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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Nissan Titan King Cab

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Overview

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2013 Nissan Titan King Cab Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.5

The 2013 Nissan Titan remains a competitive player among full-size trucks. In a segment traditionally dominated by Ford GM, and Ram, the Titan holds its own against domestic rivals. While it doesn't offer the range of engine choices or three-quarter-ton and 1-ton models like some of its peers, the Titan does come with a stout but thirsty V8 engine, king-cab or crew-cab configuration, and a choice of three bed lengths. Wide-opening rear doors and the built-in Utili-track cargo system in the truck bed enhance livability and utility. Even at around $30,000, a base Titan King Cab lacks creature comforts such as power windows and mirrors.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for an alternative to the sea of Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverados on the road, the 2013 Nissan Titan offers a unique twist in the full-size pickup segment, bolstered by a relatively stylish exterior and a proven reliability record. Off-roaders may like the PRO-4X model, which comes with a locking rear differential and 2-speed transfer case.

You May Not Like This Car If...

The Titan's V8 isn't the strongest or the most fuel-efficient. Ford's F-150 with EcoBoost V6 makes more horsepower, more torque, and achieves better fuel economy than the Titan's larger V8. The Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Chevy Silverado also offer engines more powerful than the Nissan's. The Titan is not available in standard cab configuration.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.5
Driving Dynamics

6.0
Comfort & Convenience

6.1
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.3
Value

6.1
Safety

7.8

How It Ranks

#13

out of 13

MPG

#9

out of 18

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.7 out of 10

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consumer ratings

2013 Nissan Titan King Cab Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2013

All models receive a new tailgate design and sliding sun visors. PRO-4X models get interior and exterior appearance tweaks. A rearview camera is standard on PRO-4X and SL models.

Driving the Titan King Cab

2013 Nissan Titan King Cab Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The 2013 Nissan Titan's engine isn't the most powerful V8 in its class, but still offers more than enough oomph to get the job done, whether that's passing slower traffic...

or hauling cargo uphill. The powertrain is responsive at all speeds, and we appreciate Nissan's gated 5-speed automatic transmission that comes on models with front captain's chairs. That transmission setup is particularly handy on steep descents and when towing because it allows you to shift to lower gears to spare the brakes. In our tests, we sensed some vibration coming through the steering wheel, but overall the Titan exhibits a smooth, controlled ride with better-than-average steering and handling.

Favorite Features

WIDE-SWINGING REAR DOOR
The rear door of Titan's King Cab model swings out 168 degrees, making it much easier for passengers to enter and exit. And when the rear bench seat isn't holding passengers, it folds up to create additional interior cargo space.

UTILI-TRACK CARGO MANAGEMENT
This available feature endows the Titan's truck bed with two rails and four cleats to help lock cargo in place, a great system to have when you need to tie down and haul uneven loads.

2013 Nissan Titan King Cab Details

2013 Nissan Titan King Cab Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

With a wide array of trims and options, the 2013 Nissan Titan's cabin can range from that of a simple work truck to something with a near-premium feel. Base models use a cloth-covered bench seat up front and offer seating for up to six people. Higher trims have a pair of leather-covered captain's chairs up front, reducing seating capacity to five, but offering greater comfort. The Titan's rear bench seat folds up to create more cargo space. Also offered is a front passenger seat that folds flat to create a mobile workstation. The Titan's steering wheel tilts but does not telescope, which can compromise your driving position. Power-adjustable pedals are available, though.

Exterior

The Nissan Titan can be had as a King Cab or Crew Cab – unlike competitors, there is no regular cab version. The larger Crew Cab models are available in long- or short-wheelbase configurations to accommodate a long or standard truck bed. If there is one category of vehicle in which exterior style takes a back seat to utility, it's the pickup. It makes sense, then, that Nissan focused on adding practical features to the Titan to better help it do the work for which trucks are known: hauling stuff. To that end, available features include a 120-volt AC outlet, recessed lights and the Utili-track cargo system in the truck bed, and a lockable compartment behind the left rear wheel.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

A base 2-wheel drive (2WD) 2013 Nissan Titan S King Cab comes with air conditioning, cloth seating, a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system, a fold-up rear bench seat, washable vinyl floors, and a lockable tailgate. Even with an asking price of nearly $30,000, you might be surprised to find a column shifter (due to the 40/20/40 split bench seat) and manual-adjust mirrors in your base Titan. Also lacking in those models are features such as cruise control, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and even power windows. To get those goods on a 2013 Titan, you'll need to spend more money on options or step up to another trim.

Optional Equipment

Options for the 2013 Nissan Titan vary by trim, with most major features bundled into packages. All Titans can be had with 4-wheel drive (4WD). Other options include comfy captain's chairs in place of the bench seat, a navigation system, Nissan's Utili-track tie-down system, spray-on bedliner, a Rockford Fosgate premium sound system, a moonroof, a power driver's seat, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and connectivity features such as Bluetooth and a USB input. Titan models can also be had as flex-fuel vehicles to run on a higher blend of ethanol (E85).

Under the Hood

Nissan Titan trucks are powered by a 5.6-liter V8 that makes 317 horsepower and is connected to a 5-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. The Titan has a maximum tow rating of 9,300 pounds. The engine can also be had with the ability to run on a blend up of up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). Running on regular gasoline, the Titan's highway rating is just 18 mpg. Four-wheel-drive models, meanwhile, have a 12 mpg rating in city driving.

