2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The aesthetic narrative of the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 leaned heavily on its heritage. Some design elements, such as the split-bar grille from the 1990s and the 2015 redesign, had gracefully aged, while others seemed best forgotten. Time would ultimately dictate the legacy of the current generation’s styling. The peculiar small headlights, intersected by a piece of body panel entering the grille’s domain, presented a somewhat disjointed appearance. This aggressive look might be perceived as excessive by some but was aligned with Chevrolet’s contemporary design ethos, reminiscent of Transformer toys. Style-conscious buyers had various appearance packages to enhance the Silverado's visual appeal: the Rally Edition, Midnight Edition, and Redline Edition.

The Silverado’s cabin offered a sanctuary from its divided exterior opinions. Functionality dominated its design, with controls intuitively placed. Two distinct interior layouts were available depending on the trim. Lower trims like the WT and Custom retained pre-2022 facelift interiors featuring smaller screens and more tactile controls. Higher trims sported a modern dashboard centered around a responsive, large touchscreen interface.

The WT trim provided pragmatic features such as vinyl upholstery, a bench front seat, black bumpers, rubberized flooring, an analog instrument panel with a 3.5-inch display, USB ports, and a 7-inch infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Custom trim added value with cloth upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and conveniences like a power-locking tailgate and remote start.

Higher trims like the LT highlighted advanced technology with a high-tech infotainment system and a digital instrument panel. The LTZ trim represented a valuable midpoint with leather upholstery, wireless charging, and additional USB ports. At the top of the range, the High Country trim equated to a luxury pickup, with premium touches such as a power-sliding rear window and heated and ventilated front seats.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Nissan Frontier retained its robust design language inspired by the vintage 1986 Nissan Hardbody. Building on the comprehensive 2022 redesign, the 2023 model added a Midnight Edition for the SV trim with blacked-out elements, and both Pro-X and Pro-4X trims received bold Lava Red interior accents.

Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were perks on both Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, which boasted power-adjustable driver’s seats. Exterior color options spanned a diverse palette including “Baja Storm” tan and Tactical Green, enhancing the Frontier's appeal.

Under the hood of the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the base engine was a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. For V8 enthusiasts, there were two options: the 5.3-liter (355 hp, 383 lb-ft) and the 6.2-liter (420 hp, 460 lb-ft). A six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel engine was also available, delivering 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with an optional 4WD. The base engine used an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas other engines paired with a ten-speed automatic.

Towing capabilities varied with the engine, peaking at 13,300 pounds with the 6.2-liter V8 and Max Towing package. The 5.3-liter V8 towed up to 11,000 pounds, and the four-cylinder engine offered a maximum payload of 2,260 pounds.

During our drive, the turbo-four provided surprising power and decent throttle response, though it exuded a diesel-like mechanical noise. The V8 engines were predictably energetic, with the 6.2-liter offering substantial grunt. Handling was competent for a truck of its size, making it a viable commuter. Its off-road prowess, particularly in Trail Boss and ZR2 configurations, proved impressive.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Frontier housed a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, while a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system was available.

The Frontier's max towing capacity was 6,720 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds. Standard features included hill-start assist, and hill-descent control was included with 4WD. The suspension enhancements aimed at balancing off-road capability with on-road comfort, coupled with additional parts for noise reduction, improved the overall driving experience.

Despite sticking with hydraulic steering, Nissan increased the steering gear ratio to enhance low-speed maneuverability. The Frontier's fuel economy was rated up to 20 mpg combined for RWD and slightly less for 4WD models.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was offered in several body styles: regular cab with standard or long bed, double cab with standard bed, crew cab with short or standard bed. Bed lengths varied from 5 feet 8 inches for the short bed, 6 feet 6 inches for the standard bed, and extended to 8 feet for the long bed.

The regular cab accommodated up to three passengers with a front bench seat. The double cab offered easier rear seat access through conventional car doors and provided adequate headroom but limited legroom. The crew cab, however, was spacious, with both rows offering copious headroom and legroom, and its rear bench could be folded for additional in-cabin cargo space.

The Nissan Frontier was available in King Cab and Crew Cab configurations. The King Cab, standard on the S and SV trims, came with a 6-foot bed and offered modest interior space. The Crew Cab, available on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, featured four full-sized doors and a roomy interior with a standard 5-foot bed or an optional 6-foot bed with the SV trim.

Under-rail bed lighting, a spray-in bedliner, and increased bed volume enhanced the cargo experience. The 5-foot bed provided 40.1 cubic feet, while the 6-foot bed offered 46.4 cubic feet of cargo volume. Notably, the controlled descent of the hydraulic tailgate provided ease of use.

Inside, Zero Gravity seats kept occupants comfortable during both off-road and spirited drives. Storage options were generous, with abundant space in the center console and door pockets.

The base infotainment system in the Silverado 1500 comprised a 7-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. WT and Custom trims retained this simpler setup, which, although not the most visually advanced, was functional. Trims above these featured a modern infotainment system with a 13.4-inch touchscreen offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by a digital instrument panel. Added tech goodies included a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, and multiple USB ports.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Frontier made wireless Apple CarPlay standard on the Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, with wired connections remaining for Android Auto and lower trims. The infotainment setup began with an 8-inch touchscreen for S and SV trims and increased to a 9-inch touchscreen for Pro trims, which Nissan touted as the segment's largest. A six-speaker audio system was standard on Pro trims, with an optional 10-speaker Fender premium sound system.

A 7-inch digital gauge cluster came standard, and features like the off-road gauge cluster and Nissan’s Intelligent Around-View Monitor provided advanced insights and convenience.

Safety was robust in the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, equipped with advanced driver assistance features including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Additional features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, and GM’s Super Cruise were available on higher trims. It earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and high crash test scores from IIHS.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier offered standard forward-collision warning, trailer sway control, driver-attention monitoring, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control were optional. The exclusion of Nissan Safety Shield 360 from standard features was customer-driven, but it remained available as an upgrade. NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars for side crashes but lower scores in frontal crash and rollover tests. IIHS ratings from the previous model year indicated strong performance in vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention.