why ads?

Popular at KBB.com

The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab

Please enter a valid mileage

View all 45 photos

Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Nissan Titan King Cab

Overview

Get Your Fair Purchase Price See actual transaction prices, explore total cost to own, projected resale value and more. See what you should pay

Buy used | Trade-in/Sell

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.6

To all those Doubting Thomases out there who thought a foreign pickup truck could never compete with the offerings from Ram, Chevy and Ford, the 2012 Nissan Titan politely says sit down and rethink your position. Although there is no Titan 3/4- or 1-ton model available, the majority of pickups sold in the U.S. are of the half-ton variant, placing the 2012 Titan right in the thick of things. Every bit the equal to its domestic rivals, the Titan possesses a powerful V8 engine, sturdy boxed frame and a number of unique bed and cab equipment features designed to make life with a pickup truck a little easier. While marketed primarily to those who do light- to medium-duty work, it's probably a better bet that the 2012 Nissan Titan will find a home with those who like to spend weekends on the lake with their boat, or up in the mountains with their dirt bikes. For folks who need to venture far from the beaten path, the 2012 Nissan Titan's PRO-4X off-road package should be enticing.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for an alternative to the commonplace Ford, Ram or Chevy offerings, the 2012 Nissan Titan truck offers a unique twist on the full-size pickup formula, with bold styling and a proven record of resale and reliability.

You May Not Like This Car If...

The 2012 Nissan Titan's 317-horsepower V8 is not the strongest in the class, falling short of the Ram's 390-horsepower HEMI V8 and the Chevy's 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. If you're looking to haul or tow really heavy loads, the Titan's half-ton configuration can't match the Chevy, Ford and Ram 3/4- and 1-ton models. Nissan also doesn't offer a diesel engine option or a dually rear end.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.6
Driving Dynamics

6.0
Comfort & Convenience

6.2
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.4
Value

6.2
Safety

7.9

How It Ranks

#29

out of 30

MPG

#15

out of 35

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.7 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

For 2012, Nissan offers a new Sport Appearance Package on the Titan King Cab and Crew Cab SV models. Included in the package are 20-inch SL aluminum-alloy wheels, dark grille treatment, body-colored front and rear bumpers, black step rails, PRO-4X seats with silver contrasting stitching, lockable bedside storage compartment, a body-side sport "Titan" graphic, white-faced gauges, foglights, and Captain's chairs with a center console.

Driving the Titan King Cab

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions Although it does not have the most powerful V8 engine in its class, calling the 2012 Nissan Titan pickup truck weak would be a gross misrepresentation. The 5.6-liter V8 standard...

in all Titan trucks (there is no V6 option, even on the base truck), delivers a respectable 317 horsepower and, more important, 385 lb-ft of torque. The Titan's V8 is responsive at all speeds, delivering impressive power to pass traffic on steep inclines. Nissan's gated 5-speed automatic transmission came in handy on steep descents, where we often found ourselves shifting through the lower gear ranges to slow the vehicle and spare the brakes. This feature is particularly helpful when towing, too. We did sense some vibration telegraphed through the steering wheel, but the Titan's ride was composed and calm. Overall, our testers concluded that the 2012 Nissan Titan pickup delivers a smooth, controlled ride and exhibits better-than-average steering and handling response.

Favorite Features

Wide-Swinging Rear Door
The hinged rear door on the Nissan Titan King Cab model swings back 168 degrees to create exceptionally convenient interior access.

Exterior Storage Box
The 2012 Nissan Titan's exterior storage box (located behind the left rear wheel) is perfect for storing such items as jumper cables or muddy clothing.

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab Details

2012 Nissan Titan King Cab Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Thanks to Nissan's wide and varied trim options, the 2012 Nissan Titan truck can be anything from a bang-it-up work truck to near-luxury pickup. Bench seating and simple interior fabric choices grace the base-model trucks, which also include a column shifter. Upper-end models move to Captain's-chair-style seating with a center console gated shifter and wide center storage compartment big enough to fit a tablet or laptop. The advantage of a gated shifter is that it guides the shift lever through a jagged slotted path, which allows for more precise gear control when changing gears. Inside, while the 2012 Nissan Titan pickup's interior looks large and accommodating, some of our taller testers found headroom to be at a premium, even with the power driver's seat at its lowest position.

