Do you know what it means to be a titan? A titan is a person or object that’s enormous, powerful, strong, and influential; a titan leads the pack with confidence and ease. The Nissan Titan embodies every aspect of its name – it’s a full-size truck that delivers plenty of capability and power both on and off the pavement. It also easily and confidently leads the pack, as you’ll see when comparing the 2021 Nissan Titan vs 2021 Toyota Tundra. There’s nothing that can beat the Titan, at least not in the Toyota lineup!
Power and Performance
The 2021 Titan offers the most standard horsepower and torque in its class. It’s powered by a 5.6-liter Endurance V8 engine that’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This combination delivers 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, which is responsible for the truck’s impressive maximum 9,310-pound towing capability and 1,690-pound payload capacity. This power, however, doesn’t sacrifice the truck’s efficiency, with the Titan averaging 16 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway.
You won’t find nearly as much power on the 2021 Tundra despite the Toyota powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine. The Tundra’s V8 engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission that limits the truck’s gear range and capability. We see this in the engine’s delivery of 381 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. It’s also less efficient and averages 13 MPG in the city and 17 MPG on the highway, which means you’ll spend more money and time filling up the Tundra’s tank.
Safety and Driver-Assist
Another category where the Titan truly lives up to its name and outshines the Tundra is safety and driver-assist technology. The 2021 Titan offers the most standard safety features in the segment, outranking Toyota, Chevrolet, Ram, and Ford. So, what does the Titan have to offer? It’s all in the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite.
The Titan comes standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360, which is a suite of six advanced driver-assist tools. The suite includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, and Rear Automatic Braking. The suite is the only one you’ll find in the segment to come standard with Rear Automatic braking, which puts the Titan legions ahead of its full-size competitors in terms of safety.
Beyond the suite, the Titan is also equipped with a class-exclusive Intelligent Forward Collision Warning that constantly monitors the front of the truck and warns you of tailgating or potential collisions. Depending on the trim, you can add enhanced tools like the Intelligent Around View Monitor for a bird’s eye view around the truck, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Intelligent Cruise Control. How does the Tundra compare?
The 2021 Tundra comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite that includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with a Sway Warning System, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Depending on the trim, Toyota also offers enhanced tools like Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and an anti-theft system. These offerings are slim compared to the Titan.
Connectivity and Infotainment
Do you see why the Titan lives up to its name? Nissan’s full-size truck also offers the largest standard display in the segment, which once again puts the Titan ahead of the Tundra. Technology is at the heart of the 2021 Titan, and it shows with the standard 8-inch display that’s home to the Nissan infotainment system and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But just when you thought the Titan couldn’t get any better, Nissan ups the ante.
You can opt for the 9-inch touchscreen display that’s known as the Integrated Command Center and features WXGA resolution, which is better than HD. The system is the gateway to connectivity and offers a Wi-Fi hotspot as well as access to NissanConnect that powers a variety of in-vehicle apps like HD Traffic and Google Places/Search as well as Nissan Concierge. Nissan Concierge is your 24-hour assistant when you’re behind the wheel. With the touch of a button, you can reach out to an assistant who can do everything from schedule appointments and make restaurant reservations to shop for items like event tickets.
Beyond the center display, you’ll also find a 7-inch driver information display behind the steering wheel. The screen, which is one of the largest in the segment, is customizable and gives you all the data you need right where you need it. With a quick glance, you’ll see information like your speed, mileage, fuel level, and navigational cues.
You won’t find the same extensive suite of connectivity features in the 2021 Tundra, which comes standard with a 7-inch display that’s home to smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Depending on the trim, you can upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen display that gives you more features like navigation, Amazon Alexa, voice recognition, and Bluetooth capability. However, the Toyota doesn’t come with anything comparable to the Nissan Concierge tool, which is a huge convenience when you spend a lot of time on the road.
Warranty
When you shop for a truck, there’s something to be said for having confidence in your purchase. Sure, you’ve done your homework and know the ins and outs of the truck you’re purchasing, but how will an automaker like Nissan or Toyota protect your investment once you’ve driven the truck off the lot? For Nissan buyers, there’s little to worry about since Nissan offers the best truck warranty in America.
The 2021 Nissan Titan comes with a 5-year or 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers a wide range of components like the 5.6-liter V8 engine, multi-leaf rear suspension, and technology like the Around View Monitor. This coverage pales in comparison to the 2021 Tundra’s warranty coverage that offers basic, bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years or 36,000 miles. The Titan’s coverage is longer by two years or 64,000 miles, which means greater peace of mind on the road.
Are You a Titan?
Do you embody the characteristics of a titan? Are you strong and powerful, a natural and influential leader? A titan deserves to get behind the wheel of a truck that’s just as capable and powerful as the man or woman in the driver’s seat. That’s why it’s time to look at everything the 2021 Titan has to offer.
As you’ve seen, the 2021 Titan far outshines the 2021 Tundra in nearly every category, from performance and capability to technology, safety, and warranty coverage. Nissan unleashes every tool in its wheelhouse to deliver an exceptional truck that’s designed to reliably perform mile after mile. And, to sweeten the deal, Nissan proves its confidence in the truck by offering the best warranty coverage in the country.
Of course, when you’re comparing trucks like the Titan and the Tundra, pricing also plays an important role. The 2021 Titan is priced slightly higher at $36,950 compared to the 2021 Tundra that starts at $34,025. However, you have to consider the value you’re getting in a truck like the Titan. With the most standard power, technology, and safety features in its segment, it seems logical to spend a few extra dollars on the Titan. Even then, the Titan is still incredibly affordable when you look at everything you’re getting in a full-size truck that carries the Nissan name.
