The Nissan Titan delivers dazzling performance with a powerful 5.6-liter V8 and responsive five-speed automatic. Its handling is equally responsive, making it among the most enjoyable of the full-size half-ton pickups. Brakes, suspension, drivetrain work together for quick response. This is a serious pickup that pleases the senses.

Titan offers more emotional appeal than some of the other trucks. It was the first truly full-size pickup in nearly 25 years from anyone other than the Big Three, and the first ever from a company whose world headquarters are located outside of North America. (The Titan is significantly larger than the 2006 Toyota Tundra, which is about 7/8-size.)

When designing the Titan, Nissan benchmarked the best pickups and decided to raise the bar. Titan would be big and roomy, and it would not be a shrinking violet in terms of styling or performance. As a result, the Titan excels at roominess. There's lots of headroom up front and the back seats of Crew Cab models offer plenty of legroom. Its V8 engine generates strong torque; and there is no V6 or base motor. Titan can tow up to 9,500 pounds. Four-wheel-drive models boast high ground clearances and generous approach angles.

Clever innovations improve on the traditional pickup. Among them: a factory-applied spray-in bedliner, a C-channel tie-down system for securing cargo and accessories, and a stash box integrated into the driver's-side rear fender for storing a tow hitch or other small items. The rear doors on the King Cab open nearly 180 degrees for quick access. A dampened tailgate assist reduces effort when opening and closing the tailgate. The Crew Cab has a power retractable rear window with privacy glass and an electric defroster.

There are no major changes for 2006, only adjustments to standard and optional equipment lists.

Designed in California, the Titan is built near Jackson, Mississippi, and its high-tech V8 is built near Nashville, Tennessee.