Ford F-250 Super Duty vs Nissan Titan

The 2022 Nissan Titan, though a relative newcomer to the full-size truck arena compared to its domestic competitors, made a strong visual impression. Despite its newer status, it matched the established brands in attractiveness. The Titan boasted a rugged yet elegant exterior, featuring strong lines and an expressive face. It avoided superfluous details, instead presenting an assertive stance with excellent proportions and top-tier fit and finish.

Inside, the theme of understated elegance continued. The cabin offered spaciousness, highlighted by clean lines and high-quality materials. A plethora of cup and bottle holders, and generous proportions, added to the driver's and passenger’s comfort. The optional moonroof package in the test vehicle further enhanced the sensation of roominess, providing tilting and sliding one-touch moonroof operation and a power sliding rear window for improved airflow.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty showed an evolutionary but substantial redesign. Available in various trims—XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited—the Super Duty ranged from work truck practicality in the XL to luxurious appointments in the King Ranch and Limited. The XL trim offered basic comforts like vinyl upholstery and a Wi-Fi hotspot, while higher trims introduced better materials and more sophisticated features.

The King Ranch trim, representing luxury within the lineup, featured 20-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint, and dark-toned accents replacing chrome. Notably, the King Ranch included intricately styled interiors with two-tone brown leather, saddle stitching, and the Flying W logo on seats and the console. The upscale interior was complemented by an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system and practical features like auxiliary switches and a spray-in bed liner.

Under the hood, the 2022 Nissan Titan sported a well-regarded 5.6-liter gasoline V8 engine that produced 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired seamlessly with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain was standard across all trims, with RWD standard on the S, SV, and Platinum Reserve, and 4WD available or standard on other models. Fuel efficiency varied slightly across configurations, with RWD models achieving 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, while 4WD models rated at 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.

The rugged Pro-4X model, with nearly 10 inches of ground clearance and a robust 4WD system, proved adept both on and off-road. Its towing and hauling capacities were respectable, with a maximum towing capability of 9,310 pounds and a payload limit of 1,710 pounds. Features supporting these tasks included a trailer brake controller, trailer sway control, and various trailer-assist technologies.

For the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty, the powertrain options offered even more diversity and muscle. The base 6.8-liter gas V8 engine produced 400 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. High-performance seekers could opt for the 7.3-liter V8 with 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque, or the immensely powerful 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbodiesel V8 pushing out 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. An even more potent high-output variant of this engine delivered 500 horsepower and a staggering 1,200 pound-feet of torque.

All these engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring optimum power delivery and improved fuel efficiency. The diesel variants showed incredible towing prowess, with a maximum towing capacity reaching 22,000 pounds when properly equipped. Ford’s modern towing aids, such as Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and onboard scales, further simplified the towing process.

The 2022 Nissan Titan's interior versatility was evident with both King Cab and Crew Cab body styles. The King Cab, with its rear-hinged clamshell doors, offered tighter rear-seat legroom of 24.8 inches, serving more as additional storage or occasional seating. The Crew Cab provided a more spacious experience with 38.5 inches of rear legroom and convenient full-sized rear doors.

Cargo wise, the King Cab featured a longer 78.7-inch (6 feet, 6.7 inches) bed, while the Crew Cab had a shorter 67-inch (5 feet, 7 inches) bed, both on a 139.8-inch wheelbase. The Titan’s lack of a long-bed option meant carrying large materials like 4x8 sheets of plywood required additional accessories like tie-downs. Functional bed features included the Utili-Track Channel System and optional Titan Boxes for secure storage.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty amplified interior space offerings with its Regular Cab, SuperCab, and Super Crew configurations, and two bed length options (6.75 feet and 8 feet). The SuperCab’s clamshell doors facilitated wide access, yet needed the front doors open for operation. Our test model featured practical additions such as bed steps and grip handles, aiding access to the truck's high cargo area.

Inside, considerable storage and utility options included multiple cupholders, a large center console, dual glove boxes, and extensive door storage. In the Super Crew model, rear seats folded up to create protected cargo space within the cab. Evaluating payload and towing, the Ford F-250 excelled with configurations supporting up to 22,000 pounds of towing capacity, unmatched by the Titan's 9,310 pounds.

The 2022 Nissan Titan offered a diverse range of technological features. Standard equipment included an upgraded 8-inch center display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth capabilities. Higher trims provided a 9-inch touchscreen, NissanConnect with navigation and multiple SiriusXM services, and a premium 12-speaker Fender audio system with a subwoofer.

The infotainment interface was user-friendly, benefiting from Nissan’s voice recognition technology on higher trims. The Titan accommodated modern connectivity needs with dual USB ports and facilitated seamless interactions with various media sources.

The F-250 Super Duty's base model started with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgraded trims boasted a 12-inch screen with wireless versions of these smartphone integrations. This interface allowed for multitasking, like displaying connectivity apps alongside vital vehicle information such as fuel economy.

Practical tech highlights included multiple USB ports, a wall-style power outlet, and wireless device charging. Advanced navigation features, like Trailer Navigation, tailored route planning based on trailer dimensions and weight, enhancing safety and efficiency for towing.

Safety was a critical consideration for both models. The 2022 Nissan Titan incorporated Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, bundling features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional radar-based technologies like intelligent forward collision warning further bolstered safety. The Titan earned commendable ratings from IIHS but showed room for improvement with its standard headlights.

Despite lacking official crash-test ratings from NHTSA for 2022, the Titan maintained solid safety credentials from earlier models. Its structural integrity and advanced airbags contributed to a family-friendly safety profile.

For the 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty, starting from the XLT trim, the truck equipped advanced safety aids through the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite. Depending on the selected trim, features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system, essential for navigating congested areas with this behemoth.

Noteworthy accessories included dual-tier power-adjustable trailer mirrors and a backup camera for use with the tailgate down. These features significantly enhanced safety and practicality, especially during towing operations.