2021 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed look from 2020, offering three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels, each with distinct interior and exterior designs. The base model Titan S and Titan SV featured dark grilles, while the Titan SL had a bright chrome grille, and the Titan Platinum Reserve boasted a satin chrome one. The Titan Pro-4X stood out with a black grille and lava-red script logo, complemented by lava red tow hooks. The truck's new headlights provided 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, and available LED fog lights improved visibility by 15 percent. The bed featured four LED light sources, a Utili-track Bed Channel System, and a spray-in bedliner, making it practical for various uses. The Titan came in eight exterior colors, with the brown Baja Storm color being particularly unique and attractive.

Inside, the Titan received significant upgrades, including a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim, making the center stack modern and attractive. The upholstery and seat design were on par with GMC and Chevrolet products, a notable improvement over the Toyota Tundra. However, the steering wheel's design and small buttons felt dated. The Titan XD, a separate model with different powertrain options, was not covered in this review.

Ford's Super Duty trucks 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. That 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 could range 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 those in many luxury cars.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was equipped with a single powertrain option—a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. However, premium fuel was required to achieve these numbers. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that performed well in low and high gears but struggled mid-range. Despite this, shifts were smooth and steady, and acceleration was strong off the line. The Titan lacked engine start/stop functionality, which affected fuel efficiency but spared drivers the hassle of the powertrain restarting at red lights.

The Titan offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The 4WD model performed slightly worse in the city, getting 15 mpg compared to the RWD's 16 mpg, but both achieved 21 mpg on the highway. The Titan's fuel economy was better than the Toyota Tundra but less efficient than some Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ford F-150 models. The Titan's steering was traditional, with plenty of play in the wheel, and its ride quality was average for the class. RWD versions could haul up to 1,600 pounds, while 4WD models had a 1,680-pound payload capacity. Properly equipped Titans could tow up to 9,310 pounds for RWD models and 9,260 pounds for 4WD trucks. The Titan Pro-4X featured off-road-centric equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential, making it capable off-road.

Ford offered three powertrains in the 2021 Super Duty line. 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 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was the most powerful, rated at 475 hp and 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 with four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity specs were impressive, extending to 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could reach over 36,000 pounds for models with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain.

With options, the Super Duty could become a capable off-roader. Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling. The EPA did not require fuel-economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks or commercial vehicles, so the Super Duty trucks didn't have an official number in that arena. However, mpg levels were expected to drop considerably during towing or while hauling heavy loads.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, allowing the truck to seat five or six. The Titan's front and rear outboard seats had Nissan's Zero Gravity design, ensuring comfort for long journeys. Heated and cooled front seats were available, warming up quickly, and heated front and rear seats were available with either cloth or leather-appointed upholstery. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan offered ample seating space for adults in both the front and rear, and the center console provided plenty of storage space. A small hold in the console was designed for smartphones, allowing for easy visibility and charging. The Titan also offered a panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window, adding to the truck's appeal. Easy-to-reach grab handles, folding rear seatbacks, and bag hooks under the rear seat cushions were thoughtful additions to the interior layout.

Despite being built with a focus on hardcore utility, Ford's Super Duty trucks 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 more at home on job sites than cruising tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, and 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. Ford's heavy-duty pickups also offered a clever tailgate design with optional steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed, though it wasn't as elaborate as the tailgate functions on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest standard-sized screen in its class. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio were standard. Navigation, HD Radio, two additional USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-sliding rear window, remote start, and a household-style power outlet were available. The truck's WiFi hotspot allowed up to seven devices to be connected simultaneously, though a subscription to a third-party service was required. The screen's graphics were not as modern as those in other trucks like the F-150 and Ram 1500, but the interface was responsive to touch commands. A 7-inch programmable information display in front of the driver was larger than what was found in much of the Titan's competition. Trucks equipped with NissanConnect also got Nissan Concierge, providing access to live assistants 24 hours a day. The Titan's traditional six-speaker audio system could be upgraded to a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers on Crew Cab models and 10 on King Cab Titans, featuring a 485-watt nine-channel amplifier.

Ford's Sync 3 was one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use infotainment systems on the market. Menus were clearly labeled and did not require several taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use daily. The base XL trim got a non-touch display as standard, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trim levels. The system ran 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 more. Ford also offered a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks that could quickly raise the cabin temperature before the engine warmed enough to provide heat.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety and driver-assist technology that included 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 had forward-collision warning and parking sensors and was available with an Around View Monitor camera system, adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and rear door alert. Nissan backed each Titan with a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best truck warranty in America, featuring basic and powertrain coverage.

Trucks were hit or miss with safety features, and the same was true for Super Duty models. Ford offered a variety of packages and options for different scenarios. A trailer tow package was available, bringing special camera views and Ford's excellent Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alerts, and more were all available. Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash-tested in the same way as light-duty trucks like the Ford F-150. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not issued scores for the trucks.