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

Pricing Notes

A base 2013 Nissan Titan King Cab model has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $29,815, while a top-of-the-line version can reach more than $40,000. The Titan's starting price is quite a bit higher than that of other full-size trucks, albeit ones without rear seating. When compared with similarly equipped models such as the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 150, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra, the Titan's price is more in line with its competitors. Before buying, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are actually paying for their Nissan Titans. Regarding resale value, full-size trucks in general are notoriously average at best. The Nissan Titan is no exception, and has a predicted resale value below that of the Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra and Toyota Tundra.

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2013 Nissan Titan Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 95 Ratings for the 2005 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.8/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.2/10

The Titan is a great pick up truck

By Big Titan Fan (MA) on Friday, April 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 35,435

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Pros: "Great truck, comfortable ride, very reliable"

Cons: "poor gas mileage, lousy Good Year stock tires"

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

"I have about 36,000 on my 2010 King Cab SE model. It has never given me any issues, is still as tight as a drum and still drives like the day I drove it home. It works great in the snow and always feels sure footed. I love the growl the exhaust makes when you step on it. I have the Texas Titan package so I have chrome wheels, the billet grille and chrome everything. I have people comment on it all the time. It is nice to drive something besides the typical F 150 or Silverado that everyone else on the road has. The standard Good Year Wranglers were good tires, but wore out at 30,000 miles. I do not drive hard enough to justify them wearing out so early. Aside of that, I have no complaints about my Titan. I have driven it 800 miles to friends and it is very comfortable to spend time in. I wish it got better mileage, but knew going in it was going to guzzle gas. I was able to get almost $7,500 off the sticker! My truck stickered at $33,300 and I paid $25,600! You can get a great deal on this truck between rebates and haggeling. They don't sell alot, so you can get a great deal. Don't dismiss teh Titan over the others, you will be surprised as to what you will get for a really capable truck that tows well, drives well, and offers plenty of room for a great deal."

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Solid long term truck with plenty of power.

By Sherb (SC) on Sunday, February 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

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

"I bought this truck two years ago because I needed a vehicle to tow a trailer and haul lumber for various projects. I mainly bought this truck because it met my requirements for features, and was low cost compared to others. Still, I was apprehensive about the truck's reliability. In the past 2 years I have driven the truck all over the southeast with no mechanical problems at all. The engine runs smooth, transmission shifts smooth, the wheels have remained in alignment and brakes required no maintenance other than a new set of pads. I keep up with all regular maintenance, performing most of it myself- which is relatively easy compared to other imports I've dealt with. Pros: Plenty of v8 power - no problem hauling a load of lumber or towing a boat No mechanical problems in two years Wheels stay in alignment, eliminating unnecessary tire wear Solid feeling drive in all conditions with very responsive handling Sound system is high quality and sounds great Cons Doors rattle some when off road (not sure if its unique to me) Manual windows (?? Is this the 80s?) By all counts, this is a great truck. My only complaints are really cosmetic when compared to the reliability factor."

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My Titan is a great truck

By Titanlover 2010 (MA) on Friday, August 24, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 28,250

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: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

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

"I purchased a 2010 Titan SE King Cab new. I have owned a few trucks over the course of many years, but the Titan has been my favorite. I have almost 30K on it now and it has never been in for any service except oil changes and tire rotations. It is great in the winter, can pull my 20 ft boat with no issues and is comfortable to drive and ride in. I get looks all the time because Titans are not the normal pickup everyone drives. I love the agressive stance it has and it sounds bad when you start it because of the beefed up exhaust system growl. That still makes me smile. It gets only average mileage, but I installed a tonneau cover and a K & N intake and my mileage around town is about 15 or 16, not too bad for this 4X4 truck. If you buy a Titan, you won't be dissapointed. Since the design is older, it has been established and the bugs were worked out years ago. It is solid, reliable and honestly a blast to drive. I would buy it again. Also remember that Nissan will deal on selling these. I got over $7,000 off the sticker price. You can get one well below sticker."

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Nice truck for a 4WD, it pampers you!

By Jim (PA) on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 80,300

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Full-size pickup, nice interior appointments"

Cons: "Gas mileage so-so, louder than expected"

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

"Purchased as a work truck to take the place of a '91 Ford F-250. Big obvious difference in comfort, driveability, and style. Was slightly disappointed with overall gas mileage, approx. 14-15. I drive mostly in the city. Winter in Northwest PA pretty mild, so have not had much of a chance to test the 4WD unit. What little bit I did, I found it to be pretty seamless, being able to engage on the fly. Overall, a very nice truck."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Love the Truck !!

By chaseco (OH) on Friday, February 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 42,200

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

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

"ONLY complaint is the 14-16 MPG I get with it, but the fully loaded options and comfy drive makes up for it!!"

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Awsome Truck!!

By CHAZAM on Wednesday, February 01, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 107,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10

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

"Have had it for about 2 years now and have hardly had any issues with it. Tons of power, drives great! Only complaints are the interior isn't very comfortable and the truck is almost too light."

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See all 95 reviews