The 2023 Nissan Frontier Makes Us Sad for the Nissan Titan
The 2023 Nissan Frontier is a pickup truck that brings a lot to the table. You get a standard V6 engine, competent ride, and off-road chops through the PRO-4X trim. And although this midsize truck has grown in popularity, it looks like the Nissan Titan is on the chopping block. That might be a bit of a disappointment to folks looking for a new full-size pickup in the coming years.
Why is the Nissan Titan not popular?
As a full-size truck, the 2023 Nissan Titan cannot tow as much as its rivals, it lacks a serious off-road model, and it has a limited number of configurations. Because of that, it has never seen the popularity of pickups like the Ram 1500 or Ford F-150.
That does not necessarily mean the Nissan Titan is a bad truck, though. It comes standard with a V8 engine, which is something that other pickup trucks are starting to ditch. In 2023, you can no longer get a new Toyota Tundra with a V8, which does feel a bit odd.
The 2023 Nissan Frontier excels as a midsize truck
At the Midwest Automotive Media Association spring rally, I had the opportunity to drive the 2023 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X. I drove the pickup on the road and on an off-road course, and it performed well at both. Its standard 3.8-liter V6 engine makes 310 hp, and it comes with various off-road equipment.
To keep it short, the 2023 Frontier proves that Nissan can build a good truck. And that does make me a bit sad for the Titan.
The second-gen Nissan Titan was introduced for the 2017 model year, and while it has had a facelift, it has not had a major update since then. It seems like if Nissan gave the Titan the same attention it gives the Frontier, maybe this full-size truck would see some more success.
According to MotorTrend, Nissan might have plans to kill off its full-size truck by 2025. This comes after years of dwindling sales and a lack of popularity. I’m not saying definitively that a redesigned Titan would change that. But maybe it could help breathe some new life into this pickup.
Is Nissan discontinuing the Titan?
Rumors of Nissan dropping the Titan have been circulating since last year. Reliable sources do point to the brand ditching its full-size truck in the near future. Nissan has already stopped selling the Titan in Canada, and it has slowly been killing off options like the diesel engine.
Although it looks like the Titan is going away, the Nissan Frontier is still going strong. I’ve driven a long list of trucks, including the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, and the Frontier definitely managed to impress me.
The model I drove was the PRO-4X, and it was fairly well-equipped. Because of that, I can’t speak for the lesser trims of this midsize truck. But if the driving dynamics are similar, I think there is a lot to like there.
