2021 Ford Ranger vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed look from 2020, offering three King Cab grades and five Crew Cab trim levels. Each of the five grades—S, SL, SV, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve—had 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 sported 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 Titan's new headlights provided 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, and available LED fog lights added 15 percent more visibility. The truck bed featured four LED light sources, and the rear had LED taillights with unique tailgate finishers. Crew Cab models had a 5.5-foot bed, while King Cab models had a 6.5-foot bed, both equipped with a Utili-track Bed Channel System, spray-in bedliner, 100-volt power outlet, and damped tailgate. The Titan was available in eight exterior colors, with the brown Baja Storm color being particularly unique. Inside, the Titan received a significant upgrade with a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim, though the steering wheel design felt dated.

Ford sold the 2021 Ranger in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with SuperCabs having a six-foot cargo bed and SuperCrews a five-foot bed. Trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by the same turbo four-cylinder engine and 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The SuperCrew Lariat configuration with the Tremor Off-Road Package featured unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, red grille accents, tow hooks, off-road side steps, and "Tremor" graphics. Inside, the Lariat trim combined with Tremor's simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches made it the best-equipped Ranger. The cabin had a clean and contemporary design with simple controls, partial digital instrumentation, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and quality switchgear. Hard plastic was prevalent but didn't feel cheap.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came 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. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Titan offered smooth shifts and strong acceleration. However, it lacked engine start/stop functionality, impacting fuel efficiency. The Titan was available in RWD or 4WD, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The RWD model had a payload capacity of up to 1,600 pounds and a towing capacity of 9,310 pounds, while the 4WD model could haul 1,680 pounds and tow 9,260 pounds. The Titan Pro-4X featured off-road-centric equipment like hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential. Every Titan had an off-road gauge displaying tire angle, pitch, and roll angles.

The 2021 Ford Ranger featured a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Ranger's 4WD system allowed switching between 2-Hi, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo using a rotary dial. The Tremor Off-Road Package included a Terrain Management System with various settings, an electronic locking rear differential, and Trail Control. The Ranger Tremor had a new off-road suspension with revised springs and Fox shocks, providing 9.7 inches of ground clearance. The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds, though the Tremor's payload capacity was reduced to 1,430 pounds. The EPA rated the Tremor at 19 mpg combined. The Ranger offered swift acceleration and a refined driving experience, with the Tremor's suspension providing a comfortable ride on and off-road.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, seating five or six. The front and rear outboard seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for comfort on long journeys. Heated and cooled front seats were available, as were heated front and rear seats with cloth or leather upholstery. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position. The Titan provided ample seating space for adults and generous storage in the center console. A panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window were available, along with easy-to-reach grab handles and thoughtful interior features like folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor had sturdy hoop-style step bars, though their high mounting limited usefulness for shorter people and posed a challenge for taller individuals. The test truck included SecuriCode for keyless entry, though it appeared glued onto the doors, which sounded tinny when shut. The Ranger Tremor's eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat were comfortable and heated, though the driver's seat needed more travel for taller individuals. Rear-seat space was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, but the lack of rear air conditioning vents and a power-operated sliding rear window were drawbacks. Storage was decent, though the rear-seat cushion lifted as a single piece, making access to storage bins inconvenient. The tailgate was undampened but lightweight, and the cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) with four tie-down hooks.

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 WiFi hotspot supported up to seven devices. The screen's graphics were less modern than competitors, but the interface was responsive. A 7-inch programmable information display was standard. NissanConnect-equipped trucks included Nissan Concierge for 24/7 live assistance. The audio system could be upgraded to a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers on Crew Cab models and 10 on King Cab models.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen display. It included voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. Navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system were also included. While Ford was transitioning to Sync 4, Sync 3 remained competitive. Voice recognition was hit-or-miss, sometimes providing incorrect responses. The climate system was integrated with Sync 3, allowing temperature adjustments via voice commands.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came standard 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 the industry.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The blind-spot warning system included trailer coverage. Adaptive cruise control was standard on Lariat trim but lacked full-stop capability. The Ranger also featured rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and a wiper de-icer system. Front and rear parking sensors were available. The Ranger received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS gave it top scores except for "Acceptable" front-passenger protection and "Marginal" headlights.