2008 Nissan Titan Bottom Line

By  Rex Roy, Detroit EditorRex Roy

Introduced to rave reviews in 2004, the 2008 Nissan Titan is getting a little old. To help freshen things up, Nissan hit the front of the truck with a styling stick, totally swapped out all the wheel choices, and dressed the interior with new gauges and seats.

Since the truck's introduction, the Nissan Titan has been criticized for not being American enough in its depth and breadth of offerings. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge all offer huge ranges of models and configurations. This strategy, however, does not fit Nissan's model for the 2008 Titan. Although giving in a little, for Nissan, 2008 is the year it's made a long-wheelbase (159.5 inches) model available. Through 2007, only the standard 139.8-inch wheelbase had been available.

For 2008, Nissan also added the sporty Titan PRO-4X model, a focused performer with significant off-road capabilities. With these changes, the 2008 Nissan Titan line includes four models (XE, SE, PRO-4X, and LE) and two body styles (King Cab and Crew Cab) in 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations, as well as four bed sizes (5'5'', 6'5'', 7', and 8'). Other 2008 Titan enhancements include an available Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System, an XM Satellite Radio tuner, a heated leather-appointed bench seat, a revised center stack, and a larger, 8.0-inch DVD screen (up from 7.0 inches).

The 2008 Titan's only powertrain is the powerful 5.6-liter dual-overhead-camshaft V-8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. The Titan features a standard five-speed automatic transmission. For those living near economically viable sources of ethanol, a flex-fuel E85 version of the 5.6-liter V-8 is available.

Along with powerful acceleration, this powertrain gives properly equipped Titan models the capability of towing up to 9,500 pounds with the King Cab and 9,400 pounds with the Crew Cab. Unfortunately for Nissan, the 2008 Titan doesn't offer any other engine. During these times of high gas prices, experts from TheCarConnection.com bet that some product planner somewhere at Nissan is wishing he or she had a higher-mileage V-6 engine available.

On the road, the Titan could be considered a sportscar of trucks. While still a big vehicle, it drives smaller than it is. The truck corners with little lean, and the optional Vehicle Dynamic Control stability system worked well without being too intrusive.

Inside, the cabin is roomy and comfortable enough. Shorter drivers will appreciate the power-adjustable pedals. Some interior materials could be better, but overall the interior is more than acceptable. A full range of airbags is available on the 2008 Titan, helping to improve the safety score of five stars for driver front impacts and four stars for passenger front impacts. The ride is comfortable for a truck, but the road and engine noise can wear on you after a few hours in the driver's seat.

Grouping the domestic trucks together, they all offer more choices in terms of body styles, powertrains, and trim levels compared to the 2008 Nissan Titan. If you like what the Nissan has, then this doesn't matter. Go with what you need or like.

Another reasonable competitor to the 2008 Nissan Titan is the Toyota Tundra. Now that the truck has moved beyond its teething stage, it's worth a look, especially if you need a supersized full-size truck.