2020 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Toyota Tundra

The 2020 Nissan Titan had a rugged and masculine appearance, although it was often regarded as conservatively styled. Its exterior design included new paints, wheels, and three grille choices that ranged from black with body-color surround on the lower trims to all chrome on the upper trims. The Pro-4X trim featured a sporty gray finish with red accents. For the rear, the Titan offered tailgates that echoed grille styles, with chrome on the Platinum Reserve and matte gray for the Pro-4X. A notable design cue was the embossed "T" logos on the tailgates. The Titan also featured new LED headlights and restyled LED taillights that added a modern touch.

The interior of the Titan, especially at the lower trims, showcased considerable improvements in material quality. My SV King Cab 4WD test unit had a more impressive interior than anticipated, featuring comfortable cloth seats with diamond-stitch patterns, a 9-inch touchscreen with glossy finish, and a larger instrument panel display. While the halogen headlights on the test model were dim and somewhat uninspiring, the overall interior felt like a leap in quality. Adding a panoramic moonroof to this ensemble gave the cabin a spacious and airy feel.

For the 2021 Toyota Tundra, its design showed traces of its mid-2000s origin, resulting in an awkward look with its massive grille and disproportionately small headlights. The SR5 CrewMax trim we tested came in a "Cement" paint color, with blacked-out wheels and badges adding a touch of modernity. Despite these efforts, the cabin was considered dated. Hard plastics dominated the dash, but the layout was user-friendly with all controls within easy reach.

The trim levels for the Tundra included SR, SR5, Limited, TRD Pro, Platinum, and the 1794 Edition. Each trim offered various improvements—from the basic features of the SR like manual climate control and halogen headlights, to the Limited’s 20-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery. Special editions like the TRD Pro and Nightshade Edition brought unique styling touches that enhanced the truck’s aesthetic appeal.

The 2020 Nissan Titan was equipped with a robust 5.6-liter V8 engine that delivered 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. This was an increase of 10 hp and 19 lb-ft from the 2017 model. The Titan's new 9-speed automatic transmission improved its low- and mid-range acceleration. It covered hauling and towing needs effectively, offering a payload capacity of 1,680 pounds and a towing capacity of 9,370 pounds when fitted with the towing package. This package also introduced features like a tow mode for the transmission and adjustable trailer braking. The Titan's handling, while not as smooth as a Ram 1500, remained composed, thanks to its independent front axle and rear leaf springs.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra came with a standard I-Force 5.7-liter V8 engine that produced 391 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a towing capacity of 10,200 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,730 pounds. The Tundra's acceleration was consistent and confident across various driving scenarios, even though it lagged behind newer trucks with more advanced transmissions in terms of fuel efficiency. The Tundra's ride quality was comfortable and compliant over various surfaces, making it ideal for highway cruising.

The 2020 Nissan Titan offered a choice of King Cab and Crew Cab configurations, the latter providing full-size doors and a 5.5-foot bed. The King Cab, with its double-hinged doors, was convenient for loading cargo or passengers. The interior provided ample space for backseat passengers, including six cupholders, air vents, and multiple power outlets and USB ports. Optional heated rear seats and a cargo organizer added to the truck's versatility. The Utility package enhanced the Titan's bed functionality by adding features like a spray-on liner, LED lights, and a rail system for tie-downs.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra presented two cab sizes and three bed sizes. The Double Cab and CrewMax configurations provided flexibility in terms of passenger and cargo space. The CrewMax, in particular, was spacious, offering more legroom than first class on an airliner. The rear seats could fold up, creating a protected cargo area. Our test truck featured optional in-bed storage lockers, though these were not as useful as the RamBox system. The front seats offered plenty of space and a large center console with various storage compartments. The optional power rear window was a unique feature, providing clean sight lines and additional ventilation.

The 2020 Nissan Titan featured a significantly upgraded infotainment system. The choice between an 8- or 9-inch touchscreen replaced the outdated displays of previous models. The 9-inch display was particularly impressive, offering high resolution and responsive touch controls. Standard features on the 9-inch screen included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and NissanConnect data services, which brought emergency dialing, stolen vehicle alerts, and remote capabilities. A 485-watt Fender stereo system was available on higher trims, offering up to 12 speakers. The Titan also boasted four USB ports, including a USB-C, and a 7-inch color display in the instrument panel. Standard safety features under Nissan Safety Shield 360 included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning.

For 2021, the Toyota Tundra's infotainment system remained an updated highlight. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a choice between a 7-inch or an optional 8-inch touchscreen with navigation. The system was user-friendly, with easy-to-operate controls and redundant hard buttons. Multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot trial were also included. The Tundra offered a six-speaker stereo as standard, while higher trims featured additional speakers and an available JBL premium audio system with 12 speakers.

The 2020 Nissan Titan had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS at the time. However, the 2019 Crew Cab scored 4 out of 5 stars overall, with top marks in side impact tests. After improvements to the body structure, the Titan Crew Cab earned Good ratings in all six IIHS crash tests. The King Cab received Good ratings in four tests but had not been fully evaluated. New safety features included more airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and 360-degree cameras. A standard rear-door alert was a thoughtful addition.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra came standard with Toyota Safety Sense P, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. These features set a high standard for safety in trucks. Optional features included front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Tundra was also equipped with eight airbags and additional safety features like a tire pressure monitoring system, trailer sway control, and an integrated trailer brake controller.