2012 Nissan Titan (S, SV, PRO-4X, SL) Review

Innovation that’s tough, including the first-in-class Utili-track™ cargo carrying system, available durable spray-in bedliner, lockable bedside storage compartment, Wide-Open rear doors (King Cab), and the longest Crew Cab bed in class. That’s the hallmark of the 2012 Nissan Titan full-size pickup, which stands as a rugged, reliable, spirited choice for active truck buyers seeking style, innovation and excellent value.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Titan continues as a truck designed to get the job done, whether that job entails hauling cargo, a trailer or just family and friends.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

For 2012, Titan again offers a range of body, bed and drivetrain configurations to fit a range of buyer needs and uses: King Cab and Crew Cab body styles, a choice of 4x4 and 4x2 drive configurations, two wheelbases (138.9 inches and 159.5 inches), three bed lengths, and four well-equipped trim levels – S, SV, PRO-4X and SL. Titan is also available as a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) designed to run on E85 Ethanol.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Enhancements for 2012 include a new Sport Appearance Package, which is available with both King Cab and Crew Cab SV models. The special equipment package includes 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and front grille with Dark Hyper Silver finish, body-color front and rear bumpers, black step rails, cloth seat trim with embroidered Titan logo, lockable bedside storage compartment, bodyside sport “Titan” graphic, white-faced gauges, fog lights, Captain’s Chairs and center console and much more. One new color is also offered for 2012 across the Titan model range, Brilliant Silver.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Titan is built on Nissan’s rugged F-Alpha pickup platform, featuring a powerful 5.6-liter DOHC Endurance V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft torque and a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. Titan has a maximum towing capacity of up to 9,500 pounds for King Cab and 9,400 pounds for Crew Cab (when properly equipped).

And, though first and foremost designed for hard work and hard play, an array of technology and comfort features are available, including Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, XM Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Nissan Navigation system, Rockford Fosgate® audio system, heated front seats, leather-appointed seating and DVD entertainment center.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

A High Utility Bed with Utili-Track™Bed Channel System
The Titan exterior is anchored by a distinctive, powerful front end and cab appearance and an innovative high utility bed design. Titan King Cab offers a 138.9-inch wheelbase and 6-foot 6-inch bed, while the Titan Crew Cab features a 138.9-inch wheelbase and 5-foot 7-inch bed. The Crew Cab SV Long Wheelbase model features a 159.5-inch wheelbase and a 7-foot 3-inch bed, nearly 20 inches longer than the standard wheelbase Crew Cab bed and the longest in class. All Titans feature a 28-gallon fuel tank, providing an excellent driving range.

Titan King Cab models also feature Wide-Open rear doors, which open 168 degrees for easy 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 for easy loading and unloading of cargo or passengers.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Titan’s available spray-on bedliner (standard on SL 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 was the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer and is covered by the Nissan warranty – unlike aftermarket bedliner systems.

Also available is the Utili-track™ Bed 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). Titan is the only truck to offer five channels. Removable heavy-duty utility cleats (rated at 200 pounds) slide into the channels, providing a wide range of attaching points for tying down cargo. The channels are open at the rear of the bed, allowing the cleats to be completely removed when not in use for easy cleaning. To further maximize Titan’s utility, Nissan offers an extensive line of bed accessories, including dividers, extenders, sliding cargo trays, modular storage units, bike and kayak racks and other accessories.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

As required for a working pickup, the Titan bed also carries 4x8-foot plywood sheets 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 innovative bedside storage compartment located behind the rear driver’s side wheel (SV, PRO-4X and SL models). 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 and uses the Titan ignition key for unlocking.

A Powerful, Refined Engine with Outstanding Towing Power
The 2012 Nissan Titan again utilizes a rugged, fully boxed high-strength all-steel F-Alpha platform for crash performance and long-term durability. Every 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 and utilizes an 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.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Titan is available with Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology as a no-cost option (available in certain regions only). Equipped with a common fuel tank designed to run on varying blends of gasoline with ethanol (up to E85), Titan FFV offers an alternative to conventional gasoline.

Titan’s standard 5-speed automatic transmission is designed especially for truck use, with emphasis on serious towing and smooth shift quality. A transmission temperature gauge is included in the meter cluster on SV, PRO-4X and SL models. An Active Brake Limited-Slip Differential (2-wheel or 4-wheel) is standard on both 4x2 and 4x4 models.

Titan 4X4 models adapt 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) and Brake Assist (BA).

