2016 Titan XD Cummins- TFL

brulaz wrote:

IdaD wrote:

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I dunno - the gap between a half ton and a diesel HD truck is huge. I think there's plenty of room for a tweener like the XD to work out. Even if it isn't any faster than an Ecoboost, it still has a stouter chassis and driveline and should handle an 8-11k load better. Not like a big diesel of course, but again this thing is targeting that in-between niche.
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Trouble is, it's not really a "tweener". In terms of payload or tow capacity, it's more like a regular F150 or Chevy half-ton, just heavier and with a diesel engine.

They spend a lot of time talking about how smooth the ride is, how much better it is than the big trucks. That also makes it sound like a regular half-ton, where you have to stiffen the suspension to properly handle max loads.

Maybe they'll come up with a HD Payload option like the F150. Stiffer suspension, heftier axles and wheels. Now that would be interesting and make it a real "tweener".

On paper you're correct, but this thing weighs about a ton more than an F150 and has a stouter frame and drivetrain with considerably more torque. I'd expect better overall towing performance out of the XD despite similar ratings on paper.

That being said, one issue the XD will run into is that there probably won't be any monetary advantage to going with it over a bigger diesel aside from possibly lower fuel costs. Even a standard grade half ton, at least in the popular crew cab configurations, doesn't have much of a cost advantage over heavy duty trucks anymore (even diesel ones if you take it easy on options).