2016 popular pickup truck models offer hi-tech upgrades

Year in and year out, some of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. are pickup trucks and for 2016, some popular models are offering hi-tech upgrades.

Nissan is no stranger to pickup trucks, and they've even done a full-size one before, but the new 2016 Titan is Nissan getting more serious about things.

Yes, there was a previous Titan that came out about 12 years ago. Though full-sized and with V8 power, it never did become a big seller in the ultra-competitive truck market.

This time, they're launching the new Titan XD exclusively with a Cummins turbo-diesel engine, still a rarity in a light-duty truck. The V8 diesel really helps the Titan's spec sheet.

The torque rating is 555 lb-ft, which is what buyers who plan on towing really look for. Maximum towing capacity is a healthy 12,000 pounds, and maximum cargo capacity is 2000 pounds. Base price for the diesel Titan XD 4-door is $40,290, however, there will be much less expensive versions of the truck coming along later in the year.

As for styling, several people I showed the new Titan to remarked that it looks a lot like the Ford F-150. That could be a coincidence, but if Nissan is aiming high with their new truck, the Ford F-series is a good place to aim. It's consistently the best-selling pickup in the country.

As for the other competition, Chevrolet is upping its game a bit too in 2016, adding an upper trim package called High Country to its Silverado models, and throwing in some new optional technology. Apple CarPlay to link your iPhone, and a phone charging mat on the center console are just two examples.

The year 2016 is a very good year to be in the market for a new pickup truck as competition is not only bringing new choices in trucks but some new driving aids too.

As one example, Ford came up with an option called Pro Trailer Backup Assist for the F-150. It lets you simply turn a knob on the dash in the direction you want the trailer to go, and the system does the rest, automatically steering the truck to turn the trailer. For people who don't tow very often and find backing a challenge, the $395 price of Pro Trailer Backup Assist could be well worth it.