Nissan Titan SE Crew Cab 4X4

Nissan Titan SE Crew Cab 4X4 - Nissan's first offering in the full-size-pickup market looks like a truck, sounds like a truck, and rides like a truck, attributes that don't really enhance everyday commuting or errand running, particularly in the 'burbs. But when there was real truckin' to do—towing, hauling, or combinations thereof—the Titan endeared itself to one and all along glittering Hogback Road.

There are four key components in a truck's utility index—power-to-weight ratio, cargo capacity, gross vehicle weight rating, and towing capability—and the Titan measures up well in all, particularly in the area of sheer muscle. At 5394 pounds, our Titan was 271 pounds lighter than our long-term Dodge Ram Quad Cab (C/D, June 2003), and a similar Titan was second-lightest (120 pounds heavier than a Toyota Tundra) in last year's crew-cab comparo ("Four-Door Pickups," C/D, February 2004)—in which the Titan prevailed.

V-8 muscle and robust structure also gave this truck a strong work ethic. Payload capacity for the 4x4 crew-cab version was rated at 1453 pounds, and although we never crowded the limit, the loads did go over a half-ton more than once, without any marked degradation of performance. Towing was a particularly strong suit.

There were other complaints, although only one of them—an excessively noisy HVAC fan—was universal. There were also negative comments concerning the incessant macho muttering of the V-8 and the bifocal side mirrors—normal in their upper two-thirds, wide-angle at the bottom. But both of these generated almost as many positive comments.

Routine maintenance costs, however—five scheduled service stops over the course of the test—were steep at $736. Every 7500 miles, the Titan required an oil change and tire rotation that ran about $50. The 30,000-mile service broke the bank with a $517 workup that included a new air filter, various inspections, and a rear-differential oil change. For contrast, scheduled service for our Dodge Ram Quad Cab came to just $266.

On the other hand, in terms of power, payload, performance, and price, this package is very attractive. The Titan lacks the posh interior materials that distinguish the Ford F-150 and the quiet refinement that makes Toyota's Tundra so easy to live with. But as an all-around workhorse, ol' Buster is tough to beat.