2021 Jeep Gladiator 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, and available LED fog lights for improved visibility. The truck bed featured four LED light sources, a Utili-track Bed Channel System, and a spray-in bedliner. The Titan was available in eight exterior colors, with the brown Baja Storm color 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 comparable to GMC and Chevrolet products, and 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 model with different powertrain options, was not covered in this review.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, derived from the Wrangler, featured a stretched and fortified frame for serious towing and hauling, along with a 5-foot cargo bed designed to maintain a good departure angle. The Gladiator's appearance was unique, with a tall, long, and narrow body that took some getting used to. However, driving the Gladiator, especially off-road, was a joy. The new Willys special edition added a blacked-out grille, limited-slip rear differential, rock rails, and 32-inch all-terrain tires to the Sport or Sport S trims. The 80th Anniversary Edition and High Altitude luxury model introduced special badges, finishes, and premium Nappa leather.

Pricing for the Gladiator started at $33,545 for the Sport trim with a manual transmission and basic features. The test truck, equipped with Overland trim and a new turbo-diesel engine, had an MSRP of $58,525. The interior of the test truck was well-appointed with heated front seats, leather upholstery, and top-tier infotainment and sound systems. Despite its luxurious touches, the Gladiator remained a rugged vehicle designed for off-road adventures, with durable materials throughout the cabin. The interior closely resembled the Wrangler's, with modifications to the rear seating area and various Jeep Easter eggs adding to the unique experience.

The 2021 Nissan Titan was powered by 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, the shifts were smooth and steady, and acceleration was strong for a truck. The Titan lacked engine start/stop functionality, which affected fuel efficiency but eliminated the hassle of the powertrain restarting at red lights.

The Titan was available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations, 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. 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, making it feel like a truck rather than a sedan. The ride quality was average for the class, with the Ram 1500 offering a smoother ride when equipped with air suspension.

RWD Titans 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. Trailer sway control was standard, and a trailer brake controller was available. The Titan Pro-4X featured off-road-centric equipment like hill-descent control and an electronic locking rear differential, making it capable off-road. Every Titan had an off-road gauge displaying tire angle, pitch, and roll angles using accelerometer data.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator introduced a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine option, costing an additional $4,000. This engine produced 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm, offering substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy than the standard 3.6-liter gasoline V6. During testing, the diesel engine averaged 22.6 mpg on a mountainous loop, slightly below the EPA's estimated 24 mpg combined. In comparison, the standard V6 returned 20.3 mpg during a previous test drive.

A Gladiator Sport with the standard engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, and 4.10 axle ratio could tow up to 7,650 pounds and haul up to 1,700 pounds with a six-speed manual transmission. The turbo-diesel powertrain couldn't match these figures due to engine-cooling restrictions but could still tow 6,000-6,500 pounds and had a similar payload capacity to other Gladiator models. The diesel engine excelled in off-road conditions, providing ample torque at low speeds and making the Gladiator Rubicon trim highly capable on challenging trails.

On paved roads, the diesel-powered Gladiator exhibited the same characteristics as the gasoline version, with slow and sloppy steering, a stiff and jouncy ride, and noticeable wind noise on the freeway. However, the turbo-diesel engine added to the truck's charm, providing loads of low-end grunt and a characteristic clatter.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, allowing the truck to seat five or six passengers. The front and rear outboard seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design for long-distance comfort. Heated and cooled front seats were available, as well as heated front and rear seats with either cloth or leather-appointed upholstery. However, petite adults might struggle to find a comfortable driving position due to the seat and pedal arrangement.

The Titan provided ample seating space for adults in both the front and rear, though some pickups offered more legroom. The center console had plenty of storage space, including a covered compartment large enough for a handbag or snacks, and a small hold designed for smartphones. An available panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window added 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.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator prioritized utility over comfort. The seats offered proper support, but the small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom required some adjustment. Side steps or rails, mounted high to preserve breakover angle, made entry and exit more challenging and could dirty your clothing if muddy.

In-cabin storage included netting on the door panels, a small center console bin, cupholders, a dash-top tray, and an undersized glove compartment. A locking and removable storage bin under the rear seat was also available. The Gladiator's 5-foot steel cargo box held 35.5 cubic feet of cargo and featured multiple tie-down hooks, an adjustable tailgate, and an available spray-in bedliner. Payload ratings ranged from 1,075 to 1,535 pounds, depending on trim level, engine, and transmission.

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 WiFi hotspot allowed up to seven devices to connect simultaneously, though a subscription 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 those in many competitors. Trucks equipped with NissanConnect also had access to Nissan Concierge, a 24-hour live assistant service. 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, featuring a 485-watt nine-channel amplifier.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while inherently old school, offered modern technology. The standard FCA Uconnect 3 setup with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth, voice text reply for Android devices, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The optional Uconnect 4 system with a 7-inch touchscreen, standard on Sport S trim, added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-shelf Uconnect 4C system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and navigation, included SiriusXM Guardian connected services, an Alpine premium sound system, and an Amazon Alexa skill.

The Uconnect 4C system was user-friendly, with large volume and tuning knobs, but the underlying technology was aging, resulting in slow system load and response times. Voice recognition technology required specific prompts. For 2021, Jeep offered a forward-facing Trail Cam with the Overland trim level, which was useful for off-road adventures, helping drivers navigate obstacles.

The 2021 Nissan Titan came standard 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 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 Jeep Gladiator, in standard specification, included a reversing camera but few other safety systems. Depending on the trim level and equipment, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams were available. The test truck had all these features, with adaptive cruise control working well on the freeway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating with the standard gasoline engine and a three-star rollover resistance rating.