2022 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular looks of the F-150 midsize pickup to the next level. Larger in every way, Super Duty models truly looked like heavy-duty trucks. This styling wasn't just for show, as Super Duty trucks carried many upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the trucks' tall ride height gave them better ground clearance for climbing over tough terrain or navigating a messy job site. The trucks featured giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and bodywork that could stand up to taking a beating on a daily basis. Depending on the cab configuration, the Super Duty's cabin ranged from tight and utilitarian to spacious and plush. The base XL trim offered good headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims got simple cloth upholstery, but higher trims, such as the Super Duty Limited, could be decked out with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled the quality of many luxury cars.

The 2022 Nissan Titan, despite being a relative newcomer to the full-size truck market, boasted a rugged yet elegant exterior with strong lines and an expressive face. It had an assertive stance and nice proportions, complemented by first-rate fit and finish. Inside, the Titan continued the theme with clean lines, no clutter, excellent material selection, and build quality. The cabin was airy and spacious, with many cup and bottle holders. The optional moonroof package further enhanced the cabin’s feeling of roominess. The Titan's interior was designed to be both functional and comfortable, making it a strong contender in the full-size truck market.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was available, producing 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful option was the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, rated at 475 hp and an impressive 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) but could be upgraded to four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity reached up to 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could exceed 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain. Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling for off-road capabilities. The EPA did not require fuel-economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks, so the Super Duty trucks didn't have an official number in that arena.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured a 5.6-liter gasoline V8 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission across all models. This engine produced 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. RWD was standard on the S, SV, and Platinum Reserve models, while 4WD was standard on the Pro-4X off-road model and available on other trims. Fuel economy for the RWD models was estimated at 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 mpg combined, while 4WD models rated at 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 mpg combined. The Pro-4X slipped to 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway/17 mpg combined. All Titan models used a fully boxed, full-length ladder frame, with an independent double-wishbone front suspension and leaf springs in the rear. Stabilizer bars were standard front and back, along with four-wheel disc brakes. The Pro-4X model included a two-speed transfer case with high- and low-range, an electronically locking rear differential, 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, and Bilstein off-road monotube shocks. The Titan had a maximum towing capacity of 9,310 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,710 pounds.

Despite being built with a focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing a comfortable armrest with cupholders for the driver and front passenger. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors. However, the Super Duty trucks were much more at home on job sites than cruising tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, while their large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a challenge. From behind the steering wheel, the F-250's flat hood and towing height could make it feel like driving a bulldozer. Loading child seats and entering the truck could be difficult, even with running boards. The trucks also offered a clever tailgate design that could be optioned with steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came in two body styles: King Cab and Crew Cab, both with two rows of seating. Titan S base models featured a 40/20/40-split-folding front bench seat with manual adjustment. The middle “20” section doubled as an armrest with dual cupholders and concealed storage. Other trim levels came with dual power-adjustable bucket seats in the front separated by a center console. Access to the King Cab’s second row was via rear-hinged clamshell doors, with legroom at 24.8 inches. The Crew Cab offered an SUV-like second row with 38.5 inches of legroom and full front-hinged doors. An available flat-floor function added tie-down hooks and storage boxes with removable dividers and lockable lids. King Cab models had a 78.7-inch bed, while Crew Cab models had a 67-inch bed. Both body styles shared a 139.8-inch wheelbase and 228.2-inch overall length. The Titan featured a nicely damped tailgate with available electronic locking, which could be opened and closed with one hand.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Menus were clearly labeled and did not require several taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use. The base XL trim had a non-touch display as standard, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trim levels. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims got upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches for accessories, and a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks.

The 2022 Nissan Titan received an upgrade to Nissan’s latest infotainment system for the 2021 model year. An 8-inch center display screen was standard, while a 9-inch touchscreen interface was an available upgrade. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a standard WiFi hotspot that could accommodate up to seven devices. NissanConnect, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, audio streaming, and a hands-free text-messaging assistant were also standard. The standard audio system included display audio, SiriusXM satellite radio capability, AM/FM with RDS, MP3/WMA playback, speed-sensitive volume control, and six speakers. The upgrade system was a Fender-branded 12-speaker setup with a subwoofer. NissanConnect with navigation was available as an upgrade on SV models and standard on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve. It included a 9-inch touchscreen interface, Nissan door-to-door navigation with 3D building graphics, over-the-air map updates, and online POI search. Subscription-based SiriusXM Traffic, SiriusXM TravelLink, and TomTom Weather were also included.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many were available as added-cost upgrades or on higher trims. A trailer tow package was available, bringing special camera views and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision alerts were all available. However, Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash-tested in the same way as light-duty trucks. Therefore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not issued scores for the trucks.

The 2022 Nissan Titan made safety a priority with its standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 driver-assist package. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Titan also featured standard intelligent forward collision warning, which used radar technology to detect the distance between the two vehicles ahead and their relative speed. Eight airbags were standard, including dual-stage front, driver and front-passenger knee, roof-mounted curtain side-impact, and front seat-mounted side-impact. The Titan received top “Good” ratings from the IIHS in all but the “small overlap front: passenger-side” crash test, where it received an “Acceptable” rating. The Titan also earned “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention tech. However, the standard halogen reflector headlights on the S and SV trims received a “Poor” rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Nissan Titan, but the 2020 model year received four out of five stars for overall safety.