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The 2020 Nissan Titan receives a refresh with some new tech and safety features. However, is it enough to compete with similar offerings from the Big Three?
What’s New for the 2020 Nissan Titan?
2020 marks the first refresh of the second-generation Titan that debuted in 2016. New for this year are some cosmetic updates, additional safety features, and changes to the drivetrain. Starting with the exterior, the Titan has a new grille, bumper, headlights, and taillights. The interior gets some improvements in the name of an upgraded infotainment system along with more standard and optional driver’s assistance features.
Under the hood, the diesel has been removed from the options list, although the 5.6L V8 gets a mild boost in power. In addition, it is now paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission which replaces the seven-speed that had been used previously.
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The Breakdown
Powerful V8
Many standard safety and tech features
Excellent warranty
New nine-speed transmission
Towing and payload trails the competition
Only one drivetrain combo
The interior could be better
More drivetrain combos and towing capacity
2020 Titan Specs
- 400 horsepower from base engine
- 413 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 9,370 lb max towing capacity
- 1,630 lb payload capacity
- Excellent optional infotainment system
- Many standard safety and tech features
- 5-year/100,000-mile warranty
2020 Nissan Titan Powertrain
With the diesel getting axed for 2020, the only engine choice is a 5.6L V8 that pumps out 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing, as the 2020 Nissan Titan has the most powerful standard engine of any light truck, although it should be noted that taking full advantage of all 400 ponies requires premium fuel.
With that said, the 3-ton Titan is a pickup and not a muscle car, which is reflected by its 7.5 second 0-60 time. While that is decent for a base model work truck, some of its competitors can be equipped with more powerful engines. That’s not to say the Titan is a slouch by any means. Acceleration is noticeably better thanks to the nine-speed transmission, which does an excellent job of keeping the 5.6L in its powerband. Suffice to say, there are few complaints when it comes to passing and merging on the highway.
The Nissan Titan’s ride quality is on par with other full-size trucks, although nothing stands out in particular. The same can be said for handling, braking, and road manners, which are not good or bad. However, low-speed maneuverability could be better as it takes a fair amount of effort to turn the wheel. All said and done, the 2020 Nissan Titan has a powerful base engine when compared to the rest of its segment, although we would have liked it if Nissan kept the diesel engine option in the lineup.
Towing & Payload
Considering this is a full-size work truck with a powerful V8, it should have some capable towing and payload numbers. The 2020 Nissan Titan has a 9,370-pound towing capacity, which is sufficient for most people. That allows the Titan to easily haul a boat, a camper, or a pair of jet skis. Likewise, the maximum payload rating of 1,680 is decent, although it should be noted that both figures are on the lower end for a full-size pickup.
2020 Nissan Titan Fuel Economy & MPG
Fuel economy is not the strong suit of any light truck, with the 2020 Nissan Titan mustering an average mark in this category. While it is better than the previous year’s thanks to the nine-speed transmission, the 2WD model manages just 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, and adding 4WD will lower that figure by a single mpg in both categories.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
If there is one thing that Nissan got right with the Titan, it is the comfortable seats. They are supportive and provide plenty of comfort for long trips and even more so for the SL and Platinum Reserve. In fact, they are arguably better than average for a light truck. In terms of cabin space, especially for those seated in the rear, the standard King Cab is decent, although it is not the best in its class. The roomier Crew Cab is a better choice if you frequently haul around several full-size adults, especially on longer trips. The Crew Cab offers some extra legroom for everyone, but it is still not spectacular for that category when compared to other full-size pickups.
On the outside, the same can be said for the cargo bed, which comes in three lengths – 5.6 feet, 6.6 feet, and 8.2 feet depending on the cab configuration. While this is a below average size, there is some redemption as the 2020 Nissan Titan has a few extra features like a spring-assisted tailgate, discrete cargo boxes, and plenty of cargo tie-downs.
While we like the additional cargo options and creature comforts, there is no getting around the abundance of hard plastics. It seems tacky, especially when you take into account that a well-equipped Titan costs more than $50,000. Simply put, it could be better, but we would not consider it to be a deal-breaker.
Entertainment & Technology
While 2020 Nissan Titan’s standard 8” infotainment center is decent, the upgraded 9” unit with its high-resolution graphics rivals anything out there in this price range. Not only does the screen look nice, but the interface is driver-friendly and easy to use. Likewise, the premium 12-speaker Fender audio package is a worthy upgrade over the stock sound system.
Where the 2020 Nissan Titan shines are the standard driver’s assistance and safety features. All models now come with automatic emergency braking, rear braking and cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and high-beam assist. In addition, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera can be added as well.
Safety Features
The 2020 Nissan Titan gets an overall four-star NHTSA safety rating which is decent, although it is not the best in this category. However, it is offset to some extent by a good selection of standard safety tech and 10 standard airbags.
2020 Nissan Titan Trims & Pricing
S – $37,885
The base 2020 Nissan Titan S package comes equipped with 18” steel wheels, cloth seats, and an 8” touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support as standard fare. Likewise, all Nissan Titans can be optioned with 4WD, although the availability of the King Cab and larger Crew Cab varies by model.
The most significant change for 2020 is Nissan’s 360 Safety Shield gets some additional standard features. All trim levels now include automatic emergency and rear braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
SV – $41,685
The SV builds upon the S by adding alloy wheels, heated mirrors, and adaptive cruise control. Buyers can also choose from three additional packages: towing, utility, and convenience. The latter includes some extra creature comforts like power seats, dual-zone climate control, and a larger infotainment system with navigation.
Pro-4X – $49,185
For those who like to venture off paved roads, the off-road-oriented 4×4 Pro-4X adds beefier all-terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, a two-speed transfer case, and an electronic locking rear differential.
SL – $55,685
Only offered in a Crew Cab, the SL adds heated and power leather seats, a premium Fender sound system, a power sliding rear window, and larger 20” alloy wheels. Other standard features are running boards, a surround-view parking camera, and power-folding mirrors.
Platinum Reserve – $57,185
Like the SL, the top-tier 2020 Nissan Titan Platinum Reserve is only available in a Crew Cab configuration. This model focuses on luxury and includes just about every option from the lower trim levels, sans the off-road-oriented extras of the Pro-4X. Among the highlights for the Platinum Reserve are premium leather seating materials, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a leather-wrapped center console, and wood trim for the interior.
Warranties
The 2020 Nissan Titan is covered by a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper to bumper and powertrain warranty. This is one of the best warranties for a light truck, although Nissan does not offer any complimentary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
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There is nothing particularly bad about the 2020 Nissan Titan. At the same time, there is nothing that stands out aside from a good warranty. When it comes to work trucks, the competition from Ford, Chevrolet, or Ram do it better for the same price. However, the Titan is worth a look if you prefer an alternative to the Big Three.
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