It’s been 10 years since the Nissan Titan was first introduced to the truck market. The first full-sized Nissan pickup, the Titan provided more of an alternative to the “Big Three” U.S. truck manufacturers without necessarily being a direct competitor. It was offered with a standard 5.6-liter V8 and a fully boxed ladder frame to handle the abuse of all the tasks a “big” truck is expected to tackle. At that time, Chief Product Specialist for the Titan Larry Dominique said, “When creating the Titan, we found that most people’s prerequisites for a serious full-size truck are horsepower, torque and towing capacity. So that’s where we put our highest priority.”

A decade later, the Titan is still with us, and it doesn’t look significantly different than it did in 2004, although a few updates have been made to the platform. Most notably, the Titan’s 5.6-liter V8 started out in 2004 with a horsepower rating of 305 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque. In 2007 it was updated to produce 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. There have been other minor tweaks to the Titan but no wholesale changes to its powertrain, body or frame. However, there is some very big news coming down the pipe for the Titan, as Nissan plans to equip its 2016 model with a 5.0-liter Cummins diesel motor. Nissan promises many more details on the 2016 Titan when they unveil it at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2015, but Nissan has said it will boast more than 300 hp and a torque rating in the mid-500 lb-ft range. We can hardly wait to learn more about the new engine, as it sounds like Nissan will beat rival Toyota to market with a full-size, diesel-powered Japanese pickup.

With this major shift coming for the next-gen model, it’s easy to overlook the current Titan, which still offers a great option for truck buyers looking to get into the market now. As we head toward the closeout months of 2014, it’s possible that even more discounts can be found at dealerships looking to make space for 2015 models, so we decided to take a little closer look at what the 2014 Titan still has to offer.

To Titan or Not to Titan
That is the question, but a little background is in order before we really tackle answering it. With a number of great full-sized trucks on the market already, what separates the Titan from the rest of the pack? For Nissan, we would argue that the answer is added value. The Titan isn’t the newest truck on the market, and it may not have the coolest bells and whistles, but it offers value in its quantity of features and overall package for the price.

For our test, we got our hands on a 2014 Pro-4X Crew Cab 4x4 model. It features the standard 5.6-liter motor mated to a five-speed transmission that offers plenty of towing power at 9,400 pounds (9,500 lbs. on the King Cab model). Although bench seats or bucket seats are optional on other models, our Pro-4X features captain’s seats that are both equipped with power adjustment. A 5-foot, 7-inch bed offers plenty of space for hauling larger items, and the Shift-on-the-Fly 4WD system on the Pro-4X features a two-speed transfer case with 4Hi and 4Lo.

The Pro-4X version is equipped from the factory with some added features that the outdoor enthusiast will appreciate. An electronic locking rear differential helps provide traction in slow-speed off-road settings, while upgraded Rancho shocks are fitted on all four corners for good on-road characteristics and added performance off the pavement. The Pro-4X model also gets unique 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a special dark finish, with our truck being fitted with 275/70R18 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires.

Where Nissan really works to set itself apart is the value it offers in accessories. Now, mind you, the vast majority of these are optional, but Nissan has really worked to provide a fully comprehensive setup for the Titan at its dealerships. Our loaded Pro-4X model featured the Premium Utility Package ($1,500) that included a 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate Premium Audio System, a Homelink Universal Transceiver to control garage doors, gates or security systems, a rear overhead console, power adjustable pedals, spray-on bedliner, Utilli-Track Channel System with four adjustable tie-down cleats, tailgate lighting and a 120-volt power outlet in the bed, and finally heated extendable two mirrors. The Pro-4X Luxury Package ($2,630) included Nissan’s navigation system with a 5.8-inch color display, streaming audio and phone pairing via BlueTooth connectivity, leather-appointed seating, heated driver and front passenger seats, four-way power front driver and passenger seat and a memory setting for mirrors, pedals and the driver’s seat.

Other notable upgrades on our Pro-4X include the sliding bed extender and under-seat storage bin the backseat, a pull-down AMP Bed Step for easier access to the truck bed, and a moonroof as well – not an option found on many trucks! Our Pro-4X is loaded with quite a bit of optional equipment, but it proves that Nissan offers a number of upgrades on the Titan so the buyer doesn’t immediately need to turn to the aftermarket.

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