Overview

Nissan's Titan was the first full-size pick-up truck offered by foreign automakers in a buoyant full-size pick-up market dominated by domestic automakers. The 2010 Nissan Titan is a large pick-up truck that remains unchanged for this year. The Titan seats six and comes in two body styles as an extended King Cab and 4-door Crew Cab. Depending on the choice of Cabs, cargo beds of 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, 7 feet, and 8 feet are available. Four trim levels are: XE, SE, LE, and the off-road PRO-4X. Rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive is available on the XE, SE, and LE models; PRO-4X models get 4WD only with a low-range gear for off-road use. The Nissan Titan topped the AutoPacific customer satisfaction survey as the highest-ranked large pick-up (light-duty) in vehicle satisfaction. Enhancements to the Titan for the 2010 model year include revised Nissan has revised the equipment packages and content - including a new SE Value Truck Package with cloth captain?s chairs, tow hitch, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, 8-way power-adjustable driver?s seat, fog lights and more. Further, the addition of standard side and curtain supplemental air bags, Vehicle Dynamic Control and standard Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) on all models, and two new exterior colors ? Blue Steel and Navy Blue - are new for 2010.

Power and performance

The Nissan Titan is Popular Mechanic's first full-size pick-up choice for 2008, declaring the Titan as "the best equipped for going off-road" and "the best in the dirt." Powering the 2010 Nissan Titan is a DOHC 32-valve 5.6-liter V8 engine that generates 317-hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, teamed with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The brawny engine is capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. When properly equipped, the Titan has a payload capacity of over 1 ton; the maximum towing capacity is 9400 lb with the Crew Cab and 9500 lb with the King Cab.

Body and styling

Going by the name, the 2010 Titan is big on interior space, versatility, and innovative features. The truck's rugged styling and workhorse configurations is extremely appealing. Standard equipment on the XE include AM/FM/CD player; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; cloth upholstery; front split bench seat; center console; column shifter with manual-shift capability; split folding rear seat; power windows (Crew Cab); power door locks (Crew Cab); variable-intermittent wipers; rear-hinged full-swing rear doors (King Cab); front-hinged rear doors (Crew Cab); cargo-box light, power-down rear window (Crew Cab); and rear privacy glass (Crew Cab). The SE adds AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer; remote keyless entry; cruise control; heated power mirrors; power windows; power door locks; and illuminated visor mirrors. The LE adds to the SE with a Rockford Fosgate sound system; satellite radio; wireless cell phone link; dual-zone automatic climate controls; 8-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment; 4-way power fold-flat passenger seat with memory; leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls; leather upholstery; heated front captain chairs; floor shifter; power-adjustable pedals; heated power mirrors with automatic turn signals; automatic rearview mirror; compass; universal garage door opener; and automatic headlights. The PRO-4X adds to the SE with 8-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment; leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls; front captain chairs; floor shifter; fold-flat passenger seat; power-adjustable pedals; automatic driver-side and rearview mirror; compass; and automatic headlights. Major packages include Popular Equipment; Driver's Convenience; Technology; Airbag; Family Entertainment; Max-Utility; and a Heavy Metal/Texas Titan Edition.

Safety Features

Safety features include Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant-classification sensors; roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags for side impact and rollover head protection for front and rear outboard occupants; driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags; front-seat active head restraints; 3-point passenger seatbelt system; front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters; lower anchors and tethers for children system (LATCH); zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones; hood buckling creases; energy-absorbing steering column; pipe-style steel side-door guard beams; vehicle dynamic control (VDC); and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).