2022 Nissan Titan XD

The idea behind the 2022 Nissan Titan XD, which is a sort-of-heavy-duty pickup truck, is much better in theory than in practice. Essentially a beefed-up version of the regular half-ton Titan, the XD has a higher tow rating and payload capacity.

It also has a smoother ride than heavy-duty alternatives such as the Ford Super Duty, the Chevrolet Silverado HD, and the GMC Sierra HD.

The biggest problem with the tweener Titan is that its capabilities are eclipsed by smaller full-size trucks such as the Ford F-150, the Ram 1500, and others that also have a better ride-and-handling balance as well as more configuration options.

Considering the 2022 Nissan Titan XD‘s status as an in-betweener, we’d suggest sticking with the low-end SV trim. This will maximize payload and towing capacity to help give the Titan XD a fighting chance against similarly priced HD competitors.

Luckily, four-wheel drive is standard, and all Titan XD models come well-equipped with driver-assistance features and stylish 20-inch wheels.

ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION

The standard gasoline-powered 5.6-liter V-8 is quiet and refined. It makes 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. It is accompanied by a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. Nissan’s tweener drives like a more civilized heavy-duty pickup without handling better or being able to haul as much.

The 2022 Nissan Titan XD has a compliant ride for a big pickup with a heavy-duty frame, though light-duty pickups ride significantly better. The XD handles like a heavy-duty pickup, too, with lazy, uncommunicative steering and vague responses to your directional commands.

Likewise, it is unwieldy to drive on the highway. The results for the XD we tested it and put it in the middle of the class. The soft, vague feel of the brake pedal wasn’t reassuring.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

The 2022 Nissan Titan XD qualifies as a heavy-duty vehicle under EPA rules, so its fuel economy is not rated by that federal agency.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

A practical but uninspired dash design doesn’t help the 2022 Nissan Titan XD stand out in this segment. The leather appointments in our Pro-4X test truck gussied up the interior, while the topmost Platinum Reserve model features fancier two-tone leather and open-pore wood trim.

Nissan’s excellent Zero Gravity front and rear seats stole the show with their perfect balance of support and comfort, especially on long road trips. The Titan XD, which is offered solely in crew-cab configuration, can hold the most carry-on-sized suitcases behind the front seats in its class, and its low lift-over height helps when loading cargo into the bed.

However, its cargo boxes are among the smallest in this set, and interior storage space for smaller items is less useful than the competition.

IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS

Base S and value-minded SV models come with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but Pro-4X, SL, and Platinum Reserve trim to get a new 9.0-inch display as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The SV trim level and higher has a 5.0-inch gauge-cluster screen that can display diagnostics, fuel economy, and an off-road accelerometer. It also has a neat Trailer Light Check feature for singlehanded monitoring of the trailer’s lighting connections.

PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS

The 2022 Nissan Titan XD comes standard with a suite of driver-assistance features to help manage its mammoth measurements.

For more information about the Titan’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites

PHOTOS

FULL SPECIFICATIONS