2022 Toyota Tacoma 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 the 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 delivered 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, 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 significant upgrades, including a modern center stack with a large infotainment screen and piano-black plastic trim. The truck's upholstery and seat design were comparable to GMC and Chevrolet products, and a notable improvement over the Toyota Tundra. However, the steering wheel's 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma, despite its 2020 facelift, showed signs of aging, especially in the cabin. The exterior looked contemporary with an aggressive grille and headlights, but the interior had a mix of new and old elements, including hard plastics and outdated switchgear. The Tacoma was available in six trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. The base SR trim included 16-inch steel wheels, a Class IV tow-hitch receiver, a manually sliding rear window, air conditioning, manual seats, USB ports, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The SR5 added fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen. The TRD Sport featured 17-inch alloy wheels, a TRD-tuned sport suspension, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped shift knob, wireless device charging, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The TRD Off-Road had 16-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, a trail-oriented suspension with Bilstein shocks, and a locking rear differential. The Limited trim included 18-inch polished aluminum alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, navigation, heated front seats, and a power moonroof. The range-topping TRD Pro came with unique exterior styling, underbody skid plates, LED fog lights, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a TRD sport exhaust.

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 required premium fuel to achieve those numbers and was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The transmission 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) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations, both achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The RWD model had a payload capacity of up to 1,600 pounds, while the 4WD model could haul up to 1,680 pounds. Properly equipped, the Titan 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma offered a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, which was underpowered and did not offer significant fuel economy advantages. The optional 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, was recommended for better performance. The Tacoma had a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,685 pounds when properly equipped. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with TRD models also offering a six-speed manual transmission. The V6 engine provided decent acceleration around town but struggled at highway speeds due to the transmission's gearing. The TRD Pro excelled off-road, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control, which operated the brakes and throttle at low speeds. The TRD Pro also had a multi-terrain monitor for added trail views.

The 2021 Nissan Titan offered a front bench seat as standard, with bucket seats available, accommodating 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 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. The Titan provided ample seating space for adults in both the front and rear, with sufficient legroom. The center console offered plenty of storage space, including a small hold for smartphones. The Titan also featured an available panoramic moonroof and power-sliding rear window, along with easy-to-reach grab handles and thoughtful interior layout elements like folding rear seatbacks and bag hooks.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma was available in Access Cab and Double Cab body styles, with a five-foot bed and a six-foot-one-inch bed. The Access Cab had clamshell rear half-doors and seating for four, with rear jump seats best suited for children or short trips. The Double Cab had four full doors and seating for up to five, but rear-seat legroom was still tight. The front seats provided ample legroom, but the tilt/telescoping steering wheel did not extend far enough for taller drivers. The Tacoma's cab offered plenty of cupholders and storage, and the bed featured in-bed lighting and a power outlet.

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 Titan's WiFi hotspot could connect up to seven devices, though a subscription was required. The screen's graphics were not as modern as those in other trucks, but the interface was responsive. A 7-inch programmable information display was standard. The Titan also offered NissanConnect with Nissan Concierge, providing access to live assistants 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 models.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma's base infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, with an 8-inch touchscreen available on all trims except the base SR. The system had a basic layout with large icons, making it easy to use. Apple CarPlay integration was straightforward, though the tuning and volume dials were undersized. The Tacoma also featured a wireless device charger, which required manual activation. Advanced tech features were limited, but the trail camera was a useful addition for off-road enthusiasts.

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

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The backup camera was standard but had a grainy image. The 2022 Tacoma received a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four-star scores in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests.