2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Nissan Titan

The 2021 Nissan Titan retained its refreshed 2020 look, 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 refresh also included new headlights with 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, LED fog lights, and four sources of LED light for the truck’s bed. The rear featured LED taillights and unique tailgate finishers, with the Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve having black and satin chrome finishers, respectively. 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 being particularly unique.

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

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 was known for its styling and upscale Denali trim level, which was comparable to owning a Mercedes in truck circles. The Sierra AT4, priced at $66,695 MSRP, was the off-road-ready version with a factory-installed 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension with Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, a two-speed Autotrac transfer case, and a locking rear differential. It also featured red front recovery hooks and body-color trim. The AT4 CarbonPro Edition Package included a CarbonPro carbon fiber composite cargo bed and a MultiPro Audio System for its six-position configurable tailgate. The black-on-black Sierra looked good but was difficult to keep clean. The interior featured caramel seat trim and stitching, metallic accents, and rubber floor mats with snap-in carpeted inserts. However, the cabin's design was industrial and dated, not matching the truck's high price tag.

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. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which performed well in low and high gears but struggled mid-range. The Titan offered good acceleration and smooth shifts but lacked engine start/stop functionality, impacting fuel efficiency. The Titan was available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The RWD model had a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds and a towing capacity of up to 9,310 pounds, while the 4WD model had a payload capacity of 1,680 pounds and a towing capacity of up to 9,260 pounds. The Titan Pro-4X featured off-road-centric equipment, including hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential, making it capable off-road. Every Titan had an off-road gauge displaying tire angle, relative pitch, and roll angles.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine for $995, producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which was adept at choosing gears and maintaining the engine's torque band. The Sierra's automatic four-wheel-drive system was easy to use and provided impressive traction in various weather conditions. The AT4's suspension handled tough terrain confidently and offered a comfortable ride on highways. The Sierra's fuel economy averaged 21.1 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's rating of 24 mpg combined. The Sierra AT4 had a towing capacity of 8,800 pounds and a payload rating of 1,810 pounds, with the Duramax diesel-equipped Sierra capable of towing up to 9,300 pounds and handling a payload of 2,150 pounds.

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

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 had large, supportive front seats with a range of power adjustments, heated and cooled cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were spacious and heated, with rear air conditioning vents and a power sliding rear window. High-clearance side rails and the innovative six-position Multipro tailgate made accessing the truck easier. The CarbonPro Edition option package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed, saving 60 pounds of curb weight and improving durability. The Sierra's bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, with up to 12 cargo tie-downs. However, the cab's storage space was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups, with smaller or narrower compartments.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest standard-sized screen in its class. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and satellite radio. Available features 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 truck's WiFi hot spot supported up to seven devices. The screen's graphics were not as modern as competitors, but the interface was responsive. A 7-inch programmable information display was standard. The NissanConnect system offered a concierge service with 24-hour live assistants. The Titan's 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 GMC Sierra 1500 came with numerous camera-based technologies, including a reversing camera, surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. The optional Technology Package 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 display. The system included large volume and tuning knobs, physical menu shortcut buttons, and excellent voice recognition technology. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system were standard. The Sierra AT4's Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as competitors' audio systems. The truck's 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and 115-volt in-dash electrical outlet were useful during power outages.

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 backed the Titan with a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the best truck warranty in America.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered optional forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were standard on the Denali trim and optional on other trims. Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat were available depending on the trim level. Adaptive cruise control was optional for the Sierra SLT, AT4, and Denali. The Sierra's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "Marginal" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility. The Sierra's headlights received a "Poor" rating.