2004 4x4 Truck Of The Year Vehicles

Nissan Titan Crew Cab XEHighs*Spacious interior*V-8 with lots of power*Good steering feel and handlingLows*5.5-foot bed*Door handles stick*Maybe a little ugly-we haven't decided yet

VerdictA truck guy's truck

The Titan is Nissan's first offering to the 11/42-ton truck market. With the new Endurance V-8 producing 305 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque, this Nissan is destined to give Toyota, Chevy, Ford, and Dodge a run for their money. The big news with this truck is the drivetrain. It used to be that we thought Japanese trucks were gutless. Not anymore. While we prefer the floor shifter in the Armada over the column-mounted version in the Titan, the new five-speed automatic transmission is well matched to the new 5.6L engine. So much so that after driving this truck it became clear that to compete in the truck market, OEMs need to offer a five- or six-speed auto transmissions. Look out, F-150.

The first time you slide into the four-door crew cab you'll see that this truck has more than enough room for adults to sit in the back seat comfortably, yet still provides enough legroom up front. A cavernous feel envelopes you when you enter the Titan's spartan interior, and the giant seats give you plenty of room to figure out exactly how you want to sit when driving this vehicle. We think the F-150's interior is nicer and quieter than the Titan, but both trucks have a similar feel behind the wheel. However, the Ford seems more solid than the Titan, and the feedback from the steering was judged to be more informative than in the Nissan.

Last but not least, the rear Dana 44 axle is a new heavy-duty version that uses a beefier centersection and a unique cover. Our test truck came with the optional electric locker that raises the traction bar for fullsize pickup trucks. With the dash-mounted switch, we could activate the rear locker in low range whenever we wanted. The rear locker made all the difference in the world when this truck went off-road, as nothing beats having both rear tires turning to push the Titan over obstacles. Screw traction control systems-just give us a locker!