2021 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

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 truck's new headlights provided 120 percent more light output than the 2019 model, and available LED fog lights added 15 percent more visibility. The bed had four LED light sources, and the rear featured 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. The Titan came in eight exterior colors, with the brown Baja Storm color being particularly unique. Inside, the Titan boasted a modern center stack with a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim. The truck's upholstery and seat design were competitive with GMC and Chevrolet, though the steering wheel design felt dated.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline underwent a redesign forward of the windshield and front doors, featuring a new rear bumper with exposed dual exhaust outlets. The tires had a more aggressive shoulder tread, and new wheel designs debuted in black, dark gray, and bronze. The HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille design, and bold stickers on the cargo bed. The Ridgeline came in Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition trim levels, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920, excluding a $1,175 destination charge. Every Ridgeline had a 280-horsepower V6 engine, standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, a nine-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch aluminum wheels, triple-zone automatic climate control, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport trim featured cloth seats in black with a subtle pattern, while higher trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, a power sunroof, and a sliding rear window. The Ridgeline's interior emphasized functionality, with generous storage and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, making it the best-in-class standard powertrain. The 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, though it lacked engine start/stop functionality, impacting fuel efficiency. The Titan was available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. 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. Every Titan had an off-road gauge displaying tire angle, relative pitch, and roll angles.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured a 280-horsepower V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Honda's all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) was standard, capable of directing up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel. Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) provided Snow, Sand, and Mud settings, though the Ridgeline was not designed for rock-crawling. With 7.64 inches of ground clearance, the Ridgeline excelled on flat terrain. The Ridgeline's unibody architecture, independent rear suspension, and torque-vectoring AWD made it remarkably athletic and enjoyable to drive. The Ridgeline's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, with a competitive payload rating of 1,583 pounds. Honda modified the chassis and components for truck service, and the Ridgeline handled various off-road conditions with ease during testing. However, it was essential to be mindful of the Ridgeline's limitations when exploring the wilderness.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, seating five or six passengers. 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 either cloth or leather-appointed 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, enhancing the cabin experience. The Titan's interior featured easy-to-reach grab handles, folding rear seatbacks, and bag hooks under the rear seat cushions.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline's Sport trim offered manually-adjustable front seats with inboard armrests, providing support and height adjustment for the driver. The rear seat was the roomiest in the class, and standard triple-zone automatic climate control added to the comfort. Higher trims included leather seats, heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a power sunroof, and a sliding rear window. The Ridgeline's interior emphasized utility, with a large center storage console, shelves in the front door panels, slots in the dashboard and back of the center console, and various bins throughout. The composite cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant, with tie-down hooks rated for 350 pounds each. Higher trims included a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and an in-bed audio system. The bed held 33.9 cubic feet of cargo, with minimal wheel well intrusion. The dual-action tailgate and 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk added to the Ridgeline's functionality.

The 2021 Nissan Titan featured a standard 9.0-inch WXGA resolution infotainment touchscreen, the largest standard-sized screen 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 Titan's WiFi hotspot supported up to seven devices, though a subscription was required. The 7-inch programmable information display in front of the driver was larger than many competitors. Trucks equipped with NissanConnect also had access to Nissan Concierge, providing live assistant services 24/7. The audio system could be upgraded to a Fender Premium Audio System with 12 speakers on Crew Cab models and 10 on King Cab Titans.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system also featured a seven-speaker sound system, text-messaging capability, basic HondaLink connected services, and a couple of USB charging ports. Higher trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, voice recognition, traffic information, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The Sport trim test truck did not include these upgrades, but Apple CarPlay allowed for easy music streaming and navigation. The Ridgeline's technology offerings were more limited compared to some competitors, maintaining a refreshingly analog feel.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including 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 Honda Ridgeline featured Honda Sensing as standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. While these features were mostly helpful, they were not fail-proof, as demonstrated during a test drive where the adaptive cruise control misidentified an obstacle. The Ridgeline also included a multi-angle reversing camera, with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning standard on all but the Sport trim. Top trims featured automatic high-beam headlights. Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) crashworthiness standards ensured maximum crash energy absorption and deflection, earning high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS for the previous model year.