2022 Nissan Titan vs 2021 GMC Canyon

The second-generation GMC Canyon had been around for a while, debuting as a 2015 model after a two-year hiatus. This break was likely a good reset, considering the first-generation truck's lackluster performance. The Canyon received its first refresh after six years, which included an enlarged grille and a revised front bumper, aligning it more closely with its full-size sibling, the GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely remained the same truck, which could have been a disadvantage in the competitive full-size truck market. However, in the midsize pickup segment, it faced older rivals like the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma, making its age less of an issue.

Inside, the Canyon's cabin didn't feel as outdated as it could have, thanks to a design similar to the larger Sierra. The interior prioritized function with a sensible layout for controls, though this meant the quality of materials came second. Hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish were prevalent, but this was less of an issue in the midsize truck market. The Canyon's interior was handsome and mainly useful, with trims ranging from the base Elevation Standard to the off-road-inspired AT4 and the luxurious Denali.

The 2022 Nissan Titan, on the other hand, had a rugged yet elegant exterior with strong lines and an expressive face. It lacked unnecessary details, presenting an assertive stance and nice proportions with first-rate fit and finish. Inside, the Titan continued this theme with clean lines, excellent material selection, and build quality. The cabin was airy and spacious, further enhanced by an optional moonroof package that included a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and a power sliding rear window.

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 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, a 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was available, offering 181 hp and a robust 369 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic transmission. The Canyon's base engine struggled to move the truck efficiently, making the V6 a more viable option, though it still required aggressive throttle input for lively performance. The Duramax engine had potential but was limited by its six-speed transmission.

The Canyon AT4, equipped with the gas V6 and 4WD, featured an automatic locking rear differential and hill-descent control for off-roading. It performed confidently on trails without compromising on-road driving manners. The Canyon's towing capacity reached up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine, tying with the Chevy Colorado for best-in-class towing. Its payload capacity was 1,605 pounds, above average for the segment.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured a 5.6-liter gasoline V8 engine across all models, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. RWD was standard on the S, SV, and Platinum Reserve models, while 4WD was standard on the Pro-4X and available on other trims. Fuel economy for RWD models was estimated at 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 mpg combined, with 4WD models slightly lower. The Pro-4X model, with its off-road features, had a fuel economy of 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway/17 mpg combined.

The Titan's fully boxed, full-length ladder frame, independent double-wishbone front suspension, and leaf springs in the rear contributed to its solid performance. The Pro-4X model, with its 4WD system, electronically locking rear differential, and Bilstein off-road shocks, handled off-road conditions well while maintaining a comfortable on-road experience. The Titan's towing capacity was 9,310 pounds, and its payload capacity was 1,710 pounds, making it a strong contender for those needing substantial towing and hauling capabilities.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab featured rear-hinged half-doors and small, second-row jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab, with four full doors, offered more usable rear-seat space. The Canyon's driving position was commanding, though seat adjustment was somewhat awkward. Storage space included a center console, center stack below the climate controls, and small trays and cupholders in the doors.

The Canyon offered two bed sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box. The Extended Cab came only with the long box, while the Crew Cab offered both options. The Canyon featured GM's CornerStep rear bumper for easy bed access and an available EZ lift-and-lower tailgate to prevent slamming and extend its usable life.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came in King Cab and Crew Cab body styles, both with two rows of seating. The Titan S base model featured a 40/20/40-split-folding front bench seat with manual adjustment, while higher trims had dual power-adjustable bucket seats separated by a center console. The King Cab's second row, accessed via rear-hinged clamshell doors, had tight legroom at 24.8 inches but was useful for occasional seating or cargo. The Crew Cab offered a more spacious second row with 38.5 inches of legroom and full front-hinged doors.

The Titan's bed sizes were 78.7 inches (6 feet, 6.7 inches) for the King Cab and 67 inches (5 feet, 7 inches) for the Crew Cab. Both body styles shared a 139.8-inch wheelbase and 228.2-inch overall length. The Titan featured four fixed tie-down hooks and an available Utili-track Channel system for additional tie-down options. The Titan's tailgate was nicely damped with available electronic locking, making it easy to open and close with one hand.

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 had crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with helpful hard buttons and dials below the screen. 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 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, with a 9-inch touchscreen interface available as an upgrade. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a WiFi hotspot for 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 SiriusXM satellite radio capability, AM/FM with RDS, MP3/WMA playback, speed-sensitive volume control, and six speakers. Higher trims featured a Fender-branded 12-speaker system with a subwoofer.

NissanConnect with navigation was available on SV models and standard on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims. 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. Voice recognition was available on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system, which allowed owners to limit speed and volume settings for secondary drivers. The Driver Alert package, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert, was standard on the Denali and optional on other trims. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance for easier towing.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, including 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 had standard intelligent forward collision warning, which detected the distance between the two vehicles ahead and their relative speed, providing a warning to help avoid a collision. Eight airbags were standard, including dual-stage front, driver and front-passenger knee, roof-mounted curtain side-impact, and front seat-mounted side-impact airbags.

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. It earned "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention tech, both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian. 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 Titan, but the 2020 model received four out of five stars for overall safety.