According to a Study, the 2019 Nissan Titan XD Might Be the Best Truck
Talk to any pickup truck owner, and they will discuss the virtues of their brand all day long. Loyalty is strong among drivers of pickup trucks, and the Ford vs. Chevy vs. Ram debate has been going on for decades. Sure, there have been other contenders in the market, but the three big boys dominate the pickup truck landscape. For years, Nissan has tried to edge its way in, quietly sitting on the sidelines, waiting for its chance. The 2019 Nissan Titan XD may be the truck that finally gives Nissan the recognition they deserve.
The 2019 Nissan Titan XD
The 2019 Nissan Titan XD is stuck somewhere between the half-ton and heavy-duty pickup truck classification. It has a beefy frame and enough power to crush the half-ton competition, but the maximum towing capacity of 12,710 pounds limits it from moving into the big boy category.
The 5.0-liter Cummins V8 turbodiesel churns a respectable 310 hp and a soul-crushing 555 lb-ft of torque, but it’s still not enough power for a three-quarter-ton truck. Industry experts believe Nissan didn’t beef up the engine so that they could keep their pricing structure lower than competitors.
The competition
The starting price for a base model 2019 Nissan Titan XD is $39,915 before any discounts are applied. Throw in the dealer incentives, and some new truck owners are driving off the showroom floor with a $33,000 sticker price. That’s a lot of truck for a little money compared to similar pickups.
The Ford Super Duty and Ram Heavy Duty models with 6.7-liter diesel engines have starting prices that are closer to $44,000. In addition to the price advantage, Nissan also offers a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. That’s a hard deal to beat.
Feedback from Nissan Titan XD reviews
In general, the 2019 Titan received poor reviews. Popular Mechanics stated that “The Ford reminds you of a Mercedes, while the Nissan reminds you of World War II tank documentaries.” Car and Driver felt the Nissan Titan XD was, “neither great as a light-duty nor convincing as a heavy-duty pickup.”
Consumer Reports felt the Nissan Titan XD has clumsy handling and poor response, saying, “We’re not convinced that buyers will sacrifice the added capability of the domestic competition to get the marginal improvement in ride comfort.”
J.D. Power disagreed with other reviewers, giving the 2019 Nissan Titan an overall score of 84 out of 100. The Titan XD received the highest score of any truck in its category, with a total of 86 points. The XD beat out the Toyota Tundra, Chevy Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500. The score reflects high marks concerning quality and reliability, driving experience, resale value, and dealership experience.
J.D. Power uses a 100-point scoring system that is derived from “hundreds of thousands of independent and unbiased opinions of verified car owners.” The 2019 Nissan Titan XD is a J.D. Power Quality Award Winner, which is given to “brands/models with the fewest problems reported per 100 owners during the first 90 days of ownership.” Not only does the Nissan Titan hold its value, but it has a great reputation for quality among current owners.
The future of the Nissan Titan XD
Car and Driver reported that the 2020 Nissan Titan XD has done away with the Cummins turbodiesel engine and is now only offering gas engines. Production on the 2019 models ended in December. Their regular cab trim was also discontinued in the Titan and Titan XD as part of the 2020 refresh.
