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Test Drive: 2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab

Nissan Titan PRO-4X, 2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X
2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab in Red Alert red

2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Crew Cab

Class: Large Pickup

Miles driven: 186

Fuel used: 13.8 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 13.4 mpg

CG Report Card
Room and ComfortC+
Power and PerformanceA-
Fit and FinishB
Fuel EconomyC-
ValueC+
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.
Big & Tall Comfort
Big GuyB-
Tall GuyA
Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specs400-hp 5.6-liter
Engine TypeV8
Transmission 9-speed automatic
Drive Wheels4WD

Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 15/21/17 (city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $49,790 (not including $1595 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: PRO-4X Utility Package ($2190),PRO-4X Convenience Package ($3390), PRO-4X Moonroof Package ($1490), Protection Package ($390), PRO-4X mud flaps ($285), PRO-4X rugged step boards ($1050)

Price as tested: $60,180

 

Quick Hits

The great: Gutsy V8 engine; generous list of standard safety equipment

The good: Numerous interior-storage solutions; competitive pricing

The not so good: Ride quality and occupant space don’t match class leaders; limited powertrain options compared to domestic rivals

More Titan price and availability information

 

John Biel

The buyers of full-sized pickups have six brands from which to choose. That means they have at least six kinds of “off-road specials” to consider if that’s the kind of truck that floats—or maybe tows—their boat.

The PRO-4X is the off-road-oriented trim level in Nissan’s pickup lineups. The Titan PRO-4X comes standard with features such as a raised suspension with underbody skid plates, Bilstein off-road monotube shocks, and front tow hooks.

Titan is Nissan’s big pickup, and the PRO-4X is its high-riding trail wanderer. Available in “regular” or XD “heavy 1/2-ton” versions, it comes with the kinds of things the off-roaders typically do: ride height raised by two inches; special shock absorbers (Bilstein monotube shocks in this case); deep-sidewall all-terrain tires on dark-finish 18-inch alloy wheels; electronic locking rear differential; dark-painted over fenders; tow hooks; and skid plates under the oil pan, fuel tank, two-speed transfer case, and radiator. Black grille, door handles, mirrors, and tailgate finisher are all typical of the class.

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The Titan’s control layout is straightforward and user-friendly for the most part. The PRO-4X Convenience Package is pricey at $3390, but it adds lots of welcome features, such as leather-upholstered seats with contrast stitching and PRO-4X logos; heated steering wheel with power tilt/telescoping; memory function for the steering wheel, seats, and outside mirrors; remote engine start, 360-degree around-view monitor, and auto-dimming outside mirrors.

Consumer Guide tested a PRO-4X Crew Cab with a starting price of $51,385 with delivery, which is $2200 more than a King Cab (with a shorter cab but longer 6.5-foot bed) while $4190 cheaper than an XD (Crew Cab/long bed only). The following list shows that, compared to other crew cab off-road specials, the test vehicle would be at about the middle of the pack for price. Note that the two cheapest trucks have standard V6s, not a V8 as in the PRO-4X:

 

 

Aside from its mission-specific parts, the PRO-4X is like all the other Titans. The line receives a midcycle freshening for 2020 with revised styling, a single upgraded powerteam, and new safety and convenience features. (Indeed, the added adaptive cruise control, driver-attention warning, and traffic-sign recognition were standard on the test vehicle, and the new dual-pane panoramic sunroof was included as part of a $1490 option group that included ventilated front seats).

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As is typical with full-size crew-cab pickups, there’s plenty of space in the Titan’s back-seat area. Standard on the PRO-4X are 60/40-split flip-up rear seat cushions with underseat storage and a fold-flat load floor.

A 5.6-liter V8 is the sole Titan engine. Output has been increased to an even 400 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful standard-equipment engine in the general half-ton-pickup field. (However, among the off-roaders, Ford’s turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 provides the Raptor with 450 ponies.) It is paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission.

Considering that CG previously tested a ’20 Titan SL Crew Cab 4×4 with the same powertrain and infotainment system with navigation and 9-inch touchscreen, we will direct you to that review for comments on performance and accommodations. One slight difference is in EPA-estimated combined city/highway fuel mileage. The feds figure the PRO-4X should get 17 mpg, one fewer than other non-XD 4-wheel-drive Titans. Respective city- and highway-specific estimates are the same as the others at 15 and 21 mpg. However, our overall 186-mile test with 60 percent city driving averaged just 13.4 mpg. As configured, the test truck has payload and towing maximums of 1630 and 9210 pounds, respectively.

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The Titan’s standard 5.6-liter Endurance V8 gets a 10-horsepower boost for 2020, to an even 400. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels with a painted dark finish are standard equipment on PRO-4X models.

CG had the chance to drive the PRO-4X off road at the press preview for the new Titans and was impressed with it on rough terrain. This latest test was on the streets and expressways in the Chicago area. Though we’ve found the ride quality of the Nissan truck to trail the higher standards established by other brands, the PRO-4X actually narrows the gap with its direct competitors because, frankly, all of the off-road specials suffer some on pavement due to their tire and suspension changes.

All Titans feature Safety Shield 360 safety and driver-assistance technologies: forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, and rear automatic braking. The tested truck hit $60,180 with plenty of add-ons designed to make roughing it less rough. Among them were leather seats—heated front and rear—with orange contrast stitching and PRO-4X-label embroidery, Fender 10-speaker audio, and heated steering wheel. There’s nothing innovative about the cargo bed, but the tester was equipped with the extra-cost “Utili-Track” system for securing cargo, electronic locking tailgate, and bed step that tucks up under the bumper when not in use. A set of running boards was added to assist entries and exits.

Titan may lag behind other large pickups in terms of refinement and features, but with the reasonably priced PRO-4X it’s not being left behind where the road ends and the trail starts.

Test Drive: 2020 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab

Though the Nissan Titan can’t match its domestic competition in terms of features, powertrain choices, or all-around refinement, its standard V8 delivers gutsy power, and the PRO-4x model offers extra off-road capability.

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2020 Nissan Titan PRO-4X Gallery

Nissan Titan PRO-4X

Nissan Titan PRO-4X

 

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