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2004 Nissan Titan
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| Designed to be big and tall, but will Titan reach that stature with buyers |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:36:58 |
| Rating |
 77 ( -11 -14.28% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
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Description:
2004 Nissan Titan
Writer's Notes
2004 Nissan Titan Specifications
Base price: $20,000-$39,000 (estimated)
Engine: 5.6-liter V8 (305 hp @4,900 rpm, 379 lb.-ft. @3,200 rpm)
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with overdrive
Wheelbase: 123.2-139.8 in.
Length: 206.9-224.2 in.
Width: 78.8 in.
Height: 74.4 in. (2WD); 76 in. (4WD)
Head/hip/legroom: front: 41/61.3/41.8 in.; rear: 40.4/60/41.4 in.
Curb weight, lbs.: 4,707 (2WD); 4,938 (4WD) (Crew Cab models)
Fuel economy: N/A
Safety equipment: Dual frontal airbags with passenger sensing; available frontal side-impact curtain airbags; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; Electronic Brake Force Distribution
5 questions about the 2004 Nissan Titan
Where is the Titan built, when does it go on sale and how many does Nissan expect to sell?
Production begins in October in Nissan's Canton, Mississippi factory. The 2004 Titan, available in three models (XE, SE, and LE), will go on sale in December. Pricing will not be announced until November. Nissan hopes to sell 100,000 Titans this model year. While Nissan expects the majority of Titan buyers will be male, sales to women of full-sized trucks are in the low teens as a percentage, with women preferring Crew Cab models.
What are its best features?
There are a number. Nissan claims it will have
class-leading fuel economy; class-leading interior space (head and leg room);
168-degree, easy access- rear doors; a fold-flat front passenger seat; two cargo lights that shine down on the tailgate area; and the adjustable shelf in the rear stowage compartment.
What is the Titan's powertrain?
The Titan has been fitted with a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 305-hp. at 4,900-rpm and 379-lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200-rpm. The engine is all-new and features dual overhead cams, aluminum cylinder heads and block, a forged steel crankshaft, and a single-stage timing chain. Titan's engine is matched to a 5-speed automatic transmission that was designed with heavy pulling in mind and offers a tow/haul mode.
What about its 4WD capabilities?
An Off-Road Package can be ordered on 4WD models, which comes with a bevy of important components such as Rancho gas shocks, a 3.357:1 final drive ratio, fog lamps, front tow hooks, and skid plates protecting the oil pan, fuel tank, and transfer case. The largest possible tires, P285/70R17s, are also included for the off-roading model. This Japanese manufacturer says the Titan has the best off-road statistics among its competitive set, with its angle of approach (32 degrees); the largest 4 x 4 tires in class (P285/70R17); and the best 4WD ground clearance (10.3-inches at the rear axle). On our premier drive in the new model, we were able to evaluate Titan over a course of some 200 miles. Only a small portion of the drive was off-pavement and did not include any true 4WD evaluation, although we engaged low-range and found its gearing and engine braking ample to hold the truck on steep downhill grades.
Any complaints?
Titan is available in V8 versions with automatic transmission only, which represents the majority of sales for full-sized models. It comes in 6 variations versus Ford's F-150, which comes in 28 versions. And, although Titan comes with adjustable pedals, its ergonomics are not designed with short-statured drivers in mind.
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xxx
Yountville, California: The road feels small and the truck I'm commandeering feels large. Despite the fact that both are true, I quickly feel comfortable motoring along the two-lane roads, sans shoulder, in the rolling foothills of Napa Valley. The new truck is bigger than I expected, especially its interior ergonomics, but, after all, the full-sized pickup segment in the U.S. accounts for some 2.3 million sales, and the first foray of any new automaker to pony up to this highly-competitive segment represents a big step… and a big risk. Nissan has joined the "big guys" and has built an all-new model---the Titan. Aptly named, it seems like it's been designed at The Big and Tall Man's Store.
Let's face it, light-duty trucks are now a required product to be recognized as a true full-line "Tier One" player in the U.S. market, and Nissan joins four others-Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota (this Japanese automaker faced complaints that its Tundra was too small)-with hopes of carving out a profitable niche. Having done its homework since 1999, Nissan researchers learned that there are two types of truck buyers today: traditional truckers who are brand-loyal, use their trucks for work and often live rurally; and modern truckers, who primarily use their pickups for commuting purposes, and live in the suburbs or in metro areas. These personal-use trucks often see harder duty on the weekends when owners use them to haul their toys.
Nissan set about the task of meeting the needs of both the modern and traditional "truck guy", and also queried current owners to learn about "un-met needs". How does the all-new 2004 Titan stack up? Nissan claims its Crew Cab version has the largest interior volume in its class (126 cu. ft.); the best rear leg room (40.4"); the best front and rear headroom(41.0 front/ 40.4 inches rear); best-in-class torque (379 ft-lb.); and class-leading towing capacity (9.500 lbs.). This Japanese manufacturer also says the Titan has the best off-road statistics with its angle of approach (32 degrees); the largest 4 x 4 tires in class (P285/70R17); and the best 4WD ground clearance (10.3-inches at the rear axle). On our premier drive in the new model, we were able to evaluate Titan over a course of some 200 miles. Only a small portion of the drive was off-pavement and did not include any true 4WD evaluation, although we engaged low-range and found its gearing and engine braking ample to hold the truck on steep downhill grades.
