Nissan is giving its full-size pickup some big changes for 2020. New styling, big powertrain updates, and more active safety equipment arrive to the new Titan, but the diesel version is going away.
The automaker calls the new styling "Powerful Warrior." We call it an evolutionary advancement of the previous Titan, one that looks largely the same from the side and rear but adds a bigger and bolder front grille, which is available in three different looks depending on trim, plus double-boomerang running-light LED headlights. The double boomerang is a touch close to the C-shape that certain other full-size pickup designers use, but it's an appealingly trucky front end. Nissan says the lights put out 120 percent more light than the old Titan's.
Under the hood is a revised version of Nissan's Endurance V8. This year, the 5.6L engine gets 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. That's up 10 and 19 respectively, and Nissan says it's the most powerful standard V8 in the class. Likely making a much more noticeable difference is the nine-speed automatic that's replacing last year's seven-speed. Nissan says it's nearly a second quicker from 60 to 100 km/h, which is a meaningful difference when passing.
On the inside, Nissan has reworked the cabin with a host of new and larger displays: Its 7.0-inch in-dash info display is about three inches larger than most of the segment, and the new 8.0-inch standard infotainment screen is the biggest standard-equipment screen in a truck. Of course, it's far from the largest on the options list, but an available 9.0-inch unit helps close the gap with the massive optional screen in the Ram.
Both infotainment options get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard and a new generation of NissanConnect lets the truck get over-the-air software updates and HD Traffic alerts. Nissan says it's also enhanced interior storage capacity and handholds, and a new dual-panel moonroof lets plenty of light in.
Adding to the truck's active safety suite, Nissan is making Safety Shield 360 a standard feature. It includes emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and rear emergency braking. Nissan's Rear Door Alert rear-seat occupant warning is also standard. Forward collision warnings, surround-view camera, radar cruise, driver attention alert, and traffic sign recognition are all optional.
In Canada, the 2020 Titan will come as a crew cab, and with four trim levels including S, SV, off-road Pro-4X, and luxury Platinum Reserve. It's set to go on sale early next year.
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