Page 56 - MotorTrend (March 2020)

FIRST DRIVE I 2020 NISSAN TITAN
BIG DIVIDENDS
he 2016 Nissan Titan was a monu-
mental improvement over the
12-year-old truck it replaced, but
that redesigned model was already
Toutdated the day it was unveiled; it
was the truck Nissan should’ve released
many years earlier, and it showed.
This year, finally, the refreshed Titan
boasts improvements that bring it much
closer to competing with segment leaders
from Ford, Ram, and Chevrolet.
The first think you’ll notice is the
updated styling, which takes a refreshing
step away from aping the Ford F-150 in
front and establishes a better identity for
the Titan. Unfortunately, that’s balanced
with a new tailgate trim piece on top-trim
models (not pictured) that looks like it
was pried off the back of an F-150.
The real news is hiding under the skin.
The star of the show is a new JATCO
nine-speed automatic, which is worlds
better than the seven-speed it replaces.
It’s smoother, smarter, quicker to shift,
cleverer about when to do it, and devoid of
the slop of the old one.
56 MOTORTREND.COM MARCH 2020
An updated 5.6-liter V-8 now makes
just enough more power to claim “best
in class” bragging rights, and a 3.69:1
rear end really wakes things up. Consid-
erably “shorter” (numerically higher)
than before, the new rear end makes the
Titan jump off the line with the kind of
enthusiasm the V-8’s healthy roar always
promised but never delivered. Unfor-
tunately, the new transmission hasn’t
done anything to improve the truck’s fuel
economy rating (15/21 mpg city/highway
with four-wheel drive, 16/22 without).
None of these updates has improved
the Titan’s payload and tow ratings, which
still sit at 1,680 pounds hauling and 9,370
pounds towing. Competing domestic
trucks can haul hundreds of pounds more
and tow thousands more.
There’s good news, though, because the
upgraded drivetrain lets the Titan tow
what it can a lot better. Hitched to a 4,500-
pound horse trailer, the shorter rear end
lets the truck and trailer get moving with
authority. The transmission also makes
the most of the engine’s prodigious power.
WORDS SCOTT EVANS
In previous tow tests, we found the old
seven-speed had a bad habit of hanging at
redline for what felt like an eternity before
finally upshifting. Now, all the parts feel
well matched and are working together for
a more confident towing experience.
Even if the numbers haven’t changed,
the powertrain improvements were the
missing piece of the Titan’s puzzle. The old
truck’s smooth ride and precise steering
both carry over to make this a more
complete truck. Steering effort is heavier
than in other trucks, but it fits the Titan’s
macho personality.
It’s macho like The Rock is macho,
big and tough but able to swagger in
a designer suit when the occasion
calls for it. The interior is mostly
the same, but laminated glass and
massive improvements in noise,
vibration, and harshness