2009 Nissan Titan Full-Size Pickup: Rugged, Reliable and Packed to the Bed
06/02/2008
Nissan
The Nissan Titan full-size pickup, which enters its fifth year of production in 2009, continues to build on its reputation as rugged, reliable, spirited choice for active truck buyers seeking style, innovation and excellent value. The U.S.-built Titan again blends distinctive exterior styling, a thoughtful full-feature interior and a tough, powerful drivetrain, making it one of the most versatile offerings in class. Changes for the new model year include revised features and equipment packages - including new Max Utility Packages that combine some of the most popular towing and bed utility items. Other enhancements for 2009 include the addition of matte black finish grille and body-color front bumper for Titan XE models and an auto-door locking feature to all power door lock-equipped vehicles.
The 2009 Titan is offered in King Cab and Crew Cab body styles with a choice of4x4 and 4x2 drive configurations, along with two wheelbases and four bed lengths. Titan is once again available in four well-equipped models - XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE. The Titan PRO-4X model offers a special off-road equipment package, including RanchoÒ shock absorbers, a lower final gear ratio, two additional skid plates, electronic locking rear differential, white-faced interior gauges, body-color exterior trim and special interior styling and trim.
Titan is also available as a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) designed to run on E85 Ethanol as a no-cost option.
The 2009 Titan is built on Nissan's rugged F-Alpha pickup platform and features a powerful 5.6-liter DOHC Endurance V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque, a standard 5-speed automatic transmission and a maximum towing capacity of up to 9,500 pounds for King Cab and 9,400 pounds for Crew Cab (when properly equipped).
Titan continues to boast design innovations such as first-in-class* Wide-Open rear doors (King Cab) that open 168 degrees for nearly unlimited interior access, a high-utility bed that includes an industry-first factory-applied spray-on bedliner, a Utili-track tie-down system that provides ultimate cargo hauling flexibility and an integrated, lockable bedside storage compartment.
"Today's pickups have to be trucks-of-all-trades, so we start with a workhorse foundation, including a rugged fully boxed steel frame and torquey 5.6-liter V8 - then we add the elements our customers demand for off-job site family enjoyment, including a comfortable ride, ample storage solutions and an innovative bed design," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "Then we top Titan off with an array of available features and technology such as Bluetoothâ Hands-free Phone System, Nissan Navigation system, Rockford FosgateÒ audio system, heated leather-appointed front seats and a DVD entertainment center."
A Dynamic Exterior Design and High Utility Bed
The Titan exterior was refreshed for the previous model year with a revised front end, wheel lip moldings and new wheel styles. For 2009, Titan XE models receive a matte black finish grille and body-color front bumper.
Again in 2009, Titan Crew Cabs are available as a Standard Wheelbase model, with a 138.9-inch wheelbase and 67.3-inch bed, or a Long Wheelbase model with a 159.5-inch wheelbase and the longest Crew Cab bed in class, measuring 87.0 inches.
Titan King Cab Standard and Long Wheelbase models feature 79.1-inch and 98.8-inch beds, respectively. All King Cab and Crew Cab Long Wheelbase models feature a largest-in-class* 37-gallon fuel tank, providing an exceptional driving range.
Titan King Cab also features first-in-class* Wide-Open rear doors, which open nearly 180 degrees for unobstructed rear cab access. Key to the door's design is a hefty, two-stage hinge with four axis of rotation. The doors open first to a conventional 85 degrees, then can be swung the rest of the way up to 168 degrees.
Titan's available spray-on bedliner (standard on LE models) helps prevent scratch damage and corrosion to the bed and inner tailgate surface. Thinner than drop-in bedliners or typical aftermarket spray-on applications, the Titan bedliner also maximizes bed volume. It is the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer and is covered by the Nissan warranty.
Also available is the Utili-trackÔ tie-down channel system, with five special "C" cross-section rails that are mounted in the bed (two channels in the bed floor, and one each on the bed side rails and the bed header panel). Removable utility cleats (rated at 200 pounds) slide into the channels, providing a wide range of attaching points for cargo tie-down. The channels are open at the rear of the bed, allowing the cleats to be completely removed when not in use for easy cleaning.