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Titan offers standard 18-inch wheels on S, SV and PRO-4X models, while 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are standard on the Titan SL. Crew Cab SV models are offered with optional 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum-alloy wheels and 20-inch chrome-plated aluminum-alloy wheels are optional on SL models. New 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with Dark Hyper Silver finish are included among the many features of the SV Sport Appearance Package.

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 S and SV models, while captains seats are standard on the PRO-4X and SL models and available as part of the SV Value Truck Package (SV models).

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 back of the center console 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.

Also available among 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 S 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 storage bins for both front and rear passengers for items like sunglasses, CDs, cell phone, PDA or a small tissue box. 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. Crew Cab PRO-4X and SL models offer an optional rear-seat DVD Entertainment System with fold-down 8.0-inch monitor.

Safety and Security
The 2012 Titan includes a long list of safety equipment, including Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor; 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.

Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags with rollover sensor are standard equipment on all models. Other vehicle-incorporated safety features include Zone Body construction with front and rear structure crumple zones, an energy absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases with safety stops, knee bolsters, body side reinforcements and a shift interlock system. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) are also standard.

2012 Model Lineup and Equipment Packages
The 2012 Nissan Titan King Cab and Titan Crew Cab are offered in four well-equipped models – S, SV, PRO-4X and SL – and with a choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations. The PRO-4X is available in 4x4 only. Each is offered with a long list of standard equipment, including a powerful 5.6-liter Endurance V8 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Titan S models are equipped with a standard 40/20/40 split front bench seat with a center seat fold-down armrest, split fold-up rear seat and seating for six people. Titan SV 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-locking 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 compartment, 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, an Electronic Locking Rear Differential and unique 18-inch aluminum-alloy off-road wheels with off-road style center caps and largest-in-class BFGoodrich® Rugged Trail® P275/70R18 all-terrain tires.

The PRO-4X interior receives styling cues that differentiate it from the rest of the Titan lineup with unique white-face meters and gauges, seats featuring an embroidered PRO-4X logo, red stitching and available leather-appointed seats and red-stitched shifter knob and steering wheel.

Titan SL models add 6-spoke 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, standard utility bed features, leather-appointed seating, Rockford Fosgate®-powered audio system with up to 10 speakers (eight speakers on King Cab, 10 speakers on Crew Cab), dual-zone auto-climate control system, wood appearance trim, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), front and rear overhead consoles (Crew Cab only), power folding mirrors with heat, power adjust, auto dim, integrated turn signal and more.

A number of equipment packages are also offered, including the new-for-2012 SV Sport Appearance Package with 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with Dark Hyper Silver finish, P275/60R20 BSW tires, front grille with Dark Hyper Silver finish, black step rails, PRO-4X cloth seat trim with embroidered Titan logo, lower final gear ratio (3.357:1), lockable bedside storage compartment, body-color wheel arch moldings, body-color front/rear bumper covers, and white-faced gauges.

Additional SV Sport Appearance Package features include a bodyside sport “Titan” graphic, Captain’s seats and center console, leather-wrapped floor shifter and leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrasting stitching, rear HVAC vents (Crew Cab), 8-way power driver’s seat, steering wheel audio controls, black molded door handles and outside mirrors, fog lights, rear sonar, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, stainless steel exhaust tip and floor mats.

The popular SV Value Truck Package offers cloth captain’s seats with center console, gated leather floor shift, fold-flat AS seat, rear HVAC vents (Crew Cab only), 8-way power driver’s seat, fog lights, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, steering wheel audio controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, compass, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Rear Sonar System and receiver hitch, 7-pin wiring harness connector and brake controller jumper wire.

Also offered is the SV Utility Package with lockable bedside storage compartment, Utili-track® Channel System with 4 tie-down cleats, tailgate area illumination, bed-mounted 12V power point and factory-applied spray-on bedliner. The SV Premium Utility Package adds a Rockford Fosgate premium audio system with two additional speakers, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), power-adjustable pedals, lockable bedside storage compartment, Utili-track® Channel System with 4 tie-down cleats, tailgate area illumination, bed-mounted 12V power point, factory-applied spray-on bedliner, lower final gear ratio, front tow hooks (4x2) and power heated extendable tow mirrors.

2012 Nissan Titan photo

Three packages are also offered for Titan PRO-4X: the exclusive PRO-4X Premium Utility Package and PRO-4X Luxury Package, and the shared PRO-4X/SL Technology Package. One exclusive SL package completes the options list: the SL Max Utility Package with step rails, lower final gear ratio, heavy duty battery (standard on FFV models), front tow hooks (4x2) and extending tow mirrors.

The 2012 Nissan Titan is manufactured by Nissan North America in Canton, Mississippi.