2016 Nissan Titan XD Design Analysis

You’re probably already aware that full-sized trucks outsell every other kind of vehicle in the United States. The bestselling car, the Camry, is still outdistanced by the Ford F-Series, often at nearly a 2 to 1 rate per month. To say that big honkin' trucks are the lifeblood of American car manufacturers is an understatement.

Photo: Nissan

Some Japanese manufacturers have worked hard to compete, mainly Toyota and Nissan, but they’ve met with only mediocre sales success. For both brands, mainstream sedans dominate their top spots. In the year-to-date tally as of October, 2015, the top Toyota truck was the Tacoma in the #27 spot and the Nissan Frontier occupied the #78 slot.

With soccer moms and tough dudes with personal issues flinging these gigantic beasts around willy-nilly on tight public roads and occupying far too many parking spaces simultaneously, function is not particularly a necessity to buyers. Design is a key part to the marketing strategy; Ford is pushing all the right buttons with its sophisticated F-Series design, GM and Toyota are playing the less exciting middle ground, the Dodge continues on with the Mack truck look but has upped the handsome quotient…which leaves Nissan and the biggest news from the home of the Z is the new Titan.

It’s not good. Phew, we feel better getting that out of the way. From the rear and the side viewpoints, there should be a reminder sticker not to suddenly become a narcoleptic mountain goat and keel over sawing logs. The only interesting angle is from the front and from there, things turn ugly. The needlessly complex headlights convey neither strength nor style and the upper grille looks like a mishmash of designs from competitors. What’s happening with the fog lights is anybody’s guess. Is that a light next to…another light? And who designed the plastic bits that appear randomly on the lower grille?

Let’s hope it drives extremely well. Sorry Nissan, better luck next time. What’s your take on the new Titan; is it the new Iron Giant or is it a ship that should never have sailed?