Nissan offers an extensive line of bed dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units, along with bike and kayak racks and other accessories. The Titan bed also includes four standard stake pockets and, as required for a working pickup, carries 4x8-foot plywood sheets easily between the wheel housings. Titan's bed includes an available dampened tailgate assist that aids in the effort to open and close the tailgate.
Titan also features an available (SE models only) innovative bedside storage compartment located behind the rear driver's side wheel. The bedside storage bin is designed to hold common utility items such as work gloves, chains, rope, road flares, first aid kit or a hitch ball. The compartment is double-sealed to help prevent the intrusion of water and dust (though the compartment is not designed to be waterproof in case of submersion) and uses the Titan ignition key for unlocking.
A Refined Engine with Outstanding Towing Power
Underneath the stylish exterior, Titan utilizes a rugged,fully boxed high-strength all-steel F-Alpha platform for enhanced crash performance and long-term durability.
Every 2009 Titan comes equipped with Nissan's advanced Endurance V8 as standard equipment. The all-aluminum 5.6-liter V8 engine is rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque.
The use of advanced engine technology, such as aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, microfinished crankshaft and camshaft, graphite-coated pistons, 6-bolt main bearing caps, and Super Silent single-stage timing chain, results in smooth performance and excellent towing power.
Titan is available with Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology as a no-cost option. Equipped with a common fuel tank designed to run on varying blends of gasoline with ethanol (up to E85) or other fuel, Titan FFV offers an alternative to conventional gasoline, utilizing the growing number of alternative-fuel stations in the United States.
Titan's standard 5-speed automatic transmission was designed especially for heavy-duty truck use, with emphasis on serious towing and smooth shift quality. For 4WD models, Titan adapts an advanced shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive system with 2WD/4HI/4LO modes with electronic control part-time transfer case. Titan features a maximum towing capacity of 9,500 pounds for King Cab and 9,400 pounds for Crew Cab (when properly equipped) - as much as some 3/4-ton pickups.
Titan's responsive handling is a product of its all-steel double wishbone front suspension design and overslung leaf spring (dual rate) rear suspension with shackles mounted along the frame sides to increase departure angle. Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is standard, along with 4-wheel disc brakes with Bosch Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).
For 2009, Titan offers standard 18-inch wheels on XE, SE and PRO-4X models, while 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are standard on the Titan LE. New 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels are optionally available on Titan SE models.
A Comfortable, Highly Refined Interior
Titan's interior features refined styling and two interior configurations - a bench seat with column shifter (seats six) or two front bucket seats with a large center console and gated floor shifter (seats five). The bench seat is standard on XE and SE models and optional on LE, while the Captains Chair-style bucket seats are standard on the PRO-4X and LE models and optionally available on XE.
The bucket seat-equipped Titan's center console can hold a variety of beverage containers, including a 1-liter bottle. A 12-volt adapter is equipped in the storage area and can be used as a power source for a phone or other electronic devices. The console offers a variety of storage choices, with size adjusted by simply removing or adding dividers. The console's storage box can also accommodate hanging file folders and contains holders for maps, paper, pens and business cards on the console lid.
Among the Titan's many interior features are standard flip-up 60/40 rear seat cushions for added cargo space and flexibility, with available grocery hooks on the bottom of the seat cushions. The rear floor was designed to be nearly flat for maximum cargo utility.
The Crew Cab's rear seat is large and relaxing, with a full 24 degrees of seat back angle, helping passengers take full advantage of the Crew Cab Titan's 126 cubic feet of available space, including front and rear seat leg room of 41.8 inches and 40.4 inches, respectively. Both King Cab and Crew Cab Titans' rear compartments offer ample rear storage, including door storage bins and rear door bottle holders in the armrests and available power front windows with one-touch auto up/down function (not available on King Cab XE models). All Titan Crew Cab models feature a standard power down/up rear bed access cab window.
An available overhead console system gives passengers more storage options. The console houses rear audio controls and also contains dampened storage bins for both front and rear passengers for items like sunglasses, CDs, cell phone, PDA or a small tissue box. Crew Cab models offer an optional rear-seat DVD Entertainment System with fold-down 8.0-inch monitor.
Titan features an available fold-flat front passenger seat that allows extra versatility and can also be used as a working area. Also available are power-adjustable front seats (8-way driver's seat, 4-way passenger's seat), a driver's seat memory system and heated seats. Titan also offers available power-adjustable foot pedals with memory.
