Most truck buyers overlook the Nissan Titan in favor of rivals like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado. This could be because Titan has a lower towing capacity than other pickups and offers no diesel engine option. Despite this, you shouldn’t overlook the Titan’s good points.

Last year, Nissan gave its full-size truck’s drivetrain some extra horsepower and a new transmission. It also got a bevy of additional standard features. But are there any other reasons you should consider buying a Nissan Titan?

The 2021 Nissan Titan’s standard features

The 2021 Nissan Titan retails for a higher starting price than most base-model trucks, but it’s justified with extra standard amenities. It comes equipped with smartphone integration, keyless start, satellite radio, and an eight-inch touchscreen. The gauge cluster also has a seven-inch digital display, and there are two USB ports to charge your devices.

It also has an excellent selection of advanced safety and driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitors are also included, which can be essential when maneuvering such a long vehicle. And you get trailer sway control, driver drowsiness warning, and pedestrian detection too.

The Nissan Titan’s high points

TheCarConnection praises the 2021 Nissan Titan for its capable V8 engine. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the engine produces 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. With standard rear-wheel drive, it can tow 9,310 pounds and haul 1,600 pounds.

Front-wheel-drive models can haul slightly more, but their towing capacity is lower. The Nissan Titan XD is the best truck for big jobs, with a maximum towing capacity of 11,040 pounds. However, this version is available only with a crew cab, and even then it’s too long for the average parking space.

Like most trucks, the Nissan Titan has a stiff ride, and it’s bumpy without anything in the cargo bed. Regardless, TCC says the Titan drives nicely on the highway, and the transmission provides mostly accurate shifts. The publication also appreciates all the extra adventuring gear included on the Titan Pro-4X.

Plus, the Titan sports a comfortable interior, especially on the higher trims. Those models come with bolstered seats that provide more support during long road trips and workdays. The Platinum Reserve model has leather seats with heating and ventilation options. Top trims also come with a 12-speaker Fender sound system and a trailer brake controller.

No matter which one you buy, all Titan trims come with Nissan‘s best-in-class five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Where it needs improvement

Though TheCarConnection appreciates the Titan’s brawny V8, the site gives the truck low points for gas mileage. The RWD models are EPA-rated for only 16/21 mpg city/highway, far below rivals with diesel powertrains. It’s not a great value combined with the Titan’s higher starting price.

TCC also thinks the Titan needs a little work on the exterior and interior design. The Pro-4X’s exterior looks a little more interesting, but otherwise, it takes too much inspiration from the Ford F-150. Lower Titan trims have lower-quality interiors mostly composed of hard plastic parts.

This truck also doesn’t have the best crash-test ratings. For passenger-side impacts, the Titan received only an Acceptable score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And its headlights received a Poor score. Still, its vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention scores earned Superior ratings.

The Nissan Titan can’t measure up to its rivals in terms of powertrain variety, overall strength, and interior accommodations. However, it’s still a decent truck, especially considering all its useful standard features.