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The Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra offer competitive alternatives to pickups from the Big Three out of Detroit. But which is the better option?
The “Also-Rans”
If you want a full-size pickup that isn’t made in America, there are two options: the Toyota Tundra and the Nissan Titan. The Toyota Tundra makes its case based on its brand’s storied reliability and the impressive off-road chops of its TRD-Pro trim. The Nissan Titan offers generous safety options, impressive ride quality, and good power. Though they may have unique strengths, both trucks are long in the tooth and in need of generational updates to stay within striking distance of segment leaders like the F-150. Hence, the Titan and Tundra make for a compelling comparison to see which of these old schoolers is worth consideration.
Specs
The Toyota Tundra has just one engine a thoroughly capable 5.7L V8 making 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy lags behind the rest of the segment at 13 city and 17 highway mpg. Rear-wheel drive comes standard with the option for four-wheel drive. The Tundra is rated to two a maximum of 10,200-lbs. and can haul up to 1,730-lbs.
The Nissan Titan also makes do with just a single engine. The Titan’s 5.6L V8 400 horsepower and 413 lb.-ft. of torque. Nissan graces it with a nine-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive varieties. The RWD version gets 16 city and 21 highway mpg while the 4WD dips just slightly to 15/21 mpg. The Titan can tow up to 9,400-lbs. and haul up to 2,240-lbs.
Driving & Performance
In the name of reliability and durability, Toyota has stuck with their naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 long past when other car companies have moved on to turbocharging for greater efficiency. And that’s probably the Tundra’s biggest downside. Power is generous and towing, while not class leading, still beats the Titan at 10,200-lbs. Its strongest performance comes in the form of the off-road TRD Pro spec that adds new shocks, skid plates and other goodies. Even so, the ride is far behind segment leaders like the RAM 1500 or even the fellow mid-tier contender Nissan Titan.
The Nissan Titan, for its part, also offers just one engine, that, while powerful enough for most of your Home Depot runs isn’t on par with the F-150s of the world. Still, the Titan’s V8 is more refined and less harsh sounding than that the Tundra’s. However, Nissan has done little to shade over the very truck-ish driving dynamics of the Titan. But those already acclimated to lumbering handling will be treated to the better than average ride quality. And while towing in the Titan is behind that of the Tundra, the Nissan does offer an edge in payload capacity.
Comfort & Interior
Just as the Toyota Tundra has eschewed updates under the hood, the same holds for the cabin. While competitors like the RAM 1500 and F-150 have set themselves at the cutting-edge when it comes to interior design, the Tundra feels a relic from a couple of generations back. There is, however, something to be said for large, chunky center console knobs and buttons that are easy to locate and use without having to take your eyes off the road. Passenger room is plentiful fore and aft, even for 6+ foot tall folks, and the seats are comfortable. Functionality is good in the Tundra, but a dated design and loads of hard plastic make the Toyota look a lot cheaper than it is. An exception is the 1794 Edition with its suede accented leather seats.
The Nissan Titan also lags behind segment leaders when it comes to interior design and material quality. Rear seat legroom isn’t as generous as the Tundra, or the rest of the segment for that matter. The seats in the Titan are exceptionally comfortable, easily the best in the segment. For those who put serious highway miles on their pickups, the seats alone make the Titan worth considering. The upgrade Fender stereo system is another highlight and, for audiophiles at least, is well worth the additional price.
Trims & Features
Toyota Tundra
SR ($34,155) – Heated side mirrors, 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cloth upholstery, 6-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, and three USB ports. Standard safety features include automatic high beams, reverse camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
Additional safety options available on higher trims include blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross traffic alerts.
SR5 ($35,515) – 8-inch touchscreen, fog lights, the Double Cab gets a 7-speaker stereo while the Crew Max gets a 9-speaker stereo.
Limited ($44,405) – Dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, proximity keyless entry, LED headlights and fog lights, leather upholstery, navigation.
TRD Pro ($48,925) – Aggressive exterior styling, standard 4WD, Fox rear shocks and TRD front shocks, and front skid plate.
Platinum ($52,095) – 12-speaker JBL stereo, rear power window, 12-way power driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, additional safety options of blind post monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross traffic alerts.
1794 Edition ($52,095) – Adds different exterior styling.
Packages include the Deck Rail System which comes with adjustable tie-down cleats, the Nightshade Edition package which features black exterior styling, and the TRD Off-Road package which adds off-road items like Bilstein shocks, 20-inch alloy wheels, front and rear sway bars, skid plates, and a larger 38-gallon fuel tanks.
Nissan Titan
S ($36,650) – 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, six-speaker stereo, cloth upholstery, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Standard safety equipment includes driver attention monitor, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, reverse camera, blind spot monitor, and rear cross traffic alert.
Additional safety options available on higher trims includes front parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera.
SV ($40,490) – Adds adaptive cruise control and heated side mirrors.
Pro -4X ($50,390) – HD radio, 9-inch touchscreen, two rear seat USB ports, dual-zone climate control, traffic sign recognition, spray-on bed liner, rain-sensing wipers, and off-road items like Bilstein shocks, electronic locking rear differential, skid plates, and hill decent control.
SL ($54,630) – Remote start, surround-view camera, front parking sensors, Fender premium stereo, leather upholstery, heated front seats, running boards, in-bed outlet, four moveable tie-down points, and heated rear seats.
Platinum Reserve ($56,140) – Available in Crew Cab configuration only, wood and heated steering wheel, trailer braking system, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.
Conclusions
As we mentioned at the opening, the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan each have their individual cases. The Tundra is solidly built, and if you’re looking for a new pickup to take off-roading the TRD-Pro deserves a look. The Titan’s comfortable, if dated, interior and its smooth powertrain make a decent case for the Nissan. But both designs are aging and badly in need of updates. Which you choose probably comes down to your personal priorities.
Take fuel economy for example. The Tundra is a dog. That 5.7L V8 might run half a million miles, but it will be doing so while getting you 15 mpg combined the whole way. That was a fair proposition a few decades ago, but with the burgeoning number of electric pickups soon to arrive, that level of inefficiency is nigh untenable today. The Titan’s 18 combined mpg isn’t great compared to the F-150’s 21, but it’s still markedly better than the Tundra’s.
As to our recommendation, it’s the little things like better fuel economy, nicer seats, and slightly more generous options that give the Nissan Titan the edge.
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