ride (and handling) was improved on the 17’s. Cornering felt better and more confident – with less harshness transmitted through the steering wheel.

Demonstrating cargo utility, Nissan had thrown a few toys in the beds of these trucks. I drove a 4x4 with a pair of off-road motorcycles strapped down the in the back. As luck would have it, I took this configuration on the dirt trails. I bottomed the truck out more than once, and Nissan’s new “Utili-track” system held everything in place. While behind the wheel of another Titan, the spray-in bedliner kept a large compressor from sliding as it stayed strapped in the back of another. We did notice the non-removable tailgate is heavy (and is not counterweighted). The storage in the rear fender is a great idea – and the perfect place to hide some dirty gloves or a greasy hitch.

Later that evening, over a glass of wine, Titan conversation was all positive. Few could find fault with this new, large, powerful entry from the Japanese. Designed and built in America, the 2004 Nissan Titan is a shot aimed squarely at the jaws of the domestic full-size pickup market. The Big Three had better put on their gloves, as there will be no ducking the Titan’s wallop.

Words and Photos by Michael Harley

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