2022 Nissan Titan vs 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2022 Nissan Titan had to vie for attention in a market dominated by Ford, General Motors, and Dodge (later Ram), with Toyota's Tundra also enjoying a loyal following since its debut. The original Titan, launched in 2004, underwent minimal changes until 2015, which was longer than what was typical for domestic-brand trucks. The redesigned version appeared for the 2016 model year and received updates in 2020 and 2021, remaining unchanged in 2022.

In terms of aesthetics, the Titan was every bit as good-looking as its competitors. It boasted a rugged yet sophisticated exterior with strong lines and an expressive front fascia. The design was straightforward without unnecessary embellishments, presenting an assertive stance and well-proportioned structure that supported its exceptional fit and finish.

Stepping inside the Titan, the refined theme continued. The interior featured clean lines and an uncluttered layout with high-quality materials. It also offered numerous cup and bottle holders and an airy cabin thanks to its generous proportions. The test vehicle even featured an optional moonroof package, enhancing the cabin's roominess with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and a power sliding rear window to improve airflow.

Conversely, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 showcased a mixed bag in terms of exterior design. Chevy trucks have traditionally included iconic elements like the split-bar grille from the 1990s and the well-regarded 2015 redesign. However, opinions were divided on the current generation's styling, particularly the small headlights flanked by jutting body panels, which drew mixed reviews. While some saw it as aggressive and in line with Chevy's contemporary design language, others viewed it as overcompensation.

Exterior visuals could be enhanced with various appearance packages, such as the Rally Edition, Midnight Edition, and Redline Edition, adding extra flair. However, the real charm of the Silverado lay inside. The cabin was pragmatically designed with controls that fell easily to hand. The interior varied significantly by trim, with the WT and Custom trims retaining the pre-2022 facelift design, featuring more utilitarian control layouts. Higher trims like the LT featured a modern, high-tech dashboard centered around a large, intuitive touchscreen.

The WT trim offered vinyl upholstery, bench front seating, and a basic 7-inch infotainment screen, whereas higher trims provided significant upgrades. For instance, the LT trim included a fully digital instrument panel and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Trail Boss off-road version added four-wheel drive and rugged features, while the LTZ trim was rich in creature comforts like leather upholstery and a power-operated tailgate. The high-end High Country trim was a luxury-level pickup with amenities such as heated and ventilated front seats.

The 2022 Nissan Titan stuck with a proven powertrain across all models, featuring a 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine boasted variable valve timing and direct gasoline injection, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive came standard on the S, SV, and Platinum Reserve models, with four-wheel drive standard on the Pro-4X off-road model and optional on other trims.

Fuel efficiency for the Titan’s RWD models was rated at 16 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. The 4WD models had a slightly lower rating of 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined, while the Pro-4X achieved 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. The Titan’s underpinnings included a fully boxed, full-length ladder frame, independent front suspension, rear leaf springs, and standard stabilizer bars front and back.

Our test vehicle, a fully equipped 2022 Titan Pro-4X, featured a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges, an electronically locking rear differential, 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, and Bilstein off-road monotube shocks. Despite its off-road prowess and nearly 10 inches of ground clearance, the Titan excelled on pavement with a V8 engine delivering linear power. It handled well in curves and remained composed even with an empty bed, making it a good daily driver or family vehicle.

In terms of capability, the Titan could be equipped with an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer sway control, tow/haul mode, and a trailer light check system. Its maximum towing capacity was 9,310 pounds, and the maximum payload was 1,710 pounds. If you needed to tow or haul more than that, upgrading to the Titan XD or a heavier-duty truck would be advisable.

On the other hand, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered a variety of engines starting with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The optional 5.3-liter V8 generated 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, while the more powerful 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. There was also a six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine that produced 305 hp and 495 lb-ft.

Rear-wheel drive was standard, with 4WD optional. The base four-cylinder used an eight-speed automatic transmission, while other engines utilized a 10-speed automatic. Equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 and Max Towing package, the Silverado 1500 could tow up to 13,300 pounds, with the smaller V8 towing up to 11,000 pounds. The maximum payload capacity was 2,260 pounds for the base four-cylinder with RWD.

