The Nissan Titan XD is the heavy-duty version of the Titan full-size pickup truck, available from $39,700 for the 2023 model year. Typically, most cars with extra letters or initials in their name have a hidden meaning behind them. So, what does XD stand for with the Nissan Titan XD? Keep reading to find out.

The history of the Nissan Titan XD

The Nissan Titan first came into the market near the end of 2003 for the 2004 model year. It was based on the Nissan F-Alpha platform, used in both the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56. The truck was so well-liked for its styling and features that it was named a ‘North American Truck of the Year’ award finalist in 2004.

While it did receive a refresh in 2008, it wasn’t until 2016 that the Titan XD came into the picture with the introduction of the second-generation Nissan Titan.

The Titan XD was only available in a Crew Cab body style for the first model year. However, buyers could pick either a 5.6-liter V8 gas engine or a turbocharged diesel V8. The former produced 390 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque, while the diesel V8 produced 310 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque.

The diesel V8 was also powerful enough to tow up to 12,314 lbs. The 2017 model year saw the introduction of the regular cab and extended king cab variants, although the truck has only seen minimal changes since.

The meaning behind the XD letters

The letters XD in the Nissan Titan XD stand for eXtra duty, as HD is used in the Chevy Silverado 2500HD to mean heavy duty. That said, given the XD in the name and the fact that it’s marketed as a medium-duty truck, the specific class of the Titan XD can be pretty confusing. So, is it in the same category as others, like the RAM 2500 and Ford F-250, or is it more like a Chevy Silverado 1500?

Based on the truck’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the Nissan Titan XD is in class 2B. The GVWR is the maximum weight a vehicle can handle, including the truck’s weight and the maximum payload.

According to the Department of Energy, trucks in category 2B are considered heavy-duty and tend to have a GVWR between 8,500 and 10,000 lbs. The Titan XD has an 8,800 lbs GVWR and, as such, technically qualifies as a heavy-duty truck.

However, others, like the Ram 2500 and Ford F-250, have much higher ratings. The Ram 2500, for instance, has a 10,000 lbs GVRW while the Ford F-250 is rated at 9,900 lbs. This might be why the Nissan Titan XD is marketed as a medium-duty truck.

The current state of the Nissan Titan XD

After the introduction of the regular cab and extended king cab variants, the next significant change came with the 2019 model year when the 7.0-inch touchscreen became standard. Other additions were Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, illuminated USB-A charging ports, etc.

In 2020 the grille, headlights, and taillights were all redesigned, with several driver-assistance features also added. Some other changes included swapping out the screen for a more prominent 9.0-inch alternative, adding a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and eliminating the Cummins diesel model from the lineup.

Additionally, the 5.6-liter V8 was tuned to increase power to 400 hp.

Only crew cab Titan XDs were sold for the 2020 model year, with other body styles remaining unavailable since. However, you can still have the regular Nissan Titan with a crew or King Cab body style. Another differentiator is the Titan XD is only available as a 4WD option, while its cheaper counterpart can be had with a 2WD drivetrain.