Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Nissan's 2016 Titan gets a 5.6-liter gasoline V8 option

Stephen Edelstein
By

2016 Nissan Titan XD
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When the 2016 Nissan Titan was unveiled earlier this year, the big news was the 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V8 available in the XD model. Diesels aren’t very common in half-ton trucks, and Nissan and Cummins still hope this configuration will help distinguish the Titan in a cutthroat segment.

But no modern truck worth its tow hitch is offered with just one engine option. So alongside the diesel, Nissan will offer a more conventional 5.6-liter gasoline V8 in its overhauled pickup. Built in Tennessee, this second engine will become available next spring.

Recommended Videos

The gasoline V8 should look familiar to owners of the previous-generation Titan, as it shares displacement and other characteristics with the sole engine offered in that truck. But for 2016 it gets a significant bump in power, producing 390 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, compared to the 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of the previous version. That’s thanks in part to direct injection, and a higher compression ratio.

Related

Nissan will pair the 5.6-liter V8 with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V8 gets a six-speed automatic. That engine, by the way, produces 310 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque, and could return better fuel economy. Buyers will have to decide exactly what they want from their trucks when choosing between gasoline and diesel: the gas engine will probably be better at highway cruising, but the diesel’s torque and presumed fuel efficiency might make it a more practical choice.

Of course, pricing will also be a major factor, and Nissan won’t discuss that until closer to the gasoline engine’s launch next year. Nissan plans to offer the Titan with three cab configurations, two frame sizes, and three powertrain options. That means there’s still one more engine yet to be revealed. Most manufacturers offer a smaller V6 engine in base models, so perhaps Nissan will go that route too.

The availability of a wider variety of powertrain and body configurations will likely be as important to the Titan’s success as any specific feature, including the pair of V8 engines. Sales kick off this month with the diesel Titan XD crew cab.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Modern cars are a privacy nightmare, and there’s no way to opt out
Elon Musk smirks while pointing.

Cars are changing, and quickly. Electric cars are on the rise, and at the same time, manufacturers are pushing autonomous driving technologies -- even if we're still a while away from actual self-driving cars. But there are other aspects about cars that are changing too -- the fact that they're becoming increasingly connected, and increasingly computer-controlled. And, with all the data that cars can collect, privacy is becoming increasingly important.

Turns out, however, cars aren't that great at preserving your privacy. In fact, they're terrible at it.

Read more
The state of EV chargers in the U.S. right now: We have a long way to go
What a future Mercedes-Benz EV charging hub might look like.

Charging is changing in the U.S. -- and quickly. Tesla has all but won the war for the standard charging connector, meaning that charging will likely get a whole lot more convenient in the near future. But on top of that, charging networks are also expanding -- with the likes of Mercedes-Benz jumping in on the action.

Earlier this year, Mercedes announced that it would be building charging stations in partnership with MN8 Energy. More recently, it shared that it was finally planning on opening up the first of these stations in October.

Read more
The fastest electric cars, ranked by 0-60 mph acceleration
porsche taycan electric car acceleration test on aircraft carrier deck prototype

Electric vehicles benefit from instant torque, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're quick.

The more affordable electric cars, like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, are zippy around town, but nothing to brag about on a drag strip. However, higher-end models like the ones we're looking at here can keep up with some of the most powerful gasoline-burning sports cars in the world -- and in many cases beat them.

Read more