In a heavyweight matchup of the 2024 Chevy Silverado vs 2024 Nissan Titan, which of these two full-sized pickups comes out ahead? Which weighs in with the best mix of features, technology, and capability for modern pickup drivers? Let’s meet our contenders.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 stands out in the world of full-sized pickups. A consistent leader and one of the segment’s top sellers, the domestically manufactured Silverado has long been one of the benchmarks in the full-sized pickup world. Known for its ruggedness and reliability, the 2024 Silverado boasts one of the highest tow ratings in the light-duty full-size pickup category.
Nissan introduced the Titan in 2004 as the brand’s bold challenge to the dominance of the Big Three American carmakers in this category. The Titan was more than just an alternative; it was a statement that Nissan could play in this sandbox. Over the years, The Titan has evolved, blending a powerful V8 engine with an impressive level of refinement and cutting-edge technology. This blend of power and polish has carved out a unique niche for the Titan in the pickup truck market.
However, 2024 marks a pivotal moment for the Nissan Titan. Nissan has announced that the 2024 model year will be the last for the Titan, ending its two-decade journey. This announcement adds a layer of urgency for potential buyers. If you’ve been eyeing the Titan, pondering the possibility of owning this powerful yet refined vehicle, the clock is ticking. But does the last-generation Titan have enough to sway buyers from the established prowess of the Silverado?
Comparing the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2024 Nissan Titan raises a crucial question: With the Titan bowing out of the market, is there a compelling reason to choose it over the Silverado? Which of these full-sized pickups wins the tale of the tape? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
Engines Options
With full-sized pickups, capability is key. These vehicles are expected to work hard and play hard, hauling and towing everything from bricks on weekdays to boats on weekends. The primary key to being a capable pickup lies under the hood, so let’s see what the contenders bring to the table. We’ll let the challenger go first in this round.
The 2024 Titan offers exactly one choice of engine: the 400-horsepower Endurance V8. This 5.6-liter gasoline-powered engine cranks out a respectable 413 lb-ft of torque. Combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission that’s standard in every Titan, along with the proper towing package, this engine helps the Titan achieve a maximum tow rating of 11,050 lbs. Four-wheel drive is optional on the regular Titan and standard on the heavier-duty Titan XD model. Note: the Titan used to offer a diesel option but discontinued it a few years ago, so this gas-powered V8 is your only choice in 2024. Luckily, it’s a pretty decent one.
The 2024 Silverado, on the other hand, offers not just a diesel but a wide range of gasoline engines, as well. So let’s start with that diesel, which Chevy calls the Duramax 3.0-liter Turbo-Diesel. The Silverado mates this engine with a ten-speed transmission. With 305 hp and a thunderous 495 lb-ft of torque, the Duramax achieves a maximum tow rating of 13,300 lbs. Four-wheel drive is optional. Given the Chevy’s higher tow rating, at first glance, we’re inclined to award this round to the Chevy.
However, in the Titan’s defense, the Duramax is a higher-end option in the Silverado. By comparison, the Endurance V8 is standard in all Titans, starting at its base price of $45,940. The base Titan has a crew cab configuration with a 67.0-inch cargo bed, so we’ll use Chevy’s “Build and Price” tool to configure a Silverado with a crew cab and the 69.9-inch short bed. Doing that, we find that the cheapest Duramax-equipped Silverado with a comparable layout comes in at $56,385. So, the Chevy offers more power and towing capacity but at a higher price.
However, Chevy punches back with a much wider range of engines. In addition to the Duramax, it offers several gasoline-powered choices. There’s even a four-cylinder, and before you accuse Chevy of heresy for putting a four-banger in a full-sized truck, take note of the fact that this engine (which Chevy calls the TurboMax) cranks out 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This potent little high-output engine edges out the Titan’s V8 in torque and is available in the base model Silverado WT, which Chevy’s “Build and Price” tool shows to be available from $38,795. Note that this is a regular-cab, short-wheelbase model in “Work Truck” trim and doesn’t offer anywhere near the Duramax’s tow rating.
Chevy’s other gas-powered choices are all V8s. The 5.3-liter EcoTec3 provides 355 hp along with 383 lb-ft of torque. Stepping up to the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 bumps those numbers to 420 hp along with 460 lb-ft of torque. This option is probably closest to the Titan’s engine in terms of gasoline-generated power, but the Chevy pricing configurator shows it starting at over $65,000.
The judges will probably award this round to Chevy. The Titan comes out swinging by offering its best (and only) engine right from its base model on up, but Chevy simply offers too many choices that can be tailored to each customer’s specific needs, albeit often at a substantially higher price than the Titan’s base model. Sometimes, versatility is as important as raw power.
Safety and Connectivity Features
Both trucks offer a broad range of technology in the cab and under the sheet metal to make your job as a driver easier. Nissan provides options like the Intelligent Around View Monitor with guidelines to make trailering easier. Chevy also takes trailering very seriously, with up to 14 monitor views, Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, and a trailering app that lets you custom-design a profile for your trailer to make hauling and maneuvering easier and safer. The advantage here would seem to go to the Chevy. In fact, the Silverado was even named best pickup for towing by Cars.com for 2024.
Both trucks offer a range of luxury and convenience features that earlier generations of pickup drivers would never have dreamed of. For instance, the base SV edition of the Titan comes with Intelligent Cruise Control and a Wi-Fi hotspot for go-anywhere connectivity. The Silverado’s base WT trim level is much more work-focused, as reflected in its lower base price, but the Silverado quickly fills up the option sheet as you climb higher on the trim levels.
By the time you get to the mid-range LT edition, you’ll get a standard Trailering Package, heated front seats, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and Chevy’s 13.4-inch premium infotainment system. Plus, you get a choice of three engines and two transmissions. Granted, this comes in at a base price for the LT edition of $50,400, higher than Titan’s base price, but the level of equipment is very impressive for the price.
The Silverado 1500 Comes Out on Top
The Chevy comes out ahead in this matchup. The Nissan offers terrific capability and a high level of equipment for its base price, along with an edition that’s functionally a heavy-duty truck, but the Chevy just offers too much for the Titan to overcome. With a much broader range of engines, higher-end towing and trailering features, and a higher maximum towing capacity, it wins this heavyweight bout. Chevy also offers a range of trim levels like the High Country, Trail Boss, and ZR2 for buyers who want to step up to something beyond the ordinary pickup. The Titan fought well and can hold its head up high, but the Silverado 1500 wins this fight handily.
