2008 Nissan Titan

Nissan has a focused mission in mind for the 2008 Titan, a pickup truck that’s engineered for exactly the capabilities that owners want in a big pickup truck. It gives drivers the confidence to handle serious towing jobs without making them pay for extreme performance they might never need. Nissan’s just-right approach to powertrains is complemented by contemporary comfort options, too.

The 2008 Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck. It competes against the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra with two four-door body styles. The Titan King Cab has two conventional front doors and two small rear-hinged back doors. With the Crew Cab, four conventional doors are standard. Each body style is available with a short-wheelbase, short-box setup and a long-wheelbase, long-box combination. There are four trim levels for 2008: XE, SE, Pro-4X and LE. The Titan comes with a V8 engine, a five-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Powertrain options include four-wheel drive.

The 2008 Titan benefits from new styling, optional Bluetooth technology and additional models. Both the long-wheelbase chassis and the Pro-4X trim level debut this year.

Exterior

The 2008 Nissan Titan’s fenders are large in size but subtle in shape. They’re matched by a simple yet handsome front end. All the contrasts come together so that the Titan has the purposeful appearance of a well-designed tool. Another highlight is a broad hood that looks like it had to be raised to fit the Titan’s powerful engine.

Like most full-size trucks from 2008, the Titan comes with a limited number of standard features, such as manually adjustable mirrors. The available Heavy Metal package brings bright accents such as a chrome grille, chrome step rails and chrome mirror caps. Nissan offers further options, including automatic headlights, fog lights, mirror-mounted turn signals, a moonroof, heated power-folding mirrors, a damped lockable tailgate, tow hooks, a spray-in bedliner, a Utili-Track cargo management system and 18- and 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

Interior

A clean dashboard design and a pod-like setting for the center stack distinguish the 2008 Titan’s cabin. The uncluttered appearance creates a nice, roomy feeling up front. In the back, 60/40-split seats with flip-up bottom cushions are standard.

Cloth upholstery is standard, as are a 40/20/40 front bench seat, air conditioning and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel. The Titan also is available with leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, front captain’s chairs, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, power windows, power door locks, power-adjustable pedals and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel.

Performance

A 5.6-liter V8 is standard for the 2008 Nissan Titan. It delivers 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. The standard powertrain also includes a five-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional. The Titan can pull up to 9,500 pounds when equipped with the available tow package.

Although some rivals offer better fuel economy, the Titan does have the same EPA grades of 12/18 mpg city/highway with either rear- or four-wheel drive.

Shoppers looking for a great truck that’s fun to drive off-road should look at the Pro-4X trim, which fits the bill well. It carries a standard two-speed transfer case, an electronic locking rear differential and trail-friendly Rancho shocks.

Technology

A six-speaker sound system with an AM/FM stereo and a CD player is standard for the 2008 Titan. Nissan also offers technology such as a six-disc CD changer, navigation system, Bluetooth for hands-free calling, satellite radio, an auxiliary input jack, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with an 8-inch dropdown screen and a 350-watt Rockford-Fosgate sound system. That setup brings eight speakers to the King Cab and 10 speakers to the Crew Cab.