Not far from where the Soberanos Fire ravaged parts of Monterey County, Calif., in late July, Nissan hosted automotive journalists to a three-day ride-and-drive event in Carmel Valley to experience several of the automaker’s 2017 model-year vehicles. Featured at the event were the latest incarnations of the TITAN and TITAN XD.

Nissan’s Adventure Drive was hosted at and around the Carmel Valley Ranch resort, and while the fire was apparent during the event’s duration (clouds of smoke and drifting ash, aerial firefighting, etc.), the experience went without a hitch.

Getting Under the Hood

Before test driving the new TITAN vehicles, the media were invited by Nissan to a presentation that went over everything new about the TITAN and TITAN XD lineup, highlighting the significant changes for MY-17 over the previous generation.

The automaker detailed the 5.6L Endurance V-8 gasoline for the ½-ton TITAN, which offers 390 hp, 394 lb.-ft. of torque and 7-speed automatic transmission. It features 15/21/18 mpg (city/hwy/comb), an improvement over the 12/17/14 mpg of the MY-15 TITAN (previous generation ½-ton truck).

Nissan also detailed the TITAN XD’s available 5.0L V-8 Cummins turbo diesel engine.

The entire Titan lineup is available in five trims — S, SV, SL, PRO-4X, and Platinum Reserve — and now the TITAN “family” covers 85% of the truck segment.

Also unveiled at the event was the single cab version of the TITAN and TITAN XD. The single crew cab TITAN offers a standard 8-foot bed and a max payload of 1,930 pounds, with max towing at 9,730 pounds. Meanwhile, the single cab V8 TITAN XD offers a max payload of 2,910 pounds and a max towing capability at 11,590 pounds, while the diesel variant has a max payload of 2,420 pounds and max towing at 12,640 pounds. The single cab models will be available in the fall.

Meanwhile, the single cab V8 TITAN XD offers a max payload of 2,910 pounds and a max towing capability at 11,590 pounds, while the diesel variant has a max payload of 2,420 pounds and max towing at 12,640 pounds. The single cab models will be available in the fall.

Testing the TITAN

The TITAN ride-and-drive experience began with a test of the PRO-4X model. The off-roading variant of the lineup traversed a rugged course on a hilltop at the resort, which overlooked Carmel’s rolling hills (which would occasionally offer a view of an active firefighting helicopter). The dirt track, which was surrounded by brush, included steep dirt mounds that tested the vehicle’s ability to maneuver itself through varying levels of elevation.

Highlighted in the course was the vehicle’s hill descent control, which allows the driver the ability to maintain crawl speed down a grade/hill. Also highlighted was Nissan’s Around View Monitor, which provides the driver with a 360-degree view both backing up, and moving forward.

New interior features for the crew cab TITAN were detailed during this portion. This included an overview of the crew cab’s second-row seats, which fold down to provide a flat space for working. The seat bottoms also flip upwards to reveal a full storage unit which goes under both seats. Other features of interest were a small hook that is made available when the seat is folded up, which can be used to hold bags.

Following the off-roading experience, TITAN crew cabs were made available for a test drive through Carmel and along the coast of Monterey Bay. Nissan also revealed at the event that it will offer a five-year or 100,000-mile limited warranty on its line of 2017 TITAN and TITAN XD pickups.

Also featured at the Adventure Drive were the MY-17 Armada and Pathfinder, which were also available to test drive.