2008 Nissan Titan Preview

2008 Nissan Titan Preview – 2007 Chicago Auto Show Attention, full-size truck fan: Nissan has a message for you, one it hopes you hear before you leap head over heels for one of those fancy new Tundras or cool Silverados. At least not until you take a look at the new 2008 Titan, with its restyled front end, upgraded interior, longer bed and new trim. While it may still lack enough configurations to compete sale for sale with the rest of the full-size makers, they think recent updates give you more than a few new reasons to take a closer look at import truck.

Why it Matters

As a revised model, the 2008 Nissan Titan addresses some of its more glaring weaknesses: interior refinement, an additional trim and a consistent look to Nissan’s larger vehicles. Perhaps most significantly, however, the Titan gets a longer wheelbase version that expands its offering to include a seven-foot bed with a Crew cab body. Inside, there’s a new seat design, new meter clusters along with Bluetooth, XM Satellite Radio, a heated leather-trimmed bench seat and revised center stack. The new trim, named PRO-4X, is an off-road variant with performance shocks, an electronic locking diff, skid plates and more, including 18-inch alloy wheels shod with P275/70R18 all-terrain tires.

What it Looks Like

Truth be told, to our eye the 2008 Titan looks a lot like the 2007 Titan. And maybe it’s supposed to be like that: just a modest change, after all, so that Nissan could bring its big rigs into some sort of stylistic consistency. They still seem slightly different to us, but we never did pass art appreciation class…what do we know? As for the PRO-4X trim, you can tell the difference by looking at the big beefy tires or the side stickers that read “PRO-4X.” Just in case you need a little help. There’s also a PRO-4X body-colored grille and bumpers, among other hints.

What's Inside

The Titan enjoys an upgraded interior, with features such as a new seat design, new meter clusters along with Bluetooth, XM Satellite Radio, a heated leather-trimmed bench seat and revised center stack. Inside the PRO-4X version, meanwhile, drivers are treated to unique and sporty gauges and meters, as well as red PRO-4X embroidered leather appointed seats that feel quite comfortable and well bolstered. From base to PRO-4X, the Titan interior looks like it’s been significantly improved.

What We Think

Yeah, you get more choice with the Tundra, the Silverado, the F-150 or the Ram. True. But the Titan offers a unique style, something different, and this update to the first generation model strategically improves on weak spots that likely held buyers back from saying “Yes.” Sure, it won’t compete sale for sale, but the 2008 Nissan Titan offers full-size truck buyers some definite advantages, from its seven-foot bed to impressive interior improvements and a new off-road trim. Photos by Brian Chee, courtesy of Nissan of North America