Nissan Titan Maryland

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We never know what to expect when we're rolling in foreign trucks around Detroit. With not one, but two Ford pickup factories churning out almost equal numbers of F-Series trucks and UAW loyalists, having a Toyota pickup in the driveway can be asking for trouble. We were prepared for the worst when the bright red 2007 Nissan Titan arrived.

He waved at me, to get my attention. I pretended not to notice, and he waved again. Steeling myself for the coming abuse, I finally made eye contact, and he gave me a thumbs-up and a big smile. Unlike the Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tundra, the Titan seems to have had no trouble crossing the Buy American border. For 2007, flexible-fuel capability and a slight horsepower boost keep it up to date.

As it turned out, our big, in-your-face Nissan had no trouble making friends in the Motor City. "Your truck is beautiful!" a woman in a Ford Econoline rolled down her window to shout as we drove past. The Titan is a tall, broad-shouldered truck, with blocky, chiseled lines that stand out. It looks the part of a Tough Truck. The design hides a practical heart as well; the tall seating position and cutaway front fenders improve visibility to the front. The cargo box is also as much about utility as styling; there's a small, water-resistant cargo bin just aft of the left rear wheel, and a built-in adjustable cargo tiedown rack is standard equipment. The Titan also features a standard spray-on bedliner and an available power rear window in crew cab models.

The rugged good looks carry over to the interior, which stands out from the classic pickup-truck cabin with an abundance of strong horizontal and vertical surfaces, high-shouldered door panels and a tall center console. The cab is spacious, with plenty of head- and shoulder-room. Adjustable pedals make this big truck comfortable for a variety of drivers. Legroom in the crew cab rivals that of the "super-size" cabs available from other manufacturers, with over 40 inches of legroom. The rear seats also fold flat, opening up generous space inside the cab for cargo--enough for an antique bureau, as it turned out. Additional storage space is provided in the available overhead console. The décor involves perhaps too much gray plastic, but that just makes it easy to keep clean. The Titan's interior layout is artistic, and right on the border between too gimmicky and practical. I found myself hunting for switchgear even after spending a few days with the truck. My only major complaint was that the sideview mirrors are too small for trailer towing.

The Titan arrived on the day that I had to tow the old Chevrolet pickup I'm restoring home from the paint shop, so it wasn't long before its workin' skills were put to the test. At the trailer rental shop, the load-in guys (who always check out the trucks I bring in) thought it was a good-looking rig, too. We hooked up a 2000-pound car hauler, and the Titan's 5.6 liter V8 specs barely even noticed the load. Horsepower has been boosted to 317 for 2007 thanks to changes to the intake system. With the old Chevy loaded, total trailer weight was about 6000 pounds, well within the Titan's 9400-pound towing capacity. The five-speed automatic transmission handles the additional work of getting a trailer up to speed smoothly well, though Nissan's typical twitch throttle made for a few jerky starts. Once underway, whether laden or not, the Titan's drivetrain is strong and confident, with just the right amount of toughness for a proper full-size truck. The available flex-fuel version will accept blends of ethanol and gasoline in a common tank, to enable buyers to take advantage of renewable domestic fuels where available.

There's a typical pickup truck solid axle at the rear, but up front, a carlike double wishbone suspension offers relatively nimble handling. The chassis is also up to the task of handling heavy loads; the sturdy fully boxed frame riding underneath is comparable to what's found under many 3/4 ton pickups. Lateral stability was good, even with a heavy trailer out back. The standard anti-lock brakes brought all of that weight to a stop with ease. All-wheel drive is available, of course; our Titan's shift-on-the-fly 4x4 made short work of slippery late-winter roads. Nissan continues to offer the Off-Road package as well, and Titans that are going to see serious off-road duty will benefit from the lower gearing, locking rear differential, skid plates and larger off-road tires.

It's not hard to see why the Titan gets more respect than Toyota's Tundra; the styling is tough, and the truck is able to back up those rugged looks with a serious work ethic. Nissan knew all along what Toyota has only just discovered; a full-size truck has to look big and work big to get the attention of American truck buyers, and it made sure that the Titan has the right stuff. The powerful 5.6 liter V8, flexible-fuel capability and a born-to-work attitude put the Titan right in the heart of the personal-use pickup truck market. Titan pricing starts at $23,700 for a basic King Cab model and $26,550 for the Crew Cab. Our test truck was an all-wheel drive Crew Cab with XM satellite radio, the off-road package, towing package, DVD entertainment system and a thumpin' Rockford Fosgate sound system, and it stickered for $38,725.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2007 Nissan Titan
Length: 224.2 in.
Width: 78.8 in.
Height: 76.7 in.
Wheelbase: 139.8 in.
Curb weight: 5137 lb.
Towing capacity: 9400 lb. (4x4)
Base price: $26,500
Price as tested: $38,725
Engine: 5.6 liter DOHC 32-valve V8
Drivetrain: five-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Horsepower: 317 hp
Torque: 385 ft/lb
Fuel capacity: 28.0 gal.
Est. mileage: 13/18