Capable drivetrain
Large dimensions demand full-sized power, and Nissan has appropriately fitted the Titan with a 5.6-liter V8 producing 305-hp. at 4,900-rpm and 379-lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200-rpm. The engine is all-new and features dual overhead cams, aluminum cylinder heads and block, a forged steel crankshaft, and a single-stage timing chain. To assist towing and improve off-road capabilities, close to 90-percent of the V8's torque is available below 2,500-rpm. Once all the power has been summoned, the Titan boasts a 9,400-lb. towing capacity, with the optional tow package in place. The pulling kit includes a hitch and 7-pin harness to hook the load, a larger radiator and tranny oil temperature gauge to monitor the drivetrain, and lower gearing with Vehicle Dynamic Control to maintain grip. Additionally, the 5-speed automatic transmission has been designed with heavy pulling in mind and offers a tow/haul mode.
Crawling underneath the Titan reveals a fully boxed ladder frame with closed-section side rails. Traditionally, open C-shaped rails are used on full-size trucks. The front suspension is a double-wishbone setup with coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar, and the rear gets a live axle on leaf springs. Wheels come in a diameter of either 17- or 18-in. and the standard rubber size is P245/75R17, with optional P265/70R18 or P285/70R17 tires available. Rack-and-pinion steering directs the new vehicle, which has four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Electronic Brake Force Distribution is added restrain and control its stopping motion, when needed.
Once inside, passengers experience one of two configurations - a bench seat with a column shifter or an optional front bucket set-up with a center console and floor shifter.
Both 2WD and 4WD models are available, with 4WD trucks getting a shift-on-the-fly 2-speed transfer case. The torque direction system and brake-activated traction control system are designed to work in harmony and provide the greatest bite available. In addition, an Off-Road Package can be ordered on 4WD models, which comes with a bevy of important components such as Rancho gas shocks, a 3.357:1 final drive ratio, fog lamps, front tow hooks, and skid plates protecting the oil pan, fuel tank, and transfer case. The largest possible tires, P285/70R17s, are also included for the off-roading model.
Distinctive and useful goodies
Two cab styles are available - the King Cab and Crew Cab - on the 2004 Titan. King Cab models sit on a 123.2-in. wheelbase and are stretched to an overall length of 206.9-in., while the wheelbase and length of the Crew Cab are 139.2-in. and 224.2-in., respectively. Rear-hinged back doors on the King Cab swing almost 180-degrees, providing extra access to the rear seats. Another special feature is the lockable storage compartment behind the driver's-side rear wheel, which is standard on all Titans. This space is double sealed against moisture and dirt and locks and unlocks via the ignition key and also includes an adjustable shelf.
Both the grille and middle 50-percent of the front bumper are treated in chrome. This reflective material contrasts well with the black of the grille openings and large bumper air dam. Both the door handles and side view mirrors also get the shiny treatment. The Titan does not share the exaggerated flared wheel wells of the existing Frontier pickup, although the rear wells protrude subtly.
First in class Cargo Box
Also meant to differentiate the truck from the competition is the optional innovative cargo bed. Since full-size truck owners tend to modify their vehicles by adding bedliners and tie-down systems, Nissan sought to solve the problem for them. The Titan's box is treated with a resin coating meant to minimize corrosion and scratches. For the owner who does not want to install his own system, Nissan offers a tie-down system in the box that uses five C-channel rails and adjustable cleats to provide a range of attaching points for gripping various cargo items. Rated at 500-lbs., the cleats hold twice the industry standard. When the cleats are not in place, sliding caps take their place and prevent debris from entering the channels.
Interior comfort
Once inside, passengers experience one of two configurations - a bench seat with a column shifter or an optional front bucket set-up with a center console and floor shifter. The rear bench gets 24-degrees of seat-back motion and uses a 60/40 split-fold-down feature. Passengers in that rear seat experience DVD entertainment if the Mobile Theatre System is optioned, which includes a 7-in. LCD screen and a 10-speaker Rockford-Fosgate sound system. Other interior features include power-adjustable front seats with heating elements and power-adjustable foot pedals, providing extra comfort and safety.
Protecting passengers are standard dual-stage frontal airbags with frontal occupant classification sensor and optional front seat-mounted side-impact and curtain airbags, with rollover protection for both rows (a first for the full-sized extended cab segment). Titan also comes with rear proximity sensors.
While Nissan expects the majority of Titan buyers will be male, women are now double-digit purchasers of full-sized trucks, particularly with Crew Cab models. Production begins in October in Nissan's Canton, Mississippi factory, and the 2004 Titan will go on sale in late 2003. Pricing will not be announced until late fall. Nissan hopes to sell 100,000 Titans this model year.
--Photos Courtesy of Nissan North America
--Story by Sue Mead
Sue Mead works as a photojournalist and features writer for more than two dozen publications. She has written for Parade, Popular Science, Open Road, the Road & Track Buyers Guide, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics and Diversion and she has worked as an auto editor for CNN/fn. Sue has co-driven in two of the world's toughest off-road races, the Baja 1000 and the Paris-Dakar Raid. She attended four Camel Trophy adventures for Land Rover North America and has participated in several long-distance adventure drives. She recently completed her first book, "Monster Trucks and Tractors" published by Chelsea House. Sue lives in New England. |
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