When purchasing my 2017 Nissan Titan XD, I did as most SHOULD do but only few actually do. I looked for as much information and as many reviews as I could possibly find, as well as looked into prices for things like regular maintenance costs, upgrade costs, MPG and so on.
What I found is, this is a grossly under-rated truck! Noone is buying them, and I can in fact see why. On the other hand, I don’t see why not! If you factor out to BS the dealer gives you (like Bender and Hamilton here locally) it is a pretty awesome truck, of course with it’s own ups and downs. I want to share some of these with you.
First, let me break down what I actually look for in a vehicle, and what I do my best to avoid. To me, I am past the age where I care what anyone else thinks, I am not buying the truck to look cool or get featured in some magazine, so the first thing I look at is the condition and comfort of the area where I am the most… the cab!
The 2017 Nissan Titan XD (sv) has the cab space equivalent to the Ford super crews, Chevy true crew cab, and just a little shy of the older Dodge megacab. I get a center console that has ample storage, albeit a little impractical with limited organization opportunity, which includes one smaller pocket on both sides of it, a semi-tiered deep open storage area under the cup holders which you can move from and back.
A small pocket in from of that, below the usb/12v charging ports, that’s too shallow to stand a phone up in, and to narrow to lay a Samsung Galaxy s21+ in on its side. Then a MASSIVE covered storage bin what can easily fit 2 or 3 coats, possible a 24pk of soda, several pairs of shows, or two 30mm ammo cans with room on top. Behind the center console padded arm rest, another 2 drink holders. See more photos here on my IG.
All four doors come with 2 bottle holds, and a decent pocket that trails them. The glove box is typical size for a truck, and just a single unlike the chevy. I get a great sized sunglass storage box up above, where a mini LED is always on when the truck is running (little annoying), the rear sliding glass opener, Bluetooth microphone, map lights and light control. The rear passengers will find amazing leg room (6ft person’s opinion) that can easily seat 3 adults.
They get their own air vents, awkwardly located a little lower than one would think considering the are controlled with the “body” selection when choosing airflow ducts, under that is a convenient 110 outlet that is controlled with a button left of the steering wheel. If there are only two passengers, they will have the benefit of a fold out arm rest with 2 additional cup holders. Under the rear seats is a built-in storage area that is a little on the awkward side in shape.
The driver side is approximately 12”x12, with two dividers that can be added and create two 4”x12” bins (one divider is oddly right next to the box wall). While the passenger side take up almost the rest of the 60/40 split, with a weird cutout that is supposed to be for a rifle barrel (or 2) which leaves a little more dead space than is to be desired. The back of the rear seats also folds down!
Which open more storage availability for thinner items like jackets, rain gear, spare tire tools, portable jumper or jumper cables and more! However, this pretty awesome fact has 2 draw backs, first being no ability to slide the rear seat forward and back, which limits the girth of what can be placed behind the seat, and the location for the latch is almost dead-center of the backrest, which limits the ability to put jackets, tacti-cool accessories and things of the type on the back of the seat itself unless you are willing to cut the center out or push whatever you are handing to the side. See what I mean here on my IG.
Up front for the feature controls… starting from the left, you have your basic 4 position light selector (off, auto, parking, on) along with your cluster dim/increase and trip reset buttons. Just underneath that you have a fog light button, ac 120v outlets button, and cargo light button.
You can see the majority of them in the photos provided, they are pretty standard with the exception of heated seats, blindspot, park assist and traction control buttons. Steering wheel controls are pretty easy to access, although there could be a little improvement. The most annoying the driver and vehicle information center controls, that choose to work when they want. The cruise control also lease a little to be desired. Overall, I do give them a 3.5 out of 5 stars though.
The bed comes with 5 of Nissans tie down tracks along with 4 of their adjustable tie down points, as well as the typical 4 welding points on the lower four corners of the bed, and 2 tracks on the floor that have a rubber strip inside that can be removed and allow the tie-down points to be utilized there if so desired. I personally feel this option is a little useless. You have to remove the entire rubber strip which allows for dirt, debris, mud, grit and grim to make that track a living hell.
The 5 tracks around the upper insides of the bed (two on each side and one on the bulkhead), can be inverted which would allow for MOST tonneau covers. I am not sure if it is select trims, but my SV came with three holes that have removable caps that allow for gooseneck hitch and security chain attachments (that did not come with the truck) which is pretty awesome, as well as another 120v outlet on the drive-side, inside of the bed!
A backup camera, running boards, rear window smoke and front and rear parking assist came stock, but are extremely sensitive and annoying! The camera is nice and clear, but I am a mirror man through and through, but when kids leave their bikes out it is pretty nice to have.
The motor: A new 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine was added to the TITAN XD lineup in the middle of 2016, backed by a 7-speed automatic transmission. Cast, forged and assembled at Nissan’s Powertrain Assembly Plant in Decherd, Tennessee, the 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine features four-valves per cylinder, Variable Valve Event & Lift and Direct Injection, and is rated at approximately 390 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm and 394 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm.
The new engine also features Nissan’s advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) technology, which combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake and exhaust sides to provide high performance and crisp response.
Throttle response is enhanced by directly controlling the intake valve, rather than using the traditional method of controlling intake with a throttle valve, and valve timing and opening with non-variable camshafts. The engine also features Direct Injection Gas (DIG™) technology, which provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy and emissions performance (versus a non-direct-injection system) by reducing engine knock, improving combustion stability and offering precise injection control.
Moderate fuel consumption should expected. With the 5.6l V8 7sp transmission and a throttle that is as touchy as this, it is very easy to burn through a quarter tank quickly if you don’t put yourself in check. The 5.6l does require a higher-octane fuel as well, so don’t just automatically go putting in that e-85, and definitely make a stop at the auto store a HIGH PRIORITY to get some fuel additive to clean out that cheap shit the dealers put in!
Because why would they care, they only won’t your money and don’t think about treating the vehicles properly; if anything, they try to abuse them to get you to come back for service! Be prepared to pay a premium for fuel (because it is premium). The 26-gallon tank will eat up every bit of 80.00 (prices vary with local fuel costs). Or, if you are in a farming/AG area with local stations that do not add the ethanol, you can opt for the cheaper fuel, being lower octane, but still place on making that stop and getting the fuel additives beforehand. You will need a fuel system cleaner, as well as an octane booster still for the best performance. A vehicle is an excellent example of “you get what you pay for”, especially when it comes to maintenance and upkeep.
After a little more time with the truck and some additions to her, I will update everyone. Overall, though, I am very pleased with the truck! It doesn’t ride as smooth as a Chevy, but still have a nice ride. It offers room for the family, storage, and the dogs love the spray on texturing in the back which greatly reduces their slipping and sliding. Nissan did cheap out a bit and just went with the plastic ribbed protector on the tailgate which my dogs absolutely hate! Being as tall as it is, only 2 of them can jump up and clear the gate, making it directly into the bed where they also jump out from. The other two, can’t quite make the cute so we lift them up, but they still don’t like being set down on the funky plastic first. My first mod is coming tomorrow (28 Sept. 2021) and it will be my window tinting. To see photos of the truck inside and out, stop by and follow me on FB or IG where I will be posting updated photos as things progress, and where you can reach out with questions for the quickest responses!
I apologize for the length of this post, but this is something I wish I would have been able to find before I bought my truck. I am also one of those that absolutely HATES skimming and reading through forums! I will also start working on some Youtube videos that I will come back and link to as they go up. But again, those will be easier to see and get updated about on other social platforms. If you have any other questions or would like to see something, or information that I did not cover, reach out and I will be glade to help you out!
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