With an impressive name that sounds more like an FDIC-approved bank than a pickup truck, the 2016 Titan XD Platinum Reserve stands at the very top of the Nissan truck line. Fortunately, it lives up to its heavy duty moniker with a blend of kitted-out comfort and brute force.
Pricing out at a considerable $60,520, this Titan XD Platinum Reserve (…And we’re just going to go with Titan XD from this point forward to save space and time…) is a truck for a buyer in need of hardcore utility. Its V8 diesel engine and bestial 555 foot-pounds of torque will tow more than six tons or carry a one ton payload.
The hard reality of the pickup market for all automakers (except the one settled in Dearborn, Mich.) is life becomes a long, ongoing pursuit of the F-150. Depending on what stats you choose, Ford’s massively popular, full-size pickup is the number one selling consumer vehicle in the world — selling two or three per minute globally.
That means Chevrolet’s Silverado, Dodge’s Ram 1500, GMC’s Sierra, Toyota’s Tundra and Nissan’s Titan jockey for position with each other along the rail — trying to close the furlong between the pack and the F-150. Different companies try different tactics, relying on more aggressive styling, increased comfort, more fuel-efficient engines, etc.
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In the case of this Titan XD, Nissan turned to a blend of power and a complete in-truck suite of ride-enhancing technology. On the power front, we look again to that 5.0-liter V8 diesel engine as it puts out a steady, chugging 310 horsepower.
With a curb weight just a tick under 7,500 pounds, that engine works up a mighty thirst. The buyer will be filling its 26-gallon fuel tank often. However, if you drop about 60 large on a truck, you’re not likely in a position in which you worry about the cost of diesel fuel.
The fact that we’re throwing around that “D word” is less of a factor with the Titan XD than with a non-utility themed consumer car. Diesel scares many uninformed drivers away from the benefits of such an engine in any number of cars. But, diesel is more comfortably accepted in the truck world — especially in a vehicle this big and intended for serious duty.
Though a competent beast of burden in every way, Nissan made sure to stock the cab with every comfort the modern driver expects. From an eight-way power, Captain-style, leather, driver’s seat and one-touch power heated mirrors to a complete infotainment system with Around View Monitor and Moving Object Detection, Nissan wants to make the experience of driving a Titan as carefree as possible.
That’s where the truck surprises the would-be buyer. With the use of its front independent, double-wishbone suspension, with stabilizer bar and multi-leaf rear suspension and solid axle, the ride is as smooth as you might find in any passenger car. A mighty electronic power steering system helps to make a very big truck manageable, even in tighter confines.
The 2016 Titan XD Platinum Reserve (…I had enough space to fit that in one more time here…) is not for the shopper who simply likes the size and extra capability of an average pickup. Its size, power, and price make it a much more serious piece of equipment for dedicated truck users. But, even those hardcore truck people will be impressed by how smooth the Titan pulls all of its facets together.
