Nissan has fallen on hard times over the past few years, necessitating an optimization of the product range. According to the latest announcement, the Titan pickup truck range will also be affected by the cost-cutting strategy.
Specifically, starting in 2020, Nissan will no longer be offering the Titan with a diesel engine or a single cab. Customers will still be able to choose between double and crew cab variants. The only remaining powertrain configuration is based on a gasoline V8 rated at 395 hp (295 kW) and 534 Nm (394 lb-ft) of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
It has to be noted that the Titan has never been too popular in the USA. In its bumper year, 2017, fewer than 53,000 units were sold, followed by a dismal 18,000 in the first half of 2019. The competition enjoys much better figures, with nearly 450,000 Ford F-Series, almost 300,000 Ram Pickups and more than 250,000 Chevrolet Silverado sold in the same period (1H 2019).
The low level of driving safety isn’t doing much to improve the situation, either. The Titan was given an ‘Acceptable’ overall safety rating following a series of IIHS crash tests. Media are also mostly critical of the vehicle, blaming the series for engine failures and transmission quirks.