2021 GMC Canyon vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 GMC Canyon, a second-generation model, had been around since 2015 after a two-year hiatus. It received its first refresh in 2021, featuring an enlarged grille and revised front bumper to align more closely with its full-size sibling, the GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely remained the same truck, which was less of an issue in the midsize pickup market where competitors like the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma were also aging. The cabin of the Canyon, while functional with a sensible layout, was criticized for its use of hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish. The trims ranged from the base Elevation Standard to the off-road-inspired AT4 and the luxurious Denali, each offering varying levels of features and comfort.

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its looks from the 2020 refresh and was available in three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels. Each trim had its own distinct grille design, with the Pro-4X featuring a black grille with lava-red script. The Titan's refresh included new headlights with significantly improved light output and available LED fog lights. The truck bed featured multiple LED light sources, a Utili-track Bed Channel System, and a spray-in bedliner. The interior saw a significant upgrade with a modern center stack, large infotainment screen, and attractive upholstery. However, the steering wheel design was dated. The Titan XD, a separate model, was not covered in this review.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. An optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the AT4 and Denali trims, delivered 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was also available, offering 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Canyon's base engine struggled with performance, making the V6 a necessary upgrade for better power. The AT4 trim, equipped with the V6 and 4WD, performed confidently off-road and maintained good on-road manners. The Canyon's towing capacity reached up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine, and it had a payload capacity of 1,605 pounds.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was powered by a single powertrain option—a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine was the best-in-class standard powertrain, though it required premium fuel to achieve those numbers. The Titan offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined for both. The Titan's ride quality was average, with traditional truck steering and a few bumps passed along the road. The RWD Titan could haul up to 1,600 pounds, while the 4WD model had a 1,680-pound payload capacity. Towing capacity reached up to 9,310 pounds for RWD models and 9,260 pounds for 4WD trucks. The Pro-4X trim featured off-road-centric equipment, making it capable off-road.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab had rear-hinged half-doors and small second-row jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab offered more usable rear-seat space with four full doors. The Canyon had a commanding driving position, though seat adjustment was awkward. Storage space included a center console, center stack, and small door trays. The truck bed came in two sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box, with the Extended Cab only available with the long box. The Canyon featured GM’s CornerStep rear bumper and an optional EZ lift-and-lower tailgate with remote power locking.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, seating five or six passengers. The Titan's Zero Gravity seats provided comfort for long drives, with heated and cooled front seats available. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan had ample seating space for adults in both the front and rear, with plenty of storage space in the center console. The truck offered an available panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window. Easy-to-reach grab handles, folding rear seatbacks, and bag hooks under the rear seat cushions added to the interior's functionality.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the latest GMC infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system featured crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with hard buttons and dials for convenience. An optional 8-inch screen was available on the Elevation and AT4 trims and standard on the Denali, which also included navigation, HD radio, and a wireless charging pad. The Denali featured a 4.2-inch color driver display in the instrument panel, operated via a directional pad on the steering wheel.

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 supported up to seven devices. The truck also had a 7-inch programmable information display and an available Fender Premium Audio System with up to 12 speakers.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came with standard safety features such as a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system. The optional Driver Alert package included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert, standard on the Denali trim. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included 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 offered a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best in its class.