Exterior

The 2012 Nissan Titan is offered in King or Crew Cab (there is no regular cab truck), with a choice of long or short wheelbase and three different bed lengths. Knowing they'd have to go the extra mile to win over die-hard domestic fans, Nissan engineers added clever and useful features such as a built-in bed channel system featuring movable cleats for securing items, and a factory spray-in bedliner to keep your investment looking new. Further usable features include a rear door on King Cab models that opens a full 168 degrees and a lockable external storage area located behind the left wheel well. The 2012 Titan truck offers 9.8 inches of ground clearance on 2-wheel-drive models and 10.7 inches on PRO-4X trims.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2012 Nissan Titan S has a 317-horsepower 5.6-liter V8, 5-speed automatic transmission with a Tow/Haul mode, 4-wheel Active-Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) brakes, front side and full-length side-curtain airbags, air conditioning, full gauges, exterior cargo light, dual manual side mirrors, full bench seat, a rear 12-volt outlet, AM/FM stereo with CD, fuel-tank skid plate, cruise control, tilt wheel, tire-pressure monitor and 18-inch steel wheels. The S Crew Cab, SV, SL and PRO-4X add even more standard features including power locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, a sliding rear window and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Options vary by trim and include 4-wheel drive, a tow package, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, Rockford Fosgate audio, a spray-in bedliner, an 8-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, rear-seat DVD entertainment system (on the Crew Cab), navigation, a limited-slip rear differential, bed extender, a HomeLink Universal Transceiver, and the SV Sport Appearance Package.

Under the Hood

Unlike many of its competitors, the 2012 Nissan Titan offers only one engine choice, and it's the most powerful V8 Nissan builds. The 5.6-liter V8 produces an abundance of power, but it cannot reasonably be expected to deliver the best fuel economy. A no-cost option is the same engine fitted with technology making it E85 compatible.

5.6-liter V8
317 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
385 lb-ft of torque @ 3,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 (2WD, gasoline), 12/17 (4WD, gasoline), 9/13 (2WD, E85), 9/13 (4WD, E85)

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Nissan Titan King Cab S full-size pickup has a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $31,000, while a fully loaded PRO-4X Crew Cab tops out around $46,000. To make your best deal on a Titan, be sure to check the Fair Purchase Price, which shows the typical transaction price paid for the truck in your area. Kelley Blue Book expects the 2012 Nissan Titan truck to maintain an average resale value over a 5-year period, holding below the Ford F-150 Super Cab, the Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab 1500 and Ram 1500 Quad Cab.

To find out what consumers are really paying for this vehicle, first select a style to see the Fair Purchase Price| Calculate payments for this vehicle

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Nissan Titan King Cab vehicles for sale near you.

Get Your Fair Purchase Price See actual transaction prices, explore total cost to own, projected resale value and more.

See what you should pay

Buy used | Trade-in/Sell

2012 Nissan Titan Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 119 Ratings for the 2005 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.0/10

Quality

9.0/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

8.8/10

Styling

9.0/10

Great Truck!! Bought it new. Not one problem.

By Rich (IA) on Saturday, May 11, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 110,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Great price, sturdy, runs well, attractive"

Cons: "Torque could be improved to handle a manual tranny"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I love my truck. It's dependable, sturdy, reliable, handles very well. It's comforbable to travel long distances. Very stable when carrying a load. With the 2WD can drive in any weather. Low maintenance. An attractive vehicle. Gets lots of compliments on it's design."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Great Truck!

By ebmccann (PA) on Friday, April 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 12,800

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Feels Great to Drive."

Cons: "Little tough for a tall guy to get into."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Owned this truck for almost 2 years. No problems. Will not get stuck in the snow. Could get a little better gas mileage. I am 6ft 2inch tall have a little trouble getting in. Drives great. Lots of pick up. Very comfortable. Looks great.No rattles or vibrations. Sound system is great too. Bluetooth is a good thing to have. I can talk while driving. Had a Dodge Dakota for 12 years I am sure I will have this truck much longer. I would buy another one anytime!"

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

This is my second

By LovesNissan (AZ) on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 87,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: Not Rated
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"In 2003 I bought my first Nissan Frontier. It was the 2000 model/four door. Last year I bought my second Nissan, a 2008 King Cab. both have been great trucks. I still own the 2000 Frontier and it currently has 160,000+ miles. I am the very proud owner of two Frontiers and would have three except I can't justify having three vehicles."

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Very good truck

By Mike (KY) on Thursday, January 31, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 57,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I have owned this Frontier since new. It has proven very reliable, with the exception of the electronics. I have had problems with the fuel sensor on numerous occasions, replacing it twice. It will soon be replaced for the third time. Have had trouble with the tire pressure monitors also. The truck likes gas, but it delivers outstanding performance. The engine is a real powerhouse. Have never had trouble getting around in snow as the easy to use 4WD system is excellent. I recommend this truck."

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Great value for the money

By joshua751 (AZ) on Thursday, December 27, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great value"

Cons: "Turning Radius"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I bought it new in 2011. Had to really hunt for just a basic truck. Don't need all the bells and whistles just a reliable truck for light to medium hauling. I found a 4 cyl. manual transmission model (minimizes theft problems on the border). I generally average 25-26 mph. I use to haul mainly. I have been pleased with its handling and comfort."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

Really Great vehicle!

By tammy (WA) on Saturday, November 24, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 110,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "handles well"

Cons: "I dont have heated seats or a sunroof-"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I'v had this truck for 8 years and have only put a little over 100,00 miles on it. She has a lotta years left on her. No hiccups in 8 years, not one break down or unreliable moment. Realy awesome car & its cute & stylish as well!"

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

See all 119 reviews