2022 Nissan Titan vs 2021 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 was a truck that stood out for its styling and the upscale Denali trim level. In truck circles, owning a “Denali” was akin to having a Mercedes, offering a sense of prestige. Even if one didn’t opt for the Denali’s chrome-heavy look, other variants could be optioned to reach similar high price points. The Sierra AT4, for instance, was an off-road-ready version priced at $66,695 MSRP, featuring a factory-installed 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension, and unique design details like red front recovery hooks and body-color trim. The AT4 CarbonPro Edition Package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed and a MultiPro Audio System for its six-position configurable tailgate.

The 2022 Nissan Titan, on the other hand, was a relative newcomer in the full-size truck market but held its own with a rugged yet elegant exterior. It featured strong lines and an expressive face without unnecessary details, giving it an assertive stance and first-rate fit and finish. Inside, the Titan continued this theme with clean lines, excellent material selection, and a spacious, airy cabin. The optional moonroof package further enhanced the cabin’s roominess, making it a pleasant place to be. The Titan’s design was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, making it a strong contender in the full-size truck segment.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered an affordable Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine, priced at just $995. This engine produced 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque starting at just 1,500 rpm. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine provided smooth and efficient power delivery. The Sierra’s automatic four-wheel-drive system was easy to use, and during testing, it maintained impressive traction in various weather conditions, averaging 21.1 mpg. The AT4’s suspension handled tough terrain with ease, making it a versatile truck for both off-road adventures and daily commutes. The Sierra’s towing capacity was up to 9,300 pounds, with a payload rating of 2,150 pounds.

The 2022 Nissan Titan, in contrast, came with 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, providing plenty of thrust and a throaty engine note. The Titan’s fuel economy was estimated at 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway for RWD models and slightly lower for 4WD models. The Pro-4X model, designed for off-road use, featured a two-speed transfer case, electronically locking rear differential, and Bilstein off-road shocks. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Titan was also a comfortable daily driver, with a towing capacity of 9,310 pounds and a payload rating of 1,710 pounds.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with large, supportive front seats covered in durable leather. Both front seats had power adjustments, heated and cooled cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were also heated, and the truck featured high-clearance side rails and a six-position Multipro tailgate for easy access to the cargo bed. The CarbonPro Edition package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed, increasing the payload rating by 59 pounds. The Sierra’s bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, making it highly accommodating. However, the interior storage space was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came in two body styles: King Cab and Crew Cab, both with two rows of seating. The King Cab had rear-hinged clamshell doors and a 60/40-split bench seat with 24.8 inches of legroom, while the Crew Cab offered 38.5 inches of legroom and full front-hinged doors. The Titan’s bed length varied between the two body styles, with the King Cab offering a 78.7-inch bed and the Crew Cab a 67-inch bed. The Titan featured a Utili-track Channel system for flexible cargo management and optional Titan Boxes for additional storage. The tailgate was well-balanced and easy to operate, though it lacked the advanced features found in some competitors.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 came equipped with numerous camera-based technologies, including a surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. These features were part of the optional Technology Package, which also included a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display. The Sierra’s infotainment system offered a choice between a 7-inch and an 8-inch touchscreen display, with the test truck featuring the 8-inch version. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as some competitors’ audio systems.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured an upgraded infotainment system with an 8-inch center display screen as standard and a 9-inch touchscreen interface as an available upgrade. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth connectivity, and two USB ports. The standard audio system had six speakers, while the upgrade system offered a Fender-branded 12-speaker setup with a subwoofer. NissanConnect with navigation was available on SV models and standard on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims, offering a 9-inch touchscreen, over-the-air map updates, and online POI search. The Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims also included Nissan voice recognition.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered several safety features, but many were optional rather than standard. Forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking were available, as were blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat were also available depending on the trim level. Adaptive cruise control was an option for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. The Sierra’s crash-test ratings were less than stellar, with a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Marginal" ratings from the IIHS for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which 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 intelligent forward collision warning and eight airbags. The Titan received top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" rating for the small overlap front: passenger-side test. The Titan’s front crash prevention tech earned "Superior" ratings, though the standard halogen headlights received a "Poor" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Titan at the time of writing.