Our Trail Boss tester featured the turbo-four, which delivered satisfying power and good pickup from a standstill despite some mechanical noise. The eight-speed automatic was generally smooth, though the 10-speed might pair better with this engine. The V8 engines were strong performers, particularly the larger 6.2-liter V8, paired with a refined 10-speed automatic transmission capable of seamless gear shifts.

The Silverado 1500 handled well for its size, with a smooth ride comparable to an SUV, although not quite matching the Ram 1500's ride quality. The steering, while not overly communicative, was precise, and the truck's off-road capabilities, especially in Trail Boss and ZR2 trims, were impressive. The Silverado could handle rugged trails and farm work with ease.

The 2022 Nissan Titan came in two body styles: King Cab and Crew Cab, both featuring two rows of seating. The base Titan S had a 40/20/40-split front bench seat with manual adjustment, where the middle section could fold to create an armrest with cupholders and storage. Higher trims offered dual power-adjustable bucket seats with a center console.

The King Cab provided rear-hinged clamshell doors for second-row access, featuring a 60/40-split bench seat with tight legroom at 24.8 inches. This setup was ideal for occasional use or lockable cargo hauling. The Crew Cab, on the other hand, offered an SUV-like second row with 38.5 inches of legroom and standard front-hinged doors that operated independently.

King Cab models featured a 78.7-inch bed, whereas Crew Cabs had a 67-inch bed. Both styles shared a 139.8-inch wheelbase and a 228.2-inch overall length. The Titan was not available with a long bed, which necessitated additional tie-downs for 4x8 plywood sheets. Cargo management included four fixed tie-down hooks and the optional Utili-track Channel system with moveable cleats. Titan Boxes provided waterproof storage compartments, and the tailgate, though lacking fancy features, was well-balanced and easy to operate.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered several body styles: regular cab with standard or long bed, double cab with standard bed, and crew cab with short or standard bed. The bed lengths were 5 feet 8 inches (short), 6 feet 6 inches (standard), and 8 feet (long).

The regular cab, available in work-focused trims like the WT and Custom, had a front bench seat accommodating up to three passengers. The double cab, with conventional doors instead of rear half-doors, provided better rear seat access but limited legroom. The crew cab was spacious with ample headroom and legroom in both rows, with the rear bench folding up for extra in-cabin cargo space.

The Silverado 1500 offered a higher maximum towing capacity and payload than the Titan, capable of towing up to 13,300 pounds and handling a payload of up to 2,260 pounds, making it a more robust choice for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2022 Nissan Titan featured an upgraded infotainment system with an 8-inch center display as standard and a 9-inch touchscreen as an optional upgrade. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hot spot, NissanConnect, and Bluetooth connectivity. The base audio system had SiriusXM capability, AM/FM radio, MP3/WMA playback, six speakers, and speed-sensitive volume control. Higher trims offered a Fender 12-speaker audio system with a subwoofer.

NissanConnect with navigation was available on the SV and standard on Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims. This system included a 9-inch interface, 3D building graphics, over-the-air map updates, and subscription-based features like SiriusXM Traffic and TomTom Weather. However, voice recognition was limited to higher trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 provided a basic 7-inch touchscreen in WT and Custom trims, featuring wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims boasted a 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration and a fully digital instrument panel. The LT trim improved connectivity with a WiFi hot spot, and the LTZ trim added wireless device charging and additional USB ports. Infotainment systems in higher trims were user-friendly with clear graphics and responsive interfaces, catering to those who preferred modern tech features.

The 2022 Nissan Titan embraced modern safety standards with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard features included intelligent forward collision warning and eight airbags.

The Titan earned top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most crash tests, though it received an "Acceptable" rating for the passenger-side small-overlap test. Its front crash prevention tech garnered "Superior" ratings, but the standard halogen reflector headlights on lower trims received a "Poor" rating. Full LED headlights on higher trims were not rated. The NHTSA did not publish ratings for the 2022 Titan, but the 2020 model received four out of five stars.

In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came equipped with advanced driver assistance features. Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. The Teen Driver system allowed owners to set limits for secondary drivers.

Higher trims like the LTZ added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and parking sensors. Optional safety upgrades included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, a rear-camera mirror, and GM’s Super Cruise highway driving system.

The Silverado received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high scores in IIHS crash tests, reinforcing its reputation as a safe and reliable vehicle.