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

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

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.

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.

First Look: 2021 Ford F-150

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:

• Ford F-150 Raptor—$57,785
• Nissan Titan XD PRO-4X—$55,575
• GMC Sierra 1500 AT4—$54,995
• Toyota Tundra TRD Pro—$54,525
• Nissan Titan PRO-4X—$51,385
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss—$50,395
• Ram 1500 Rebel—$49,685
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss—$43,695

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).

Quick Spin: 2020 Ram 1500 Rebel EcoDiesel

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.

Quick Spin: 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 Diesel

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.

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