2021 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2021 Nissan Titan preserved the bold design introduced in its 2020 overhaul. Buyers had a choice between three King Cab trims and five Crew Cab models, each with a distinctive interior and exterior design identity. The base Titan S and the Titan SV showcased dark grilles, while the Titan SL sported a bright chrome grille and the Platinum Reserve a satin chrome one. The rugged Pro-4X model featured a black grille adorned with the old Nissan logo in lava-red script. The Pro-4X also boasted lava red tow hooks for an additional rugged flair. Nissan introduced new headlights in the refresh, significantly improving light output by 120% compared to the 2019 model. The LED fog lights added another 15% in visibility. The truck bed had four sources of LED light, making nighttime loading a breeze, complemented by unique tailgate finishers for each trim. The bed options included a 5.5-foot bed for Crew Cab models and a 6.5-foot bed for King Cab variants, equipped with the Utili-track Bed Channel System, offering the most bed rails in its class for superior utility. Inside, the 2021 Titan's center stack received a modern upgrade with a large infotainment screen and elegant piano-black plastic trim. The truck’s upholstery and seat designs stood out, potentially rivaling the interiors of GMC and Chevrolet models. However, the Titan's steering wheel, with its small buttons and outdated design, was a stark contrast, appearing a decade older than its competitors. For exterior color options, Nissan offered eight choices, including the standout Baja Storm on the Pro-4X model. Overall, the Titan blended bold design with functional updates, making it a visually appealing and practical truck. Comparatively, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered three cab styles with three bed lengths across eight trim levels, each with distinctive looks. The test model, an LTZ Crew Cab with a short bed, showcased a commanding presence with its Northsky Blue paint, chrome trim, and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. However, the Silverado’s interior design felt outdated with glossy plastics, large panel joints, and small infotainment screens that lacked finesse. Despite the wide, flat supportive seats with 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, the interior failed to impart a sense of modern quality. The overall impression was that of a functional but dated cabin, falling short of the expectation set by its imposing exterior.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a single powertrain—a robust 5.6-liter V8 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class for a standard powertrain. This engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth and steady shifts. Despite lacking engine start/stop functionality, the Titan offered solid acceleration and a decent driving experience, with an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined for both RWD and 4WD models. The Titan’s towing capacity was notable, with RWD models capable of hauling up to 9,310 pounds and 4WD versions up to 9,260 pounds. Payload capacity reached 1,600 pounds for RWD models and 1,680 pounds for 4WD models. The Titan’s off-road capabilities were enhanced by the Pro-4X model’s specialized equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential. The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 provided a range of engine options. The standout was the 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine, valued at $995. This engine delivered impressive fuel economy, averaging 22.6 mpg in combined driving and offering 460 pound-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm. However, its 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm paled compared to the 420 hp of the 6.2-liter V8. The Silverado’s towing capacity varied significantly, with the Duramax diesel capable of towing up to 9,500 pounds (9,100 pounds with 4WD). The maximum towing capacity with the 6.2-liter V8 reached 13,300 pounds. Payload capacities also varied, with the highest available being 2,280 pounds with the turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Chevy’s 10-speed automatic transmission paired well with the Duramax, providing smooth and seamless acceleration. The Silverado’s Z71 Off-Road Package, including Rancho twin-tube shock absorbers, improved handling and ride quality, especially over rough terrain.

The 2021 Nissan Titan could accommodate five or six passengers, depending on the seating configuration. The front and rear outboard seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for long-term comfort. Heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats were options, but petite adults might struggle to find an ideal driving position. The Titan’s storage space was practical, with ample room in the center console and specific holders for smartphones. Optional features included a panoramic moonroof and a power-sliding rear window. The Titan also had easy-to-reach grab handles and thoughtful interior designs like folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks. In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered a spacious cabin, especially in the crew cab configuration. The Silverado was equipped with supportive front seats with 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat provided ample headroom and legroom, accommodating three adults comfortably. However, the lack of power running boards made ingress and egress challenging. Storage solutions in the Silverado included dual dashboard glove compartments and built-in storage areas within the rear seat cushions. However, the areas were smaller compared to competitors, and some missed opportunities for additional storage innovation were noted. For cargo, Chevrolet claimed the Silverado had the deepest and roomiest bed among competitors, with the added benefit of the CornerStep rear bumper and up to 12 tie-down hooks. The optional Multi-Flex tailgate offered six configurations, although our test truck only featured a remote power tailgate.

The 2021 Nissan Titan provided a standout technology offering with a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio. Upgrades included navigation, HD Radio, additional USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The Titan’s WiFi hotspot supported up to seven devices simultaneously, though a third-party service subscription was required. While the infotainment screen was large and quick to respond, its graphics were less sophisticated than those found in competitors like the F-150 and Ram 1500. The 7-inch programmable information display was larger than most rivals, and the 12-speaker Fender Premium Audio System available on Crew Cab models provided premium sound quality. The inclusion of NissanConnect and the Nissan Concierge service added a layer of convenience and connectivity. Chevrolet's Infotainment System 3 in the 2021 Silverado 1500, while competent, lagged behind its competitors in screen size, with standard 7-inch and 8-inch displays. However, the system was responsive, and the 8-inch HD display provided modern and pleasing graphics. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the availability of a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The LTZ model featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, enhanced voice recognition, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. However, the Bose system didn’t deliver the expected premium auditory experience. The Silverado also offered an available head-up display and an optional rear camera mirror. Comprehensive trailering technologies and a multitude of cameras around the truck enhanced towing and visibility, but overall, Chevy’s technology didn’t quite match up to the competition.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additionally, the Titan offered forward-collision warning, parking sensors, and an available Around View Monitor camera system. With adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and rear door alert, the Titan provided a robust safety package. Nissan’s five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty underscored their confidence in the Titan’s reliability. In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 had mixed crash-test results. The IIHS rated the Silverado “Marginal” for front passenger protection in a small-overlap, frontal-impact collision. NHTSA’s overall four-star rating and specific four-star frontal-impact results were also underwhelming. Chevrolet’s safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional options included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a Safety Alert Seat.