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Surprise, one old truck is outranking the competition as it lies on its deathbed. According to actual truck owners, an unexpected option outranks the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500 in terms of comfort, quality, and excitement. 

The 2023 Nissan Titan has the most APEAL 

The 2023 Nissan Titan driving down the road
2023 Nissan Titan | Nissan

The people have spoken, and the 2023 Nissan Titan gets to celebrate. No one expected the Titan to come back from behind to tackle newer, more popular trucks, but it managed to take the crown. 

According to the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) study, the Titan has the highest score. Ratings are based on surveys sent to real vehicle owners to measure their attachment and excitement with their new vehicles. 

The survey covers 37 areas about each vehicle, from comfort, performance, tech, fuel economy, acceleration, and more. Each brand nuggets a score based on a 100-point scale. 

Then Model-Level APEAL awards are given to each vehicle that ranks the highest in its segment. The 2023 Titan is the highest-ranking full-size truck in its segment. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the highest-ranking smaller truck. 

The Nissan brand earned 848 points on the mass market index brand list. Ford racked up 838 points, and Toyota got 824 points. The segment average is about 837 points. 

What makes the 2023 Titan worth buying? 

The 2023 Nissan Titan has a standard 5.6-liter V8 engine with 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. It has the most standard power in its class. Other brands offer more engine options, and V8 engines are expensive upgrade options. 

With the Titan, you can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 7.5 seconds, which is adequate. The smooth nine-speed automatic transmission spices things up, but the steering is heavy, and the brakes could be more confident. 

The 2023 Titan has a comfortable cabin and a smooth ride. The seats are plush and supportive for hours of comfort. The climate control system is strong and effective, but the fans blow pretty loudly at times. 

The Nissan Titan interior isn’t the most attractive or impressive, but it works. The doors open wide for easy access, and there are tons of adjustment controls to find the perfect driving position. 

Most trucks have modern touchscreen controls, but the Titan still has chunky dials and buttons to press. The 9.0-inch touchscreen gets the job done, but it’s time for a better resolution and updated graphics. Also, critics are impressed by the amount of safety features that come standard. 

Is the 2024 Titan being redesigned? 

The 2023 Nissan Titan Pro-4X parked in sand
2023 Nissan Titan Pro-4X | Nissan

It’s unlikely for the 2024 Nissan Titan to be redesigned. Nissan hasn’t provided any clues about making a new Titan, and sales are continuing to drop. It’s safer to expect the Nissan Titan to be discontinued. 

Nissan hasn’t officially mentioned discontinuing the Titan, but there are no plans for a replacement truck either. Nissan might be exiting the full-size truck segment with plans to release a smaller electric truck to battle the Rivian R1T. 

We’re surprised that the old Titan is still hanging around, but it does have plenty to offer. It may be more expensive than rivals, but it includes more standard power and features. Plus, it’s comfortable for road trips. 

The Titan may disappear in 2024 or 2025, but you can still take advantage of what it has to offer before it’s gone. Drivers still enjoy this truck even though competitors are more modern. Stay tuned for updates about the Nissan Titan’s fate.