2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing exterior design, with a front end and grille that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. It was a vehicle that exuded machismo, appealing to those who wanted a rugged and imposing truck. Inside, the cabin was more conventional, prioritizing quantity over quality. Despite not having the best fit and finish, the spacious interior, comparable to a living room, made up for it. The Silverado 3500HD was available in various trims, including W/T, LT, LTZ, and High Country, each offering a range of features from basic vinyl seat trim and a 7-inch touchscreen to luxurious leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a Bose premium sound system.

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed look from 2020, offering three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels, each with distinct interior and exterior designs. The base models, Titan S and SV, featured dark grilles, while the SL had a bright chrome grille, and the Platinum Reserve boasted a satin chrome one. The Pro-4X stood out with a black grille and lava-red accents. The Titan's headlights provided significantly more light output than previous models, and the truck bed featured multiple LED lights for better visibility. The Titan was available in eight exterior colors, with the Pro-4X's Baja Storm color being particularly unique. Inside, the Titan's center stack was modernized with a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim, though the steering wheel design felt dated.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 delivered 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 pound-feet of torque, mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both engines could be configured with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The diesel engine, in particular, provided excellent pickup and optimal performance. The Silverado 3500HD had a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds, making it a powerhouse for heavy-duty tasks. The LTZ trim featured an advanced trailering system with an app for monitoring trailer functions and a trailering checklist.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came with a single powertrain option—a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. This engine required premium fuel to achieve those numbers and was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Titan offered good acceleration and smooth shifts, though it struggled mid-range. It lacked engine start/stop functionality, which affected fuel efficiency but avoided the hassle of restarting at red lights. The Titan was available in RWD and 4WD, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The Titan's towing capacity was up to 9,310 pounds for RWD models and 9,260 pounds for 4WD models, with a payload capacity of up to 1,680 pounds. The Pro-4X trim featured off-road-centric equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in various configurations, including regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs offered two rows of spacious seating with ample 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 vehicle.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, accommodating five or six passengers. The Titan's front and rear outboard seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for enhanced comfort. Heated and cooled front seats were available, though petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan provided ample seating space and storage, including a large center console and a smartphone holder. Available features included a panoramic moonroof, power-sliding rear window, and easy-to-reach grab handles. The Titan's interior also featured folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks under the rear seat cushions for added convenience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with upgraded trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and navigation in the High Country trim. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons, dials, and a home button. The Silverado offered numerous trailering features, including backup camera guidelines and multiple camera angles for trailering, as well as a trailering app with a pre-trailering checklist and status updates.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio. Available upgrades included navigation, HD Radio, additional USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear window, remote start, and a household-style power outlet. The Titan's WiFi hotspot could connect up to seven devices simultaneously. The infotainment system was responsive, though its graphics were less modern than competitors. The Titan also had a 7-inch programmable information display and an available Fender Premium Audio System with up to 12 speakers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Additional safety features, such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, were available at an extra cost. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also optional, providing valuable assistance given the truck's size.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additional safety features included forward-collision warning, parking sensors, an Around View Monitor camera system, adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and rear door alert. Nissan backed the Titan with a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best truck warranty in America.