The 2021 Nissan Titan XD is the heavy-duty variant of the standard Titan. The two models may look similar on the outside but are quite different under the skin. With a larger frame, upgraded suspension, larger brakes, and a commercial-grade differential, the Titan XD is designed for serious work. It also comes standard with a crew cab long-bed body and 4×4, giving it greater versatility than the standard Titan when it comes to moving people, hauling cargo, or challenging difficult terrain.
In fact, every aspect of the Titan XD is designed to give you maximum capability out of the box without having to pay for expensive upgrades to the engine, drivetrain, or body. The standard V8 engine and advanced technology mean that this is the best-equipped full-size truck on the market. If you are looking for a truck that doesn’t compromise between the easy handling of a light-duty truck and the capability of a heavy-duty model, the 2021 Titan XD may be for you. It was designed to sit somewhere in between those two common sizes, and it does so quite well.
Bodystyle: Contemporary Class
The truck’s front end is stylish, with a large grille that spans the front. The insert is a perforated grey mesh that makes it look quite stylish when compared to others in its segment. When a two-tone paint scheme is chosen, the bumpers and sides of the truck are painted in a dark gunmetal grey, with the second color dominating the rest of the truck. Opting for the off-road PRO-4X trim will give you special badging and unique red tow hooks that are both decorative and utilitarian.
The cabin is swept back in a wind-cheating slant that squares off at the back, while the sides are kept free of needless decoration but can be fitted with running boards to give a useful step up to the cab. The tailgate is one solid piece, with a large silver bar spanning it, similar to what you might find on an F-150 King Ranch. The name of the truck is spelled out in large chrome letters on the bottom left of the tailgate. All in all, it is a very stylish and modern take on the classic heavy-duty pickup.
Engine and Drivetrain: Power to Spare
The standard 5.6-liter V8 engine is the largest standard engine on offer in any pickup in this segment. It has an impressive 400 horsepower and 413 pounds of torque. A nine-speed automatic is standard, using optimized gear ratios to make the most out of the available power on tap. This capable powertrain features a maximum towing capacity of 11,040 pounds, which is quite remarkable for a base model truck – with other models, you will be paying thousands of dollars in options to reach that level of towing.
The 2021 Titan XD is offered with four-wheel drive as standard and with it a suite of features. The days of manual locking hubs and transfer case shift levers are long gone, and in its place is an easy-to-use knob with shift on the fly functionality. This allows you to, from the comfort of your truck cabin, tackle any trail with ease. Along those lines is the available All-Around camera system that can not only help with parking but can help you navigate off-road terrain when the going gets rough.
Skid plates and active brake assist will keep both you and drivetrain components safe as you tackle rugged landscape. While not a part of the off-road performance, Nissan offers a stylish sport bar on the bed on either side of the truck. Mud flaps can keep your Nissan XD cleaner and ready to go from trail to street and look good while you do it.
A Stylish And Modern Interior
Truck interiors have been getting closer and closer to those of luxury cars for decades with the introduction of leather bucket seats, large infotainment screens, and touches of wood dotted around the cabin. The Platinum Reserve trim is the highest on offer for the 2021 Titan XD and includes all those touches and more. In this trim, one will find tan leather seating and wooden accents on the door panels and on the dashboard. The climate-controlled front seats allow passengers to stay comfortable, and the eight-inch infotainment screen will allow them to stay connected and entertained.
With the push of a button, you can open the sliding rear window, which is great for cooling off the cabin. The center console is deep enough to store an entire laptop, and the rear seats can flip up to expose extra storage bins underneath. USB Type C ports are housed near the front seats and allow for fast charging of smart devices. Finally, there is a Fender premium audio system that will let your Nissan Titan XD sound as good as it looks.
The Most Standard Safety Features in Its Class
The six major safety features offered with the Nissan Titan XD with Safety Shield 360 are:
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection – This technology monitors your speed and following distance and will warn you if you are getting too close to a car you are following and can even stop the truck in the event of an imminent collision.
- Rear Automatic Braking – The truck will stop itself if it senses you are getting too close to an immobile object while moving in reverse, warning you and then automatically applying the brakes.
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert – The Nissan XD is able to warn you if something is about to move into the path of your truck as you are backing up.
- Blind Spot Warning – This does exactly what it says, monitoring your blind spots as you drive and warning you if you’re about to merge into another vehicle when changing lanes.
- Lane Departure Warning – The Titan XD will warn you if you’re about to drift out of your lane.
- High Beam Assist- This system will activate your high beams when needed and turn them off to keep from accidentally blinding oncoming traffic.
These safety features can be found in other vehicles, yes, but the Nissan Titan XD offers all these safety features standard. Nissan is well-known for offering excellent safety features in its lineup, and its heaviest truck is no exception.
The Titan XD Is the Truck for You
Offering 400 horsepower sent through a nine-speed automatic and put to the ground through a powerful four-wheel drive system, the Titan XD can get you where you’re going, and the aggressively styled body will make sure you arrive in style. The interior is comfortable and stylish and offers popular features like leather seats and a premium sound system. Further, the 2021 Nissan Titan XD is built with safety in mind, offering six standard safety features that are normally only offered as options on other trucks… if they are offered at all.
While Nissan might not be the first manufacturer you think of when it comes to full-size trucks; perhaps it should be. The Titan XD gives buyers the strength of a heavy-duty truck with all the comfort and refinement of a half-ton model. While it may not be the strongest truck on the market, it is one of the most versatile.
