Latest News
2024 Volkswagen Taos Review2021 Nissan Titan Review
The 2021 Nissan Titan carries over unchanged from last year, although it remains a decent option in the competitive full-size truck market.
What’s New for the 2021 Nissan Titan?
After receiving some improvements last year like a new nine-speed automatic transmission, a minor exterior refresh, and an upgraded infotainment system, the Nissan Titan went largely unchanged for 2021.
2021 Nissan Titan – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2021 Nissan Titan on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Standard V8 is nice
Plenty of standard safety features
Provides a good warranty
Options and features trail the competition
Towing and payload capacities could be better
The interior is showing its age
More engine choices to stay competitive
2021 Titan Specs
- 400 horsepower from base engine
- 413 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 9,370 lb maximum towing capacity
- 1,630 lb payload capacity
- Optional 9-inch infotainment system
- A good list of standard safety and tech features
- 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
2021 Nissan Titan Powertrain
All 2021 Nissan Titans are powered by a 5.6L V8 engine that puts down 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Having a single powerful engine option isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the Titan has the most powerful standard engine of any truck in its class.
Even though some rivals can be optioned with more powerful engines that beat Nissan’s lone V8, the 3-ton Titan is reasonably quick with a 0-60 time ranging from 5.7 to 6.5 seconds, depending on the trim. The 2021 Nissan also keeps it going, as it has one of the best 50-70 mph acceleration times in this class, meaning plenty of power on tap for highway merging and passing.
In addition, the nine-speed automatic transmission that debuted last year is a noticeable improvement, and it does an excellent job of keeping the 5.6L in its powerband. While the powerful V8 as standard is nice, it wouldn’t hurt if there were a couple of other engines like a turbocharged V6 or a diesel added to the Nissan Titan’s options list.
The Titan’s ride quality is on par with other full-size trucks, although nothing in particular stands out. Likewise, braking and road manners are about average for a full-size pickup. However, low-speed maneuverability could be improved, as it takes a fair amount to turn the wheel at lower speeds.
Towing & Payload
While the 2021 Nissan Titan has a commendable 9,370-pound towing capacity, it comes up short when compared to its domestic rivals. However, for most people, that is more than enough and sufficient for hauling a boat, camper, or a pair of jet skis. As for bed capacity, a rating of 1,680 pounds is decent, but it is on the lower end for a full-size pickup.
2021 Nissan Titan Fuel Economy & MPG
Like any full-size truck, fuel economy is not the strong suit of the 2021 Nissan Titan. While it is better than previous years thanks to a nine-speed transmission, the 2WD model manages 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Adding 4WD will drop that to 15 mpg in the city with the same 21 mpg on the highway.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Where the Titan gets an above-average rating are its comfortable seats. Both the front and rear seats are supportive and provide plenty of comfort for road trips. Cloth upholstery, but traveling up the trim ladder into the SL and Platinum Reserve provides better seating materials.
Cabin space in the standard King Cab models is decent, but not the best. If you plan on hauling full-size adults regularly, you might want to consider the larger Crew Cab option. Going this route adds some extra legroom for the rear occupants and makes longer trips in the 2021 Nissan Titan more manageable for everyone involved.
The Nissan Titan can be optioned with a 5.6-foot, 6.6-foot, and 8.2-foot bed, although the availability is dependent on the cab configuration. While these bed sizes come in a little small for a full-size truck, there is some redemption, as the Titan has a few extra features like a spring-assisted tailgate, cargo boxes, and a number of cargo tie-downs at every corner.
While cargo options and creature comforts are a little better than average, the interior is a step back. The Nissan Titan’s interior is built with an abundance of hard plastics while also feeling a bit cheap and dated. Considering that a well-equipped 2021 Nissan Titan goes well over $50,000, that interior can be kind of a letdown. The lackluster interior doesn’t mean that the Titan isn’t a good option, but it could still be better for the price.
Entertainment & Technology
The standard 8” infotainment system in the 2021 Nissan Titan is nothing special. It works fine, but it isn’t the best. The upgraded 9” unit features some high-resolution graphics is one of the better infotainment systems we have seen. Not only does this larger option look nice, but the interface is also driver-friendly and easy to use. Likewise, the premium 485-watt 12-speaker Fender audio package sounds great and it is a worthy upgrade for any headbangers out there.
Safety Features
The standard driver’s assistance and safety features are where this Nissan shines. All 2021 Nissan Titan models get 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 options. The Nissan Titan also received an overall four-star NHTSA safety rating. That falls behind some of its rivals, but the aforementioned list of standard safety features rivals its competitors with higher ratings.
2021 Nissan Titan Trims & Pricing
S – $38,645
The base 2021 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 2021 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 – $42,845
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 – $50,165
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 – $56,625
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 – $58,135
Like the SL, the top-tier Platinum Reserve is only available in a Crew Cab configuration. This model focuses on luxury and includes just about every option from the lower trims, sans the off-road-oriented extras of the Pro-4X. Among the highlights for the 2021 Nissan Titan 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 2021 Nissan Titan is covered by a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper to bumper and powertrain warranty. That is an excellent warranty for a full-size truck and it stands as one of the better warranty options in its class, but without the addition of complimentary scheduled maintenance, it falls behind offerings from Toyota.
What we think
2021 Nissan Titan – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2021 Nissan Titan on Carsforsale.com
While there is nothing particularly bad about the 2021 Nissan Titan, nothing really stands out aside from the moderately better warranty. The Titan can do just about everything other full-size pickup trucks can, but its domestic rivals can do them better for the same price. However, if you are looking for an alternative to the typical Ford F-150, Ram 1500, or Chevrolet Silverado, the 2021 Nissan Titan is worth a look at your local dealership.
Most Popular
