When it comes to trucks, there are many options for American customers. One of the more common options is the heavy-duty option that many automakers have for their trucks. These heavy-duty trucks include the likes of the Silverado 2500, the F-250, and the Ram 2500. Nissan also offers a heavy-duty option for the Titan, and it’s called the Titan XD. Here’s a look at whether or not this option is worth the extra money.

What stays the same

As many truck fans know, a lot stays the same between these two trucks. According to Motor Trend, the looks of both trucks stay the same, as do the interior dimensions. Both trucks can seat five people, both trucks offer the same infotainment suite, and both trucks also offer the same safety features. 

On top of that, while many other full-size trucks will offer different engine options on their heavy-duty version, Nissan is keeping it very simple. Both the standard Titan and the Titan XD only have one engine option for the 2020 model year, according to Motor Trend. Both trucks have a 5.6-liter V8 that gets 400-hp and 413 lb-ft of torque.

What you get with the Nissan Titan XD

Like Motor Trend said, the Titan XD, which starts at $46,000, costs $8,000 more than the standard Titan, which starts at about $38,000. This extra money gets you a couple of things.

Off the bat, while the two trucks look similar, the Titan XD is indeed a bigger truck. As Motor Trend says, the Titan XD has a significantly bigger wheelbase and it’s also just a few inches taller and longer than the regular Titan is.

The Titan XD also comes with a 6.5-foot truck bed as standard and all-wheel drive is also standard. Both of those are only options on the regular Titan. As a result of other smaller differences, the Titan XD ultimately is a more powerful truck despite having the exact same engine as the Titan. 

Motor Trend says that the Titan can handle a 1,700-pound payload and it can tow a little over 9,000 pounds. In comparison, the Titan XD can handle a roughly 2,500-pound payload and it can tow up to 11,000 pounds. 

And of course, due to the bigger size, the Titan XD also weighs about 780 pounds more than the standard Titan. This results in a slightly different driving experience. Ultimately though, Motor Trend says that the standard Titan feels better to drive in than the Titan XD does.

Is the Nissan Titan XD worth the money?

As Motor Trend concluded, the answer is, no, it’s not. The Titan XD, despite being a nearly $50,000 heavy-duty truck, can’t compete with its competitors in terms of towing and payload capacity. Motor Trend even says that a F-150, when it’s equipped with the right engine and options, can tow more than the Titan XD can. 

As a result, the Titan XD seems like a waste of money as it’s not competitive against a regular full-size truck, let alone other heavy-duty trucks. In comparison, the standard Titan, which still gets respectable towing and payload numbers, is competitive with its competition.

The standard Titan may not have the highest payload capacity or towing capacity in its class, but at least it’s not being outclassed by a smaller truck like the Titan XD is.

Plus, as Motor Trend said, the more affordable price tag of the standard Titan means that you can add more features and options to it without breaking the bank. This means, ultimately, pound for pound, the Titan is far superior to the Titan XD.