2020 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

The 2020 Nissan Titan was described as handsomely generic, with a stocky and masculine build. Despite its solid construction, it lacked the excitement and standout features of competitors like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado. For 2020, Nissan introduced new exterior paints, wheels, and grille choices, along with restyled LED headlights and taillights. The Pro-4X trim added blacked-out Nissan badges with red lettering and red tow hooks for a sportier look. The interior of the lower-trim SV King Cab 4WD impressed with better materials, comfortable cloth seats, a 9-inch touchscreen, and a panoramic moonroof, showcasing real quality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing front-end design, likened to a vintage furnace or freight train, exuding machismo. The cabin, however, was more conventional and spacious, prioritizing quantity over quality. Trim levels ranged from the basic W/T to the luxurious High Country, each adding more features like USB ports, WiFi hotspots, leather upholstery, and advanced trailering systems. The High Country trim offered premium touches like heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose sound system, and a spray-in bed-liner, making it the Chevy equivalent to the GMC Sierra Denali HD.

The 2020 Nissan Titan featured a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This combination provided strong acceleration and improved low- and mid-range performance. The Titan could tow up to 9,370 pounds and carry a payload of 1,680 pounds with the towing package. The Titan XD variant, with reinforced frame and upgraded suspension, offered a towing capacity of 10,880 pounds and a payload of 2,450 pounds. The Titan's ride was composed, and it featured double-pane front windows and an acoustic-laminated windshield for a quieter cabin. Fuel economy averaged 16 mpg over a 500-mile week.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options: a standard 6.6-liter V8 with 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, and an optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 with 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine was paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, providing optimal performance. The Silverado 3500HD could tow up to 36,000 pounds with the right configuration and had a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds. The truck featured an automatically locking rear differential and advanced trailering systems, making it a powerful and capable vehicle for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2020 Nissan Titan was available in King Cab and Crew Cab configurations, with bed lengths of 6.5 feet and 5.5 feet, respectively. The King Cab's double-hinged rear doors allowed for easy access, though rear passengers had limited legroom compared to the Crew Cab. The Titan offered ample interior space, with features like a cargo organizer, smartphone holder, and multiple power outlets. The Utility package added a spray-on bed liner, LED lights, cargo hooks, and a rail system for tie-downs, enhancing the truck's functionality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came in regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed configurations. The crew cabs provided two rows of spacious seating with plenty of headroom and legroom. The Silverado featured integrated bed steps in the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side of the bed, making it easier to access the cargo area. These practical design elements made the Silverado a versatile and user-friendly truck.

The 2020 Nissan Titan's infotainment system was a significant upgrade, with an 8- or 9-inch touchscreen offering modern features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and NissanConnect data services. The 9-inch display was particularly impressive, with high resolution and intuitive controls. The Titan also included a 7-inch color display in the instrument panel and four USB ports, including a USB-C. Standard safety features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with front and rear automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and auto high beams.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims offering an 8-inch screen and navigation. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials for easy operation. The Silverado also featured advanced trailering systems, including multiple camera angles and a trailering app with a pre-trailering checklist. These features made the Silverado a technologically advanced and practical choice for towing and hauling.

The 2020 Nissan Titan had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS for 2020, but the 2019 Crew Cab scored well in crash tests. Nissan improved the body structure and added standard driver assists, two additional airbags, and more seatbelt pre-tensioners for 2020. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and 360-degree cameras. A rear-door alert was also standard.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and front- and side-impact airbags. Additional safety features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring were available as options. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also optional, providing extra safety for maneuvering the large truck.