2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2020 Nissan Titan

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty had received some subtle yet significant updates. Keen Ford enthusiasts could spot the differences, such as the front bumper featuring more black painted areas and less chrome. The massive grille had been redesigned to be less gaudy, and the headlights were sleeker due to the altered grille shape. This resulted in a truck that exhibited styling restraint without a complete overhaul.

Ford offered the F-250 in various trims: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited. The appearance varied significantly based on the trim. The XL had a black grille, black bumpers, and 17-inch steel wheels. The XLT added brightwork to the grille and bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels, and corner signals on the side mirrors. The Lariat included fog lights, different 18-inch wheels, and power-telescoping side mirrors.

The King Ranch featured a unique two-tone paint job, chrome-accented running boards, and a remote-release tailgate. The Platinum trim added 20-inch alloy wheels, a unique front bumper with LED fog lights, and power-retractable running boards. The Limited trim upped the luxury feel with a satin-chrome grille.

Ford also offered the Tremor package on XLT-and-up trims, which included a dark grille, dark wheels, and off-road tires, along with upgraded off-road gear.

Inside, the F-250 had a function-first cabin with a logical layout and plenty of storage. However, it felt cold and mechanical due to the abundance of hard plastics. The base XL model came with air conditioning, vinyl upholstery, steering-wheel audio controls, two USB ports, and a 2.3-inch in-dash screen. The XLT added cloth seating, power doors and locks, a five-speaker stereo, satellite radio, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system.

The Lariat trim included 10-way power-adjustable front seats and leather upholstery for the front seats. The King Ranch featured a unique saddle leather interior with voice-activated navigation, heated-and-cooled front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Platinum trim came with ambient cabin lighting and massaging seats, while the Limited featured a twin-panel moonroof.

The 2020 Nissan Titan was described as handsomely generic, with a stocky and masculine build. For 2020, Nissan added new exterior paints, wheels, and three grille choices. The lower trims had a black grille with a body-color surround, the upper trims had an all-chrome grille, and the off-road Pro-4X had a gray grille with red accents. New LED headlights and taillights added a modern touch.

The SV King Cab 4WD model had a plain exterior but a much-improved interior. The materials were better, with a soft upper dash, door panels, and a leather steering wheel. The cloth seats had a diamond-stitch pattern and were comfortable. The new 9-inch touchscreen and larger instrument panel display added a modern feel. The panoramic moonroof was a welcome addition.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came standard with a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford also offered a 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 with 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. A new 7.3-liter gas V8 was introduced, making 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The gas engines were paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel V8 had a six-speed automatic. The F-250 could tow up to 30,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 10-speed automatic transmission managed power well, providing surprising low-to-mid-range acceleration. However, the suspension was stiff, resulting in a bumpy ride when not loaded down. The FX4 off-road package added upgraded shocks, skid plates, and Trail Control. The Tremor off-road package included 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, a 2-inch lift, and rock crawl driving mode.

The 2020 Nissan Titan featured a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium gasoline. It was paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission, providing excellent low- and mid-range acceleration. The Titan could tow up to 9,370 pounds and had a payload capacity of 1,680 pounds with the towing package. The package included tow mode, adjustable trailer braking, and extended side-view mirrors.

The Titan's steering was not as connected as the Ram 1500's, and the ride was not as smooth, but it remained composed on its independent front axle and rear leaf springs. The Titan XD, a tweener truck, had a reinforced frame, longer wheelbase, and upgraded suspension, rear axle, and brakes. It could tow up to 10,880 pounds and had a payload capacity of 2,450 pounds.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, extended SuperCab, and full four-door Crew Cab configurations. It offered 6-foot-9-inch and 8-foot bed sizes. The cabin was spacious and functional, with deep cup holders and cubbies. The center console was massive, and the rear seats on the SuperCrew and Crew Cab folded up to reveal a load floor for large items.

The 2020 Nissan Titan was available in King Cab with a 6.5-foot bed and Crew Cab with a 5.5-foot bed. The King Cab's double-hinged rear doors could lock at 90 degrees or fold back 180 degrees, providing a completely open area for cargo or people. The rear passengers had six cupholders, air vents, two power outlets, and two USB ports. Heated rear seats were optional.

Nissan's optional cargo organizer on the rear floor had lockable bins and a hinged top that could fold out to create a flat parcel shelf. The center console had a new smartphone holder and a removable cupholder tray. The Utility package included a factory spray-on liner, LED lights, cargo hooks, a rail system with removable cleats, a fold-down tailgate step, and a 400-watt AC outlet.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base XL model came with four speakers, an AM/FM/MP3 radio unit, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C port. The XLT added SiriusXM satellite radio, an additional USB-C port, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect was standard across the lineup, providing a WiFi hotspot and remote vehicle control via a smartphone app.

The 2020 Nissan Titan's new infotainment system featured an 8- or 9-inch touchscreen. The 9-inch display was quicker and higher in resolution, with modern and intuitive controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard with the 9-inch screen. NissanConnect data services included automatic emergency dialing, stolen vehicle alerts, and remote capabilities. The 7-inch color display in the instrument panel provided detailed information.

The Titan also offered a 485-watt Fender stereo with 10 or 12 speakers, including a subwoofer. The standard stereo was adequate, and the truck had four USB ports, including one USB-C. Nissan Safety Shield 360 was standard, providing front and rear automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and auto high beams.

The 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty came with standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, trailer sway control, hill start assist, and AdvanceTrac traction control with roll stability control. Optional features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Other options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. The F-250 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2020 Nissan Titan had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS. The 2019 Crew Cab scored 4 out of 5 stars, with top rankings for side impact. The Titan had improved body structure and standard driver assists, earning a higher rating. Adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and 360-degree cameras were optional. A rear-door alert was standard.