2020 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2020 Nissan Titan was described as handsomely generic, maintaining a stocky and masculine build. Despite its solid construction, it lacked the excitement and standout features found in 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 touch of flair. The interior of the lower-trim SV King Cab 4WD impressed with its improved materials, comfortable cloth seats, and a glossy 9-inch touchscreen, showcasing real quality.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular looks of the F-150 to the next level, appearing larger and more heavy-duty. The Super Duty's styling was functional, with long bed lengths for better cargo hauling and a tall ride height for improved ground clearance. The cabin varied from tight and utilitarian in the base XL trim to spacious and plush in higher trims like the Super Duty Limited, which featured leather and upscale finishes. The Super Duty's design was built for durability, with giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and robust bodywork.

The 2020 Nissan Titan featured a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque when running on premium gasoline. Paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission, the Titan delivered impressive acceleration and responsiveness. The Titan's towing capacity reached up to 9,370 pounds with the towing package, which included a tow mode, adjustable trailer braking, and extended side-view mirrors. 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, with standard double-pane front windows and an acoustic-laminated windshield for a quiet cabin.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains: a 6.2-liter V8 with 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a 7.3-liter V8 with 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine with 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Super Duty's towing capacity exceeded 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck setup, and the maximum payload capacity reached 4,060 pounds. The Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits and beefy tires for off-road capability. Fuel economy ratings were not available for heavy-duty trucks, but the Super Duty's performance was geared towards heavy hauling and towing.

The 2020 Nissan Titan offered a King Cab with a 6.5-foot bed and a Crew Cab with a 5.5-foot bed. The King Cab's double-hinged rear doors provided easy access, though rear passengers needed the front doors to open first. The Titan's interior was spacious, with six cupholders, air vents, power outlets, and USB ports for rear passengers. The optional cargo organizer and Utility package added practical features like lockable bins, a spray-on bed liner, LED lights, and a rail system for tie-downs. The bed also included a fold-down tailgate step and a 400-watt AC outlet.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a 40/20/40 folding bench setup in the front seats, with generous rear seats in Crew Cab and Super Cab models. The Super Duty's size made it challenging to maneuver in tight spaces, and its tall ride height and large doors could be cumbersome. However, the Super Duty's tailgate design included steps and a handle for easy bed access. The truck's interior was designed for utility, with options for heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches, and more.

The 2020 Nissan Titan's infotainment system featured an 8- or 9-inch touchscreen, with the 9-inch display offering higher resolution and modern functionality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with NissanConnect data services for emergency dialing, stolen vehicle alerts, and remote capabilities. The 7-inch color display in the instrument panel provided detailed information. Nissan Safety Shield 360 included front and rear automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and auto high beams.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty's Sync 3 infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use, with clearly labeled menus. The base XL trim had a non-touch display, while higher trims offered a larger touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Super Duty also featured a WiFi hotspot, upgraded audio systems, heated and ventilated seats, and adjustable upfitter switches. A rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks was available to quickly raise the cabin temperature.

The 2020 Nissan Titan had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS for 2020, but the 2019 Crew Cab scored 4 out of 5 stars overall. Nissan improved the body structure for better crash test ratings, and the Titan earned a Good rating in all six IIHS crash tests. Standard 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 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered various safety packages, including a trailer tow package with special camera views and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. Available safety features included blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision alerts. As a commercial vehicle, the Super Duty was not crash tested by NHTSA or IIHS.