"Titan's interior provides a remarkable combination of comfort, quality and utility, along with outstanding roominess," said Castignetti. "With its great seats and intuitive controls, Titan - like all Nissans - is a driver's vehicle. But there is plenty for passengers to love as well."
Safety and Security
The 2009 Titan includes a long list of safety equipment, includingNissan's Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor; available front seat-mounted side-impact and roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags that help provide side-impact and rollover protection for outboard passengers; front seat belts with adjustable upper anchors, pretensioners and load limiters; front seat Active Head Restraints; three-point rear passenger seat belts; and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system.
Driver and passenger confidence is accentuated with an extensive list of vehicle-incorporated safety features including a Zone Body construction with front and rear structure crumple zones, an energy absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases with safety stops, knee bolsters and special body side reinforcements and a shift interlock system.
2009 Model Lineup and Equipment Packages
The 2009 Nissan Titan King Cab and Titan Crew Cab are offered in four well-equipped models - XE, SE and LE, each with a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations - and the 4x4-only PRO-4X. Each is offered with a long list of standard equipment including a powerful 5.6-liter Endurance V8 with the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings in the half-ton truck segment and 5-speed automatic transmission.
Titan XE models are equipped with a standard 40/20/40 split front bench seat with a center seat fold-down armrest storage bin, split fold-up rear seat and three-point seat belts for five positions. Titan SE models include standard 5-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels and P265/70R18 tires, chrome steel bumpers, front overhead console, manual lumbar support, power door locks with Auto-lock feature, tailgate assist, power windows with front auto up/down, cruise control, Remote Keyless Entry and more.
The Titan PRO-4X features body-colored grille and bumpers, an identifying decal over the rear fenders and a number of subtle exterior trim components to achieve a sportier look, along with a lockable bedside storage box, splash guards and auto on/off headlights.
PRO-4X performance equipment includes Rancho performance shock absorbers, a lower final drive ratio (3.357), additional skid plates on the oil pan and transfer case, a class-exclusive Electronic Locking Rear Differential and unique 18-inch aluminum-alloy off-road wheels with off-road style center caps and largest-in-class* P275/70R18 all-terrain tires.
The PRO-4X interior receives styling cues that differentiate it from the rest of the Titan lineup with unique meters and gauges, seats featuring an embroidered PRO-4X logo, red stitching and available leather-appointed red-stitched shifter knob and steering wheel.
Titan LE models add 6-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels, standard high-utility bed, leather-appointed seating, Rockford FosgateÒ-powered audio system with eight speakers, dual-zone auto-climate control system, wood appearance trim, BluetoothÒ Hands-free Phone System, XMÒ Satellite Radio (XMÒ subscription required, sold separately), dual-zone automatic temperature control, Traction Package, front and rear overhead consoles (Crew Cab only), power folding mirrors with heat, power adjust, auto dim and integrated turn signal and more.
A number of equipment packages are also offered, many of them new or revised for the 2009 model year. Optional XE equipment packages include the XE Popular Equipment Packages with sliding rear window (King Cab only), front overhead console, Remote Keyless Entry (Crew Cab only), chrome grille, cruise control and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; and the XE Max Utility Package with spray-in bedliner, Tow Package and Traction Package (4x2 only).
Titan SE equipment packages include the SE Popular Package with 8-way power bench seat, steering wheel audio controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-adjustable pedals, compass, rear proximity sensors and leather-wrapped steering wheel; SE Driver's Convenience Package with Cloth Captains seats, 8-way power driver's seat, center console, floor shift, fold-flat passenger seat, Rockford Fosgate premium audio system, Bluetooth(R) Hands-free Phone System, XM(R) Satellite Radio, moonroof (Crew Cab only), HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver, rear overhead console with audio controls (Crew Cab only); and SE Max Utility Package with Traction Package (4x2 only), Utility Bed Package, Tow Package and power heated extending tow mirrors.
Four Titan PRO-4X packages are offered: Convenience; Max Utility; Technology; and Entertainment.
Titan LE is offered with a Technology Package with moonroof and Nissan Navigation system; Entertainment Package (crew Cab only) with flip-down 8-inch LCD display, DVD player with remote, auxiliary input and wireless headsets; Max Utility Package; and Bench Seat Package with power heated leather-appointed split front bench seat. All Titan models are also available with a Side Air Bag Package with VDC.