Equipped as a truck should

Beyond the basics, Titan will now get features and options expected of any pickup in today’s market.

A factory spray-in bed liner is the start of Titan’s aft-cab utility. Also, the integrated gooseneck trailer hitch gives the new Titan heavy-hauling capability while retaining a clean factory look in the box.

Much like Ram and its RamBox, Titan will feature in-bed lockable, drainable storage to keep your pops cool on the way to the cottage or fishing hole. You can even keep the fish alive on the trip home if you so please.

One feature not lost on the new pickup will be Nissan’s Utili-track bed channel system for securing loads. The system gives owners virtually endless possibilities when needing to tie down cargo, whether it be to the bed rails, side walls, or the floor. There’s even 120-volt service thanks to a bed-mounted outlet for those who use a pickup’s tailgate as a table saw mount. The tailgate itself is damped for easier opening and closing like many competitors.

If your destination is off the beaten path, Titan will be equipped with hill descent control, hill start assist, and brake limited-slip differential to make sure you stay between the bushes and trees. Front and rear sonar adds to your ability to avoid large boulders and other objects scattered about your route.

It’s what’s inside that counts

While vehicles are typically judged primarily on their exterior design, inside is where buyers — those willing to part of their hard earned dollars — will spend most of their time.

With this in mind, Nissan has crafted an interior with premium materials and componentry (at least for upper grades) to make the Titan more competitive. Also, its design is not far removed from its domestic competitors.

Additional space is a given in a segment where bigger is better. That new space applies to occupants as well as storage. Features such as lockable storage under the rear seat (in Crew Cab models) as well as a centre console bin with the ability to hold a 15-inch laptop are just some of the ways Nissan is making Titan better for the work-minded road warrior.

Other interior features, like Nissan’s zero-gravity seats and tilt/telescopic steering create a more comfortable environment for those spending lots of time in their trucks. Surprisingly, there are still pickups without telescopic steering columns on the market, so this is a big plus for Nissan.

Titan will be chock full of technology as well, receiving an assortment of configurable screens of 5.0- and 7.0-inches in size for the driver’s gauges and centre stack. NissanConnect will feature navigation and mobile apps for the connected consumer.

Nissan Titan: mould maker or mould breaker?

Until we get our grubby work gloves on the new Titan, the verdict is out on whether it’ll be a success (or not). One thing’s for certain, however: Nissan is looking to shake up a very rigid segment with a new niche not served by others.

Is Nissan a company with everything to gain or nothing to lose when it comes to trucks?

Brian Warner took the entertainment industry by storm when he had everything to gain in the 1990s. You might know him better as Marilyn Manson. His mould breaking performances created a whole new genre of music. Nissan, with everything to gain, may very well do the same by creating a whole new genre